Embedded Files
Use the links to navigate through my 5 sections of the Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award. The DofE Award is a set of awards, with Gold being the highest, aimed at providing young people with soft skills and life experiences. It took me approximately 2 years to complete from start to finish and it is one of the best things I've done. I have had great fun and I've laughed but I've had tough challenges and I've cried. The DofE for me really put me through my paces, it taught me teamwork, resilience, perseverence, organisation, patiences and mostly, what it's like to be outside of my comfort zone. I would wholeheartedly recommend it to anybody.
EXPEDITION
We're Ben, Emily, Josh, Roderick, Sarah and Zimin - we completed our Gold DofE Expedition in Summer 2021 travelling 100 miles along the river Severn by Canoe.Β
See below our presentation showing the trials and tribulations as well as the wonderful times we had.
Our presentation video
DofE Gold 21 V03.mp4
Sadly a member of the team couldn't make it to our final presentation so instead we decided to make a cardboard cut out of them! Can you spot who it is?
Before our Expedition we also had badges and T-Shirts made to help us bond as a team! These are fond keepsakes of mine and I would recommend this to anybody else.
RESIDENTIAL
For my residential experience I spent 5 days volunteering by painting a Youth Hostel in Sherwood Forest (yes, where the Robin Hood tales are from).
We spent the week painting and sprucing up the rooms at YHA Sherwood Forest, throughout the week we prepped and painted to go from the blue split colour walls to a more modern sage green look.
Alongside working hard during the day, we ate really well thanks to the YHA managers, Alan and Lisa, and during the evenings played some games, baked some desserts, had a quiz, and was even taken on a guided tour through the famous Sherwood Forest to learn some history.
VOLUNTEERING
For my volunteering section I spent 18+ month as a leader at my Explorer Unit, Snow Leopards. During this time we've taken part in so many activies on Monday night, been on many camps and been crewing at Fryland's Wood. It has been a really fulfilling role that I will continue to do for hopefully many years to come.
volunteering video 2.mp4SKILL
For my skill section I undertook a 6 month online driving course. The course is aimed to inform and create better and safer drivers on the road. I really enjoyed this and learnt a lot from it but I did also have to complete some extra mandatory training in the form of a speed awareness course... oops.
PHYSICAL
physical video.mp4After I completed my expedtion by canoe I was hooked! I have continued to paddle with friends, teach the next cohort of Explorers and even earn some professional qualifications. I spent 12 months completing this section and now have my Paddlesports Instructor qualifications and I'm part of the South London Top Awards Team, training the next generation.
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