Trudie Godfrey
I first became involved with the DofE Award at our school, Cavendish, in 2014 as a volunteer, to assist with expeditions.
This quickly led onto me taking over the group when our then leader Nikki Kindon left the school. I became qualified in 2016 so I could lead our school expeditions and since then our participants have grown in number year after year.
We now offer Bronze to year 9, and our cohort in usually around 40 young people and we have in the last 2 years started running Silver for our year 10.
During this time, my son has completed his Bronze & Silver and went onto the Young Leaders programme, becoming a qualified leader to assist with our school, as well as his college group and cadets. Connor Stinchcombe is now in the army and is doing his Mountain Leader qualification with them.
I have also gone onto leading an Open Award Centre, based in Hampden Park, Eastbourne, as well as the school group.
Being involved with the award has definitely changed my families life. My youngest son has attended walks and expeditions with us since a young age and will be completing his Bronze award next academic year. Most weekends are now spent either walking or training our young people, it is such a great programme to be involved with and to see the change in confidence and the enjoyment that our participants have whilst doing the award is very rewarding for them and us.
The Duke will be sadly missed, but a legacy will continue for many years in his name.
This quickly led onto me taking over the group when our then leader Nikki Kindon left the school. I became qualified in 2016 so I could lead our school expeditions and since then our participants have grown in number year after year.
We now offer Bronze to year 9, and our cohort in usually around 40 young people and we have in the last 2 years started running Silver for our year 10.
During this time, my son has completed his Bronze & Silver and went onto the Young Leaders programme, becoming a qualified leader to assist with our school, as well as his college group and cadets. Connor Stinchcombe is now in the army and is doing his Mountain Leader qualification with them.
I have also gone onto leading an Open Award Centre, based in Hampden Park, Eastbourne, as well as the school group.
Being involved with the award has definitely changed my families life. My youngest son has attended walks and expeditions with us since a young age and will be completing his Bronze award next academic year. Most weekends are now spent either walking or training our young people, it is such a great programme to be involved with and to see the change in confidence and the enjoyment that our participants have whilst doing the award is very rewarding for them and us.
The Duke will be sadly missed, but a legacy will continue for many years in his name.
