I want to offer my condolences at the loss of the Duke of Edinburgh and express my gratitude to you all for running this award. I was awarded my Bronze, Silver and Gold awards across 1982-4 the Duke presented me my Gold award at St James's Palace. The Duke asked me if I'd carried on any of the experiences I'd had whilst undertaking the award and I delighted in telling him I'd been introduced to voluntary work with people who have a Learning Disability ( LD) and I had subsequently applied to undertake my Learning Disability Nursing training. I remember the Duke said ' ah so you got hooked did you?!'. I was previledged to work voluntarily with children, young people and adults who have an LD for the service and residential parts of my gold award.- I lived in the nurses home at St Clements Hospital in Ipswich, staying away from home and working shifts for the residential part. I'm so proud to share with you how I have had a long and successful career in Learning Disability Nursing. I retired last year after a 34 years service. My final span of duty was setting up the dedicated specialist Learning Disability CAMHS service for East and West Suffolk. This specialist service offers expert advice and intervention for children and young people who have an LD, and supports their families and carers, to help the children and young people have the best lives they can and reach their full potential. The Duke of Edinburghs award, without any doubt, exposed me to an opportunity which kindled my lifes 'calling' into Learning Disability nursing and enabled me to make a contribution.
I also voluntarily returned to my mental health trust to support my colleagues for the duration of the Covid 19 pandemic doing work around the SEND pathway (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities).
All owing to the Duke of Edinburghs vision and the award that really changes lives.
I also still love hiking and championed Snowdon following heart surgery!
Thank you for making this possible