Meet our 2022 UK Youth Ambassadors

Aimee

Aimee signed up for Bronze through her local community group, and it led to her finding a love for working with animals which she discovered through her Volunteering section.. Now nearing completion of her Gold Award, she spends her free time working on a rare breeds farm, caring for the animals and giving tours to visitors. She has even changed her career plans to study animal science at university. - “I’m really hoping, as an Ambassador, that I’ll be able to promote the health benefits, the positive side of being outdoors and encourage more people to do outdoor volunteering. DofE gives you the confidence to give things a go, to put yourself out there.”

Alisa

Alisa signed up for her Bronze DofE thinking it would look good on her CV, but found the experience offered so much more, and has gone on to complete Silver and is now doing Gold. she enjoys being creative and finds art therapeutic, so she utilised her Skills section as a chance to improve her sketching and painting skills and inspire younger students by running an art club in her school. - “Confidence is 100% the biggest thing I gained through DofE because I used to be quite shy. I think young people should be listened to more and the Youth Ambassador programme is a great platform to share our ideas.”

Amelia W

Amelia is passionate about ensuring all young people are given the opportunity to access the DofE. A real highlight for Amelia was her Gold Residential, being part of a crew in the Tall Ships Race. Having never been on a boat before this was way out of her comfort zone but was a truly incredible experience. - “I feel like kids today will grow up with zero self-confidence because of the expectations social media puts out there. DofE gets you outdoors, you don’t have time to go on your phone, you are too busy having fun with friends. There was no DofE programme at my school, I was lucky to come across Rolls Royce and I want to make sure every school knows that it’s such a good opportunity.”

Amelia S

As a Youth Ambassador, Amelia hopes to speak out on issues that matter to her like the environment and mental health. She’s also keen to encourage others to take on the award, as her own journey has been ‘life-changing’. Amelia wants to pursue a career in medicine and is developing key skills through DofE, such as doing an online First Aid course. - “I’m hoping to encourage more people to do DofE, I think there’s a stigma that it’s for sporty or outdoorsy people and it’s not necessarily. There are so many sections, you can choose what is best for you.”

Amelie

One of the most impactful sections of Amelie’s DofE was the Physical. Wanting to improve her fitness for her Silver Expedition, Amelie took up the gym and says it was a great place to release the stress of GCSEs and helped with her mental health, providing her with a focus and routine.- “DofE taught me to go outside my comfort zone and do things I always wanted to do but never had the courage to try. I’ve got a massive fear of failure, but I now understand that you’re not always brilliant at everything straight away and that’s ok!"

Anders

Anders has discovered his love for nature during his Bronze Volunteering conservation projects, learning about and caring for different species of birds in the woods around college. He has built his confidence, improved his mental health, and found his voice. He has gone from being afraid to put his hand up in class, to now supporting younger students in college starting out on their DofE journeys. - “Mental health in young people is more important than ever now with stress, exams and the effects of Covid. It’s been a struggle for me in the past and I want to help other young people, maybe by speaking out I can help those going through it.”

Anya

Anya has embraced the opportunity to do something different and try new things throughout her DofE experience, despite the restrictions which were in place during lockdown. This has ranged from learning table tennis on the dining room table, to taking on a couch to 5K running challenge and even setting up an online philosophy and ethics club at her school. - “I’m so glad to have this opportunity to speak to audiences who don’t normally listen to young people and a responsibility to represent my peers. Not many people get that opportunity to be listened to on this scale and it’s a chance to make a real difference.”

Beyan

Beyan says that the physical challenges of the award have really improved her fitness and health. Having been unable to take on certain activities as a child due to having asthma, she says DofE has taught her that it’s important not to let anything hold you back from your goals. Sport now plays an integral part in Beyan’s life. She rediscovered her passion for Rugby, is a keen dancer and even helps coach a junior netball team. - “DofE has been really important to me, like a second family. I feel like when I’m walking with my team, doing sport or volunteering with young people it’s about being in that space, that moment, it’s about making new relationships, making new memories.”

Dipesh

DofE has been a real journey for Dipesh, who has transformed from being very shy when he started secondary school to someone who loves to meet new people. He pushed himself to explore new hobbies and is now a grade 8 guitarist having practiced regularly throughout his Bronze, Silver and Gold awards. - “DofE gave me a shift of mind-set, I didn’t have to do something to be good at it, I could do it for the love of it or as a social thing. It’s that idea that you don’t really know your limits and that’s something I hope to keep exploring, rather than letting others tell me what I can and can’t do.”

Dominic

Dominic was determined to follow in his mum's footsteps and has now achieved his Bronze, Silver and Gold. His DofE journey saw him grow in confidence and develop new skills, life lessons and friendships. Through DofE he has found his sense of adventure and love for being out on the water, trying his hand at both sailing and rowing. - “DofE has been a proper growth journey for me, I’m more confident and have more interests and hobbies. I remember when I’d just finished Bronze, talking to someone who’d done Gold and thinking he was really cool. Now I’m not dissimilar from that guy. I’m being who I want to be.”

Dylan

Naturally sporty, Dylan challenged himself to complete a half marathon and then after months of training took on the London Triathlon, which is one of his greatest accomplishments. It was the Volunteering section where Dylan felt most inspired. He found a real enjoyment in helping people and making a positive impact. His volunteering has ranged from litter picking and helping elderly neighbours, to creating his own delivery service during lockdown, raising money for charity along the way. - “Self-development means having to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable. I did so much through DofE that I’d never done before, it takes what you like and puts a different perspective on it.”

Eoin

Eoin volunteered as a young leader at scouts for Bronze and Silver and enjoyed it so much he has now become a leader, responsible for the planning and delivery of sessions which he finds incredibly rewarding. Eoin says DofE inspired him to ‘give back’ to his community and commit to continually developing himself. The award has taught him teamwork, independence and to trust in his own ability. - “I want to give back to DofE, to make sure that every young person who wants to do it, can. Many schools in Northern Ireland don’t do it, it’s done through other youth organisations, but it’s such an incredible achievement, there are no limits as to where DofE can take you.”

Emily

Emily started her DofE aged 14 to broaden her horizons outside of her studies. She was an accomplished athlete, representing her region at basketball. However, everything changed during her Gold Award, after she went into hospital following an accident and had potentially lifesaving surgery. She spent the next two and a half years learning to walk again. Incredibly, Emily has now completed her Gold expedition. She says that seeing the finish line in the distance was not the end of a 4-day challenge, it was the end of a two-and-a-half-year journey of recovery. - “At 24, I didn’t know if I could finish or not, but we found a way and I’d love everyone to know that no matter what challenges they face, they’re just as good a candidate as anyone else.”

Evangeline

Evie has a firm belief in the importance of helping within her community and strives to make the world a fairer and more equal place, by tackling poverty and health inequalities. She has big plans to continue making a positive impact and wants to study international relations at university. It was through the volunteering section that Evie first discovered her passion. - “I’d like our politicians to communicate more with young people. I want to know how I can make a change in society I want to leave a positive mark on this world and feel the Ambassador role has given me a chance to do that.”

Ez

Ez is an Army Cadet and wanted to get involved with DofE to build her confidence. Already a dancer, Ez started a musical theatre class for her Bronze Physical and says committing for DofE helped her overcome stage fright. Ez became a Youth Ambassador so others can hear about her positive experiences and have the confidence and belief to take part themselves. - “DofE has been life-changing for me, it’s just a few hours a week but gives you so much. I know if I hadn’t been an army cadet, I would not have had these experiences. We need to think about ways to make DofE more accessible. One example is having a place where you can borrow kit then donate it back.”

Fevroniya

Fev moved to the UK when she was 12 and loved the idea of the Expedition section and signed up to Bronze straight away when she was in Year 9. She found her passion for Hockey through the Physical section when she decided to try something completely new. She now plays for her school team and on a national level with her local club, developing her teamwork and communication skills along the way. - “DofE has changed my life and I want other young people to have that opportunity. The award has been a big part of my life, and this is a great chance to influence the actions of the organisation, making it even better.”

Ffion

Ffion was keen to challenge herself when she signed up for DofE, and now having achieved Bronze, Silver and Gold, is committed to ensuring more young people have the opportunity to get involved, especially those who traditionally faced barriers to access. Volunteering was her favourite section as she spent time at a specialist school for pupils with learning difficulties. Having helped on site with baking, cooking and quizzes, she continued to support online through Covid and plans to go back in the future. - “It’s rare to be given a platform like this as young people are not always listened to and can feel disenfranchised. The Youth Ambassador programme is a fantastic opportunity to be heard.”

Finlay

Finlay first heard about DofE through Scouts and thought that trekking through muddy fields would be very much his idea of fun! He used his passion for athletics for his Physical and is now a West Midlands champion athlete. As a Youth Ambassador he is especially keen to share his passion for physical activity and the benefits it can bring to people. “I think the physical side can be daunting, that fear of being judged, but it’s just about making some improvement and DofE is a community where you can do that, you’re not alone. Physical health is important but being active benefits mental health too. I want to reach those people who aren’t active and find a way to get them involved, it’s just about finding exercise that’s right for them.”c

Flavius

Flav signed up for his DofE Bronze looking for adventure and fun with friends. He never expected his journey to give him new passions, re-discover things he loved, and set him on a new direction in life. He began writing book reviews for his Skills section and this saw him fall back in love with reading, with DofE gifting him the time to commit without it feeling like a luxury. - “What DofE did for me was give me that independence, the sense I was in charge of what I was doing. It allows you to focus time purely on yourself, the time and space to push past your self-imposed boundaries, giving you back some control.”

Holly

Holly says DofE has opened her eyes to her true potential. For her Silver Skills section she did languages which improved her French A level grade, making her dream of taking languages at University a real possibility. She came away from her expeditions with many stories to tell, from climbing mountains in Germany in the sunshine then waking up the next morning to snow, to sleeping under the stars, until discovering a rogue badger rifling through her bags! These are memories that will live with her for years to come. - “DofE teaches you that you can do more than you realised, that you don’t really know what you need to work on until you put it to the test. You learn a lot about yourself.”

Jake

As a scout, Jake was already a fan of camping and the outdoors but signed up to DofE to build confidence, test his limits and try new experiences. For his Bronze Physical he started going to the gym, which is something he didn’t think he would enjoy because he wasn’t good at PE, but really got into it and still goes now. In opening up to new possibilities, he has found new hobbies and realised that, when you overcome your own fear, anything is possible. - “DofE really makes you see yourself differently. It’s easy to block off certain pathways in your head, to say something isn’t for you, but DofE helps you find out what you are good at and gives you so many opportunities.”

James

James signed up for DofE because he was keen to boost his confidence, build on his communication skills and challenge himself to push beyond his comfort zone. He found it improved his physical and mental health and gave him the courage to take on challenges, from learning new activities such as fencing to revisiting old hobbies like singing. As a Youth Ambassador he aims to combat the stigma around male mental health and believes that organisations and schools must do more to make help available for those in need. - “When you step outside your comfort zone, mistakes are inevitable but, with DofE, you know there are people there to guide you, you still have a safety net.”

Jasmine

As a Youth Ambassador, Jasmine wants to speak out about hidden disabilities, like autism, and hopefully encourage a more understanding attitude. She has already starred in her regional newspaper and on BBC news, after collecting her Gold award earlier this year. Jasmine saw DofE as an opportunity to prove to herself she could achieve anything and says the award gave her the confidence and independence to do so. - “I became an Ambassador because I want to inspire others to do DofE. Just because you have a disability, because you have challenges in life, it doesn’t mean you can’t achieve. DofE taught me that I can do anything, which is an amazing feeling.”

Joseph

During school, Joseph found he didn’t enjoy the same hobbies as his peers such as football and gaming, so when the DofE came along it was an opportunity for him to discover his passions. One of these was cycling, which has now become a big part of his life and introduced him to like-minded people. He now helps to coach the cycling disability hub training sessions which he has found extremely rewarding. - “I’m hoping the Youth Ambassador Programme helps me improve my public speaking skills and confidence. I started DofE not confident at all because I didn’t feel I was good at things but it helped me find things I am good at which definitely improved my confidence.”

Laila

Diagnosed with autism at the age of seven, school was a struggle academically and socially. After experiencing bullying, Laila spent some time out of education, before enrolling at a school for young people with additional needs. Laila says doing DofE encouraged her to be braver, to believe in herself and helped her understand the power of the words, ‘I can’. She has taken on activities including climbing, skiing, horse riding and teaching youngsters in a primary school. - “I can do it’ is such a powerful statement and if you believe it, you’re on top of the world. A lot of people with disabilities struggle to believe in themselves, the best thing is to forget about your worries and just go for it!”

Lisa

Lisa did her DofE through Girls Brigade because she thought she’d develop new interests, skills and friends. She found that the experience increased her self-belief, kept her going as she faced her own health battle and inspired her to encourage everyone, no matter their abilities, to chase their dreams. - “I wanted to become an Ambassador to inspire and encourage others to get involved in DofE. I want everyone to know that they can achieve amazing things and fulfil their dreams, if you have a disability you may have to do DofE in a slightly different way, but nothing is unreachable regardless of your background and abilities.”

Louis

DofE gave Louis hope when he felt he had none and, as a Youth Ambassador, he’s keen to ensure other young people facing challenges understand that there is always hope. As he has progressed through the levels, he has continued to push himself, finding new talents and passions along the way. From learning to play the guitar, to finding a love for skiing and even training as a Lowland Leader Assistant to support Gold expeditions, Louis is now realising what he is capable of. - “DofE was a turning point for me, I started to feel more worthwhile. It broke that pattern of believing the invalidation that held me back. I came out of it as someone new.”

Matthew

DofE wasn’t available in Matty’s school, and it saddens him that so many young people are missing out on the skills, experiences and opportunities that the awards can offer. He is now the DofE Leader for the Air Training Corps in his local area. Studying economics, Matty is very aware of social inequality and believes that schemes like DofE can really help students progress. - “There’s a lot of power in the positive impact of DofE. It’s already incredibly strong on inclusivity regardless of social background and ability and I just want to get that out there, to schools, to really engage young people. Not just in terms of better social and soft skills but in terms of better results and better futures.”

Onyii

Onyii says signing up for DofE pushed her to take the leap to try new activities, and she’s discovered many new hobbies, gained new skills and made new friends along the way. Having never camped before, she wasn’t quite sure what to expect on her Bronze Expedition and found the experience a physical challenge, but the thought of toasted marshmallows at the campsite kept her going! - “DofE taught me skills like leadership, coordination and resilience. I want to be a lawyer and these are all skills that will help in my future. At times on the expedition I asked myself why I was doing it, I felt doubt in my mind, but I’m so glad I kept going.”

Poppy

When Poppy told a former teacher that she’d just finished her Gold DofE he was surprised, saying she didn’t seem a ‘typical’ DofE student. That’s why Poppy has become a DofE Youth Ambassador, to dispel the myth that there is a ‘typical’ DofE student. Poppy ran sessions at her local brownies for her Bronze and Silver and says her first experience of volunteering was, initially, daunting but improved her confidence, skillset and she wanted to give back to the guiding organisation that has given her so much. - “DofE has made me realise who I am, what I enjoy, and that I can overcome challenges. I’ve gained confidence, discipline, respect and enormous pride in myself. It’s made a huge difference to me.”

Sam

Sam got involved in DofE after hearing about it from family and friends, who were award holders themselves, and he wanted to follow in their footsteps. For his Skill, Sam started playing the drum in his local pipe band, and now, five years later he is still playing and represents the band in local parades. He says that doing this for his DofE gave him the motivation to practice regularly which led to progressing quicker than he would have expected. - “When I learned I was going to be a Youth Ambassador I was over the moon. I want to make DofE more noticeable and make sure that everyone has the opportunity to do the Award.”

Sonali

Sonali understands the importance of volunteering and finds it a truly rewarding experience. At Silver, she spent time in a care home for the disabled, where she got to know the residents on a 1:1 basis and ran activities with them, such as the Christmas party. Since becoming a Youth Ambassador, Sonali has represented DofE on a fundraising event at the Royal Household Cricket Club, where she was presented with a cap for player of the match, from ex-England international Devon Malcolm! - “I didn’t know what it meant to be a young carer a year ago and as someone who now has hands on experience, I’d like to make the voices of young carers heard. For me, it’s about making sure that, whatever your background, you know that you can do anything that you want.”

Steph

Steph knew about the DofE long before she was old enough to enrol on her own award. Her parents were both DofE Leaders and Assessors. Growing up she spent weekends out and about on expeditions and helped Gold DofE students pitch their tents and navigate the outdoors. She jokes that had she not done her DofE, her parents would probably have disowned her! - “I think sometimes the expedition side puts people off and I want to show them how beneficial the awards can be, the experiences you get, the people you meet, the skills you develop. Not only does the award look great on your CV and helps when it comes to university and jobs, it’s just a really amazing experience.”

Sunny

As a Youth Ambassador, Sunny is determined that as many youngsters as possible, receive the support they need to take part in DofE, because the benefits offered by the awards are ‘awesome’ and should be available to all. She has a real love for the outdoors and has tried her hand at surfing, bouldering and wild swimming through her DofE awards. Her expeditions have enabled her to explore Dartmoor and the Brecon Beacons but without the support from Young Carers, opportunities to access her passions may not have been possible for Sunny. - “I know just what you can get out of DofE. I want to make sure that the number of people who can’t afford or feel like it isn't for them is as small as possible.”

Zoe

Zoe has overcome a lot of challenges throughout her DofE journey and is now a pioneer for ensuring that all young people, regardless of their personal circumstances, are able to achieve their DofE. A viral infection changed Zoe’s life overnight, leaving her mostly housebound Determined not to let her illness hold her back, Zoe has been able to achieve her Bronze, Silver and is now nearing completion of her Gold. She is now one of the first ever DofE participants to take part in a virtual expedition and has been part of the working group steering this project. - “We need to get that message out there, that DofE is accessible. It's an amazing opportunity and should be available to everyone, even those who can’t have the experience of trekking across a field with a big rucksack.”