When I joined the Girls Brigade aged 14 I was asked if I would like to start the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme to which I said yes. During the years it took me to complete bronze, silver and gold levels I was able to learn new skills that I’d never tried before and alongside this I learned to be more determined to achieve activities that I would never have even thought would be possible. In later years I became a leader in the Girls Brigade and had the pleasure of helping girls to achieve their awards also and to be able to share abilities that I had learned with them to help them go forwards into adulthood. Even to this day I am proud to say that I took part in the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and achieved gold level which allowed myself and my mum to attend Buckingham Palace to receive my award certificate. The photo I have chosen is of myself and my family who joined me on the day to celebrate this achievement.