One of the BEST experiences in my youth: the Duke of Edinburgh Award programme ( @DofE). Aged 14-18, I achieved bronze, silver & gold levels; did expeditions all over the country; met lifelong mates & mentors; lots of volunteer work in the local community & learned so many skills!

For a couple of years after that I became a @DofE instructor, volunteering at my local youth centre, mentoring young(er) people and passing on all the valuable skills learned from DofE (e.g. teamwork, reading a compass, building tents, first aid, using trangias etc)

My parents were keen to find ways to keep us learning & off the & #39;streets& #39;. My youth centre was located in one of those classic crime hotspot areas in London. The @DofE programme offered was genuinely one of the best things to be a part of! Me & my friends gained so much doing it

Such a shame that local council& #39;s have had their budgets for youth work decimated over the years - amazing schemes like the @DofE are no longer available. My youth club fought really hard to keep it. Sadly they couldn& #39;t. If it were to make a comeback, this would be a great legacy