I really enjoyed participating in my Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and wanted to take it further and get my Silver award as well. It will give me skills and confidence when applying for future studies or work.
If I wasn’t doing D of E, I would not have been doing any worthwhile community work for charity. For Bronze, I enjoyed my work in the cattery and the stables at Bridge Farm in Lingfield.
I like to be outdoors and I helped remove a derelict hedge on Gravetye Estate so it can be restored for nature. I like giving back to the community and the environment and hopefully making a difference to the world. This is what volunteering is all about. It is also something you can choose that you really want to do it. Whereas with work you don’t always do what you want to do.
I am making friends through D of E. I am meeting older people, which is fun for me because they probably don’t get to meet younger people like me, and they enjoy it when I come. Over the weeks I have been doing this they have become as much a part of my family too.
I really enjoyed my time at Gravetye Estate with all the people and getting to do activities which will link in all sorts of ways in helping the environment.
This experience will also greatly enhance my CV. There is a lot of competition for jobs now, but employers respect D of E awards. It shows that I am a well-rounded, confident individual who can work independently and as part of a team. Completing my D of E Award is a great achievement for me personally.
At the end of the day, I can say
“I did it!”
