The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a youth awards programme founded in the United Kingdom in 1956 by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, providing life-changing experience, a fun time with friends and an opportunity to discover new interests and talents. its aim is to develop essential skills for life and work and is a recognised mark of achievement; respected by employers.

There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold. Each level requires a commitment to personal development, volunteering and challenging yourself and your team. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity. Each level also includes the requirement to undertake an expedition.

I have completed all 3 levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold of the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award Scheme.

For my Bronze DofE expedition, I hiked and camped for 2 days and 1 night in the Purbeck Isles. My teams aim for this expedition was to carry a family of eggs and ensure that they survived intact for the 2 days.

For my Silver DofE expedition, I hiked and camped for 3 days and 2 nights in the New Forest. My teams aim for this expedition was to create the word red out of items we found in the forest.

For my Gold DofE expedition, I hiked and camped for 4 days and 3 nights on Dartmoor. My teams aim for this expedition was to write our own countryside code book.

To complete the Gold Award you also have to complete a residential course and for this I choose to go sailing on a Rustler 42 yacht from Poole to Gosport with the small ships race included as well which was great fun.

The CVQO Westminster Award is an annual competition designed to recognise and reward the most deserving learners.

Each year cadet and youth group leaders are invited to come forward and nominate a brilliant young person for something they’ve achieved.

Further information on the Westminster Award is available at https://cvqo.org/events-awards/westminster-award/

In 2018 I was selected as one of the 11 finalists who went to South Africa for two weeks to complete community projects and personal development

See the blog page I wrote for day 8 of the trip on the left.

Through Sea Cadets I was able to undertake a two year study for BTEC Level 2 in Teamwork and Personal Development in the Community

Units studied were:

•  Personal development through adventurous activities

•  Employment skills in uniformed organisations

•  Fundamentals of nautical studies

•  Land navigation by map and compass

I was also  fortunate to receive The Pearson BTEC Level 2 Award. An annual competition where the outstanding achievements of BTEC learners, tutors, teachers, schools and colleges around the world are recognised and celebrated.

My studies with CVQO, winning a Westminster award and being with Sea Cadets allowed me to study for ILM Level 3 Award in Leadership and Management. The qualification is aimed at individuals who have management responsibilities but no formal training as well as new, aspiring or practicing first line managers.

The qualification is unit-based and the content will differ according to the combination of units used by each delivery course. The following units are included in the qualification:

•  Solving problems and making decisions

•  Giving briefings and making presentations

•  Understanding leadership

•  Understanding how to establish an effective team

•  Leading and motivating a team effectively

• colleges around the world are recognised and celebrated.

Who are CVQO (Cadet Vocational Qualification Organisation)

CVQO is a UK education charity and learning provider. Its aim is to accredit the skills young people and their volunteer instructors learn with vocational qualifications.

I undertook the 35 mile Ten Tors challenge with Budmouth School Combined Cadet Force in 2016, following that I set myself the challenge of completing all three Ten Tors distances.

The following year I completed the 45 mile distance again with Budmouth Combined Cadet Force driving my team to complete an hour inside in the cut-off time.

Very few teams undertake the 55m mile distance and you have to have completed the other distances to qualify. To achieve my goal I trained with Dorset Air Cadets as a reserve to their team and on arrival at the event I was able to pick up a place with another team that had a team member pull out. This gave me valuable experience of working with new people in a high pressure environment.

What is the Ten Tors Challenge?

There may be many challenging outdoor events in Britain today, but Ten Tors stands alone in its scale, its ambition and the fact that it is aimed solely at young people.

The Event takes place every year on Dartmoor during the weekend following the May public holiday and is now firmly established in the collective consciousness of the South West. All those who attempt Ten Tors will undoubtedly remember it for the rest of their lives and for many it will be a life-changing experience.

Training for the Event is the responsibility of the participants’ Establishments and often starts months in advance. Completing Ten Tors is not easy with the terrain, distances and often the climate all conspiring against success. It is though achievable with the right commitment, training, endurance and grit: as the Event’s founder once said: “If there is anything more important than the will to succeed, it is that the will shall not falter.”

The Event starts and finishes at Okehampton Camp and is organised by the Army’s Headquarters South West with support from the Royal Navy and Royal Air Force as well as civilian emergency services and volunteers. It consists of two challenges, the Ten Tors Challenge and the Jubilee Challenge.

The Ten Tors Challenge is attempted by 2,400 teenagers in 400 teams of six. The teams navigate routes of 35, 45 or 55 miles (depending on age) over the Northern half of Dartmoor, visiting ten nominated tors / check points in under two days. Teams must be self-sufficient, carrying all that they need to complete their route and stay out overnight safely.

Living on England’s south coast, my interests have always involved outdoor activities. I have been in love with the water from a very young age.

I started sailing when I was 9 at the local sailing club racing twice a week in my topper. As I developed I raced an Achilles 24 and a Laser 4000, I also have the opportunity to use a Seaworker 22 owned my family.

Being a keen sportsman, I enjoy kitesurfing, wingfoiing, diving, mountain biking, surfing, snowboarding, sailing, football, hockey and running and have been a member of various teams. I try to attend Weymouth Parkrun every Saturday morning when I can.