Words by
Gio Reid
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) encourages young people to challenge themselves, work as a team, and gain lifelong skills through volunteering, physical activity, skill-building, and an expedition.
During the last weekend of September, I joined the DofE expedition as an assessor. My job was to support the young people, make sure they were safe, and encourage them as they worked through the different parts of the programme.
The group camped overnight at Stubbers Adventure Centre in Upminster. For many of them, it was their first time camping, but they quickly learned how to put up their tents and adjust to life outdoors. They also completed a semi-guided walk of around 2.5 hours, where they practised map reading and navigation, a real test of patience and teamwork.
There were some great successes over the weekend. The young people grew more confident with navigation, picked up useful camping skills, and supported each other throughout. Their teamwork visibly improved as the hours passed.
Of course, there were also challenges. Some found map reading tricky at first, and others weren’t used to being outdoors or sleeping in tents. Road safety was another issue, as a few parts of the walking route weren’t ideal. But by staying focused, listening carefully, and encouraging each other, the group managed to overcome these hurdles and keep going.
For me personally, the biggest success was seeing inner-city young people experience the outdoors, some for the very first time. Watching them step out of their comfort zones and really embrace camp life was inspiring. My main challenge was keeping everyone safe on the roads, but with teamwork and supervision, we managed to do so effectively.
To round things off, the young people enjoyed a fun session of laser tag on the final day, a well-earned reward for all their hard work.
One of the most memorable moments for me was hearing a young person, Henry, say:
“Gio was such a great leader and made sure I was taken care of.”
Hearing this reaffirmed the impact of supportive leadership and the lasting value of the DofE experience.
This expedition was made possible through close collaboration with Khaleel from Coffee Afrik CIC, who worked alongside us to deliver and supervise the programme. His support and dedication helped ensure the young people had a safe, engaging, and empowering experience throughout the weekend. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Coffee Afrik CIC for their continued partnership and commitment to creating opportunities for young people to thrive.
83% of young people who completed the Expedition said they would recommend the DofE programme to their friends.
The Duke of Edinburgh programme is one of the many ways We Belong empowers young migrants to kickstart their careers and learn valuable life skills for the future. We look forward to welcoming our next cohort in spring/summer 2026, but you can register your interest now by signing up here!