Meet our 2026-27 UK Youth Ambassadors

UK Youth Ambassadors are advocates for the DofE charity and want to inspire others. They’re enthusiastic about sharing their stories and making sure youth voices are heard. They’re collaborators, looking to work with other like-minded people from across the UK.

They’re positive and solution-focused, with an interest in tackling issues affecting society. They’re determined to make a positive, lasting change, both within the DofE and in the wider world.

Get to know our 2026-27 UK Youth Ambassadors.

Albira

To Albira, DofE means growth through connection. Her most impactful life lesson was learning the importance of community. Whether coaching on the tennis court, volunteering at the library or bonding over Peppa Pig shaped spaghetti hoops on expeditions – it has all had an impact. DofE encouraged Albira to look past the surface of people she saw every day and get to know them properly. She credits DofE with genuinely changing how she interacts with the world – giving her the mindset to strive for more. As a competitive tennis player, Albira understands the pressure young people can put on themselves. DofE provides an escape and Albira would love to promote positive personal growth, encouraging her peers to break out of social comfort zones, not box tick their way through their DofE.

Alexa

Alexa’s DofE experience made her realise that when you push yourself outside your comfort zone, you can find yourself in incredible places. Her highlight was undertaking an eleven-day sailing expedition in the North of Scotland with the RAF Air Cadets. Getting up in the early hours to sail through the night and cooking on a 45-degree angle were challenging but she has no regrets! Alexa’s DofE has taken her to endlessly surprising situations including competing in cat shows and volunteering with Cats Protection – perfectly relevant to her ambitions to become a vet! As a neurodivergent young person, DofE has given Alexa the chance to embrace what makes her different and turn her interests into opportunities. She became a Young Leader and wants everyone to know that DofE is for everyone!

Amy

Amy’s DofE highlight has been a growing sense of confidence. Since starting her DofE at school, she’s set physical goals for herself, developed new passions such as mentoring and pushed beyond her comfort zones on expeditions. She’s managed to build practical skills that will help her in the future, such as first aid and map reading. Amy is an aspiring Environmental Engineer – she’s developed a love of nature through her DofE journey and feels strongly that we should be moving towards renewable engineering solutions; for example, building bridges that include the landscape, not destroy it. DofE has shown Amy she can achieve great results when she puts her mind to something, and she hopes to continue building self-belief in her role as DofE Youth Ambassador.

Anna

For Anna, her love of DofE connects her with her families’ love of the outdoors, helping her feel closer to her memories of her Welsh and Scottish grandparents, who were passionate about nature. DofE helped Anna overcome her shyness and imposter syndrome, springboarding her to many achievements, from being selected as the youngest National Youth Sports Trust panel member to completing the Do It 4 Youth challenge. As a Youth Ambassador, Anna wants to share the transformative impact of her own DofE journey. She is keenly focused on how DofE can help the mental health crisis amongst young people and be a force for good in an increasingly divided world. Anna knows first-hand how impactful DofE can be for overall wellbeing, having experienced how expeditions can build self-esteem and social connection.

Caitlin

Caitlin’s DofE has been a decade-long chapter in her life, starting at school and culminating with DofE Direct. DofE Direct, in particular, has been a hugely positive experience, leaving her with the passion and confidence to travel solo, challenge herself and say ‘yes’ more. On the journey to achieve Gold and celebrate a special day at Buckingham Palace with her dad, Caitlin immersed herself in adventure. Progressing through the belts in martial arts, learning to play the drums and even becoming a community radio presenter, there was never a dull day. As a Youth Ambassador, Caitlin’s keen to offer advice and guidance to younger participants – topics like being on your period during expedition aren’t always discussed openly, and she wants to break down the stigma around these conversations.

Daniel

For Daniel, DofE was a turning point, helping him to come out of his shell and giving him opportunities to socialise – particularly important after feeling disconnected during the pandemic. For his Bronze Physical section, Daniel joined a kickboxing gym, despite having no athletic background. He’s still involved now, recognising how beneficial it has been for him, both physically and mentally. His time with the Air Cadets has also been transformative, giving him key skills for the future as well as lifelong friends and leadership opportunities. Daniel’s favourite challenge has probably been his time completing the Nijmegen March in the Netherlands – the distance of four marathons back-to-back. As a Youth Ambassador, Daniel is excited to spread awareness of DofE through creating content, practising his public speaking skills and building new connections.

Dora

As a DofE Youth Ambassador, Dora wants to help get DofE into every school across the UK. She says DofE has been one of the most impactful things she’s ever done, inspiring her to hike the South Downs, become a Youth Governor for a hospital, take part in a residential with strangers, learn to code, improve her writing – and much, much more. Dora has gained invaluable leadership experience running fundraisers, tutoring schemes and online events, honing her confidence and public speaking skills over the years. It’s made her understand how important it is to seize opportunities and make them your own. As DofE’s 2025 Changemaker of the Year, Dora knows just how much young people can get out of the experience and can’t wait to advocate for enrichment opportunities for all.

Ella

For Ella, DofE represents opportunity, confidence and personal growth. As someone with dyslexia, DofE allowed Ella to demonstrate her strengths through practical leadership rather than traditional academic routes, which has had a significant impact on her self-belief. She also loves the way DofE promotes inclusion. Through Ella’s volunteering she became one of the first girls to coach boys’ football at her local grassroots club – an opportunity that has shaped her pathway and future aspirations. She’s now about to start a master’s degree in performance football coaching. As a Youth Ambassador, Ella is excited to talk about enrichment opportunities that take place outside of the school and home, with a passion for discussing policies that could better support diverse ways of learning, particularly for young people with SEND.

Evelyn

DofE has taught Evelyn many life lessons, including determination, tolerance of others and the importance of appreciating the simple things in life. Evelyn’s musical abilities shone throughout, as she learnt to play the trombone and joined a youth brass band for the Skills section, attended a choral singing course for her Residential and even created a musical for her Gold Expedition aim. DofE has shown Evelyn what’s important to her, sparking a deep passion for the environment and inspiring her to pursue a career connected to wildlife conservation and ecology. As a cancer survivor, Evelyn is determined to embrace every day with a positive mindset – she believes this attitude will make her a great DofE Youth Ambassador and can’t wait to inspire others with her tenacity, resilience and love of life.

Evie

DofE was a lifeline for Evie during her teenage years. Her Award experience gave her opportunities to make best friends, while also building the confidence to find her voice. As an A-Level Politics student, Evie is passionate about young people’s voices being heard. She would love to have a direct impact on shaping UK laws whilst trying to improve youth engagement in politics. Evie says that one of her favourite things about DofE is that it shows young people are capable of so much more than scrolling on their phones. Evie’s DofE Award highlighted many important things to her, one being her love of teaching. She combined her passion for horse-riding with teaching young children with additional needs and helped inspire other participants as a Young Leader.

Faith

To Faith, the DofE means access, empowerment and connection. Growing up in a Nigerian immigrant family, hiking and camping weren’t always accessible, but DofE gave her a springboard for new experiences – as well as the confidence to enter new environments. Faith now wants to encourage others to give it a try – especially those who might be fearful at first. From performing Tchaikovsky in concert to taking a leadership role in her Silver expedition, Faith’s DofE confirmed just how much she can achieve when she sets her mind to it. Her Volunteering section – tutoring underprivileged children – inspired her in many ways, showing how powerful it can be when young people are given someone who truly believes in them. In the future, Faith sees herself contributing to youth advocacy and policy.

Fifi

Fifi wanted to be a DofE Youth Ambassador to show other young people that your past or your struggles don’t determine your future. She believes DofE means that no matter your story, you can always achieve something you’re proud of. Fifi discovered a passion for being outdoors and the practical side of the working world through DofE – it’s helped her shape her future plans and realise her vocation is in non-academic arenas, where she thrives. She loves being outside of her comfort zone and is looking for a career in the armed forces, or similar. DofE has helped her overcome her struggles with dyslexia and find her self-worth. As a Youth Ambassador, Fifi is keen to show that DofE is an equaliser for young people, empowering everyone with their own version of success.

Jenna

Jenna used to talk herself out of things, but now she talks herself into things! Having achieved Gold through DofE Workplace at Stansted Airport, Jenna’s biggest shift during her DofE was her mindset. She’s found her resilience improve dramatically, giving her more confidence in professional settings, more self-belief and more trust in her own potential. Jenna has credited DofE with improving her networking and communication skills, connecting her with colleagues from different departments through the Expeditions and an outward bounds teambuilding Residential – making her both a better team player and leader. She’s been inspired to give back. Through being a DofE Youth Ambassador, Jenna wants to springboard from the work she did promoting DofE Workplace to new cohorts at Stansted, and advocate for DofE’s life-changing impact all across the UK.

Laurentiu

Laurentiu is an enthusiastic DofE Youth Ambassador who always jumps at the chance to make a difference. He is looking forward to championing youth voice and positively influencing a movement that has given him so much. DofE pushed him out of his comfort zone in making ways, from kickstarting his fitness journey to inspiring him to volunteer with the British Red Cross and subsequently join their youth leadership team. Laurentiu credits DofE with giving him many invaluable connections – it’s been a great opportunity for him to network with other inspiring young people. As a young person who immigrated aged 14, Laurentiu left behind everything he’d ever known at a young age. DofE has helped him rebuild all-important self-belief and resilience, as well a strong sense of belonging and community spirit.

Leo

If there’s one quote that summarises Leo’s DofE experience, it’s: “I wish every day could be a DofE expedition”. He credits his many expeditions – from hiking in the Surrey hills to canoeing down the River Severn – with building his endurance and resilience while making lifelong memories. DofE has taught Leo how to be more optimistic about opportunities. Previously, he felt apathetic about trying new things, but DofE has shown him how much there is to gain from unique experiences. It’s helped him to transition into a more self-confident person, giving him opportunities to both challenge himself and show him what he values most in life. An adrenaline fuelled adventure activity week in Snowdonia for his Gold Residential section cemented Leo’s decision to pursue a career in the outdoors.

Lucy

DofE helped Lucy overcome numerous obstacles, showing her, she could achieve so much more than she ever thought. Lucy’s already challenging Gold expedition became even tougher when her health condition flared up days before setting off. Her expedition success against the odds, as well her time volunteering with the charity Kissing It Better, showed her the importance of bonds between people, community and empathy. One of her highlights has been making more intergenerational connections through her fundraising and she has made a friend for life in her 98-year-old pen pal Pat. As a Youth Ambassador, Lucy can’t wait to promote DofE – especially for people with additional needs. She says DofE is a great lesson in learning about yourself, learning to ask for help and proving to yourself just how capable you are.

Luke

Each section of Luke’s DofE experience was a step out of his comfort zone and chance to learn about himself. He particularly loved completing his Volunteering section – leading a team of fifty school ambassadors. Being able to support so many young people while continuing to challenge his own capabilities has been hugely beneficial, showing him the value of giving back to your community. Luke is also passionate about youth voice, policy and advocacy, and sees his time as a DofE Youth Ambassador as a great opportunity to explore these passions further. Living in Norfolk, Luke knows first-hand how difficult the landscape is for young people – many of his peers have been struggling to even find part-time work – and is passionate about advocating for early job opportunities and enrichment access.

Lewis

The DofE means a lot to Lewis because it helped him build essential new skills and find self-belief along the way. Through his DofE journey, he felt more capable than ever before, finding he could excel with more independent tasks. From putting up a tent for the first time to becoming a sports leader, Lewis now feels more ready for the future. DofE was a chance for Lewis to explore his interests – a highlight of his DofE was being chosen to represent the charity against the Royal household at a cricket fundraiser. As a DofE Youth Ambassador, Lewis is passionate about advocating for DofE in SEND centres or alternative provisions: having his disability never holds him back and he wants to show others they can feel confident too.

Megan

DofE has meant friendship, community and challenge to Megan. She says DofE has taught her that stepping out of comfort zone is where she grows most. Her DofE journey has been defined by gaining valuable and varied life experience, from homing in on her passion for STEM to gaining qualifications with the Sea Cadets. Having never been camping before, the expeditions provided new opportunities and Megan reflects fondly on evenings spent playing hide and seek in the woods, watching the sunset and making homemade apple crumble from scratch. Megan caught the bug and recently completed the DofE’s Trek Together Challenge, clocking up 120-miles throughout March, raising vital funds for the charity. She’d like to see the Government invest in programmes like DofE that support wellbeing through getting active, community and achievement.

Niamh

Niamh credits the DofE with changing her as a person and changing her perspective of the world. Coming from a very rural area, Niamh has experienced first-hand the lack of youth services in the country and is keen to advocate for the building of third spaces outside the school and home for young people. She did her DofE through Girlguiding and the experience opened doors for her that she would not have had access to otherwise. Niamh has grown as both a leader and team player through the DofE, particularly in her impactful time volunteering for her local Brownie group. It’s given her varied opportunities for self-development, including working towards a Young Leader qualification. One day Niamh would love to be a DofE Leader, or a Brownie Leader like her granny.

Parisha

To Parisha, DofE represents challenge. Progressing through her Bronze, Silver and Gold as a 4’10” participant, she constantly pushed herself beyond her limits – physically and mentally. As one of the shortest RAF cadets in her wing, she was driven to achieve something exceptional. The excitement of expeditions and developing new skills motivated her to keep going, developing a “it’s all in your head” mindset to push through the toughest moments. As someone who initially doubted their physical ability, she understands how overwhelming DofE can seem. Parisha now wants to encourage participation as a DofE Youth Ambassador by sharing her journey honestly, talking about both her successes and struggles. She knows how much there is to gain by encouraging people who might not usually consider DofE to give it a go.

Qahira

Qahira says her DofE unlocked many doors and was her proudest achievement during school. It introduced her to a love of hiking (she now hikes with societies at university) and sparked her passion for community organisation. Qahira has been involved in youth advocacy since she was 14, inspired by her involvement with DofE. Her Volunteering section put her in contact with members of the Cardiff Youth Council and from there she joined several youth boards and was elected as Welsh Youth Parliament member. Her favourite part of any advocacy role is always meeting new people and learning from them. Being from a BAME community, Qahira’s focus as a DofE Youth Ambassador is on inclusion and access – particularly on the uneven landscape of youth services across the UK.

Sarah

For Sarah, the DofE has always primarily been about people. It’s taught her the value of community; from the bonds you build in your most exhausted expedition moments to the contributions and connections you make in your local area. DofE has shown Sarah just how many things she cares about – her love of the outdoors and camping is a passion she will now have for life. As a Youth Ambassador, Sarah hopes to make a positive impact. She’s passionate about equal opportunities for all and her experience volunteering with Brownies gave her a love of inspiring and mentoring young women. Sarah is keen to use her platform to talk about topics relating to young women and sports, such as menstruation and the high percentage of girls who drop out of sports.

Sathya

For Sathya, DofE has been a way to continuously prove himself. The DofE sparked a passion for hiking which he would have never have otherwise discovered – and now he’s planning his own trips with friends. The DofE got Sathya into volunteering properly for the first time, leading to him becoming his school’s Charity Committee head. Through DofE, Sathya has become a Young Leader, where he’s been able to build up his confidence, communication skills and leadership, finding a love of teaching. As an A-Level Politics student, Sathya feels that political literacy across the country needs a boost. He’s keen to talk to his peers about wide-ranging topics in his Youth Ambassador role, as it’s more vital than ever for young people to be aware of social media bubbles and misinformation campaigns.

Sophie

To Sophie, DofE means community, challenge and self-expression. DofE has been part of her life for over a decade, having started her Bronze at school before returning to Gold years later through DofE Direct. Sophie credits DofE with changing her in many ways, giving her opportunities to better herself, discover a new community and show her individuality. She takes pride in her role volunteering as a Scout Leader and loved connecting with people from across the globe on her Residential at the Essex International Scout Jamboree. Through her Skills section Sophie improved her communication skills, writing, editing and gaining journalism experience at her student newspaper and in her DofE Youth Ambassador role, she hopes to combine all her skills and passions – communication, youth voice and community spirit – and develop them even further.

Tabitha

Tabitha’s DofE has been more than an Award – it’s been a mental journey. During lockdown, Tabitha struggled with her OCD and missed the social occasions that made her feel like herself. DofE gave Tabitha the opportunity to focus on her self-belief and rebuild confidence through a safe, stable and empowering programme. She discovered a passion for English – tutoring students for her Volunteering sections and is now studying the subject at university. Tabitha has been able to use her voice to make an impact, having spoken at the Senedd as a Welsh Youth Ambassador and influenced discussions as a Holocaust Youth Ambassador. Her experience and self-growth means she would now love to speak up about mental health as a DofE Youth Ambassador, encouraging others to say yes to opportunities, even when it feels intimidating.

Tegwen

Tegwen is a Civil Engineering Degree Apprentice and is passionate about inspiring more females into STEM. Her DofE journey began 5 years ago, building the confidence, resilience and drive that led her to pursue her apprenticeship. Staring her career as the youngest and least experienced person in the room was a challenge she felt ready to face. DofE gave Tegwen the space to explore her lifelong love of dance – if there’s open space and music, she’s dancing! This led to her first job as a dance assistant where she discovered the power of serving a community cause bigger than herself. Tegwen approaches challenges with determination and endless energy and is currently trying to master Japanese. As a Youth Ambassador, Tegwen aims to expand Welsh-medium access and champion apprenticeships.

Tristan

For Tristan, DofE has been one of the most important and rewarding experiences of his life. He credits DofE with helping him shape who he is by building his confidence, independence, teamwork and leadership skills. Completing his Bronze, Silver and Gold gave Tristan a sense of achievement, but, more importantly, it taught him how much he can grow when he keeps pushing himself. From hiking with sherpas in the Himalayas to caring for rhinos at an orphaned rhino sanctuary, in South Africa, Tristan seized his DofE opportunity with both hands, designing a life-changing programme for himself and pushing every comfort zone he’s ever known. As a Youth Ambassador, Tristan can’t wait to promote the many ways DofE has shaped him, including finding connection through shared challenges and spending time in nature.