Achieving my Silver and Gold DofE Awards was such a positive experience that the memories have stayed with me forever. I always wanted to give something back to the charity that has helped me through a difficult time in my life, which is why I chose to become a DofE Leader. One of my fondest memories as a Leader was when I was assessing a group of Special Educational Needs learners for the Expedition section of their Bronze programmes. They found some charcoal from a campfire, painted their faces with it and then made up stories of how they had become so dirty. It was lovely to witness the camaraderie and friendships forming in the team.