The DofE award scheme has played a huge role in my life. I achieved the Bronze ,Silver and Gold award during my time at the Knights Templar School in Baldock and my involvement with the award has continued for over 20 years as a volunteer expedition leader and now as DofE Manager at the Knights Templar School. My Bronze qualifying DofE expedition was to Yorkshire – although I went on to do more expeditions, this was definitely the hardest one but also the one where I learnt the most. I can still remember the feeling of freedom, responsibility and independence as our group navigated a route across the Yorkshire Dales during a morning of pouring rain and mist. It wasn’t easy - there was a point at which we would all have given up and we sheltered in a barn while we worked out what do! We didn’t give up and enjoyed a sunny afternoon walking through Littondale. The expeditions gave me a love of exploring the outdoors with friends which continues today. The Volunteering section also had a more subtle but no less significant impact. My DofE volunteering across the different levels saw me volunteering with Girlguiding in a Brownie unit for Bronze and Silver and volunteering in a care home for the elderly for Silver and Gold. The importance of that connection and involvement with community has never left me and I’ve continued to volunteer in various ways since then - I’m now a Girlguiding Brownie leader again! This year my son has started working towards his Bronze award and I see the impact and significance of the award from another perspective.