Gemma, member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group, is also an advocate for the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) and is currently doing her Gold Award. In this article, Gemma lets us know more about the DofE.
The DofE is a nationally recognised youth achievement award programme, available for young people aged 14-24. It is split into three levels (Bronze, Silver, and Gold) and each involves completing four main sections: Physical, Skills, Volunteering, and the Expedition. Many young people access the programme through their school, but DofE is also offered through national youth groups such as Scouts or Girlguiding.
As a young person who has completed Bronze and Silver, and currently working towards my Gold Award, I would strongly recommend that all young people consider participating in DofE! You may be wondering, why would anyone choose to sleep in a cold tent and hike 16+km a day for fun? And yes, the expedition is a major part of the programme – but DofE is so much more than that!
Through the programme, I have developed leadership and teamwork skills, built resilience, and become more confident in decision-making. It is also a great way to meet people you wouldn’t usually cross paths with in either school or college, making it a great social as well as personal development opportunity. When thinking ahead to after school or college, the completion of DofE can also be regarded highly by employers and higher education institutions who want to see evidence of the “soft skills” which DofE can provide.
Youth achievement award programmes like DofE empower young people and give them a sense of responsibility and an ability to achieve. These are all qualities I am embracing as a member of Youth Parliament to allow me to make a difference!
Gemma
Not just elected members
Did you know that Somerset Youth Parliament isn’t just it’s elected members? Any young person in Somerset aged 10-25 years can become a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group.
For more information about becoming a member of the Somerset Youth Parliament Advisory Group and to join, visit our Join Us page.
