Southwell teen selected as youth ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
A teenager from Southwell has been selected as a youth ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award — one of just 35 across the UK.
Alice Wray, 17, found a love of volunteering through The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) and now wants to advocate for other young people and help shape the direction of the DofE charity’s work.
The small cohort of ambassadors — selected from DofE Award holders aged 16-24 — will share expertise on key issues impacting them, and make young people’s voices heard by speaking at events and meeting key decision-makers.
To complete their DofE, young people aged 14 to 24 choose activities in four sections: improving a physical and skills activity, volunteering for a cause of their choice, and completing a demanding expedition.
Alice, who is doing her Gold Award through The Minster School, is a keen football player, and chose to follow her passion for football for her physical section of the award.
She said: “Doing football for my physical was a no-brainer for me, but I was also able to incorporate it into my volunteering by helping out at the under-nine’s team at Southwell City FC.
“It’s been great to see the expansion of girls’ football even since I started playing. I think it really helped the younger girls to have a young female coach, especially considering I’ve been where they are.”
For her residential section, Alice found a hostel in Snowdonia that combined gorge walking, camping, and conservation work. Through her DofE, Alice has learnt many skills, but her biggest takeaway has been discovering a love for volunteering, which she intends to continue long after she achieves her Gold Award.
A history enthusiast, Alice was able to volunteer with the National Trust at the Southwell-based Workhouse and Infirmary museum, where she helped out with everything from gardening, to arts and crafts and engaging with visitors.
Alice found that being part of a big team really helped with her confidence — and she’s one of the youngest people to have ever worked there.
She added: “There’s a misconception about young people being lazy, and I think it’s really important to change the narrative. Volunteering is a great way to show how young people can get involved in their communities.”
Alice is also joined by a second ambassador from the county — Christopher Molife, 18, from Sherwood, who achieved his Gold DofE Award through Nottingham High School.
Funded by The Gosling Foundation, the youth ambassador programme puts young people front and centre as future leaders, involving them in shaping the DofE’s work to benefit other young people.
Youth ambassadors have met Ministers and MPs, spoken at high-profile events such as party conferences and DofE Gold Award celebrations in Buckingham Palace Garden, represented the DofE at international forums and played a pivotal role feeding into key decisions across the charity.
Ashley Williams, UK youth engagement manager at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “Alice and Christopher are two of many young people who have achieved incredible things through their DofE.
“As a charity, we’re determined to put young people at the heart of everything we do and to give them as many opportunities as we can to make a positive impact on the issues they care about — I am excited to see the positive impact our new cohort of youth ambassadors make this year.
“It’s not an easy time to be a young person, with the ongoing after-effects of the pandemic and the cost-of-living crisis to contend with.
“Now more than ever, it’s crucial that all young people can access opportunities like the DofE, which let them have fun, grow their resilience and self-belief, and develop vital skills they can’t always get in the classroom.”
It is an opportunity for participants to have fun, grow in resilience and self-belief, discover new talents and passions, and learn practical skills to help them in future — while working towards a highly respected award.
