A THURROCK woman who now spends her working life helping young people has told how she was inspired to strive for her goals by the Duke of Edinburgh's Awards Scheme.

Speaking the day after the 99-year-old Duke HRH Prince Philip, died, Lucy Boatman told Thurrock Nub News what his scheme, which he founded in 1956, had meant to her.

Lucy, who continues her connection with the royal family by working for the Prince's Trust – founded by the Duke's son, Prince Charles, said: "From a very young age I have lacked in confidence and social skills. A teacher suggested I join the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme to boost my confidence and life skills.

"I joined the local group and started my Bronze award. During this award my confidence started to grow. After completing my first DofE award, I started believing in myself and become more independent. I then moved onto my Silver. It was only at this point in my studies at college that I was diagnosed with dyslexia and began to receive the support that I needed.

"I started my Gold DofE award and as part of my residential I was offered the opportunity to volunteer in Nepal for three weeks, to help at one of their villages and to learn about their culture.

"After completing college things were beginning to turn around and I gained an apprenticeship. My position required me to spend a year in Wales as an activity instructor

"In 2015 I was invited to St James' Palace to receive my Gold DofE award from The Duke of Edinburgh - which is my proudest achievement and a wonderful memory of a great man.

"After my apprenticeship ended my job searching did not go so well. After four months I started to get a bit depressed and de-motivated. My confidence and resilience was failing, as I couldn't find work. I thought this was due to my dyslexia and lack of interview skills.

"It was by chance I had another opportunity to join the Princes Trust Team programme. I pulled up the courage to go and meet the team leaders and went to the taster day.

"I joined the team in January 2017. This is a 12 week development programme, to get young people back into employment, education or training. During the first couple of days I found it difficult, to engage with the other members and spent breaks on my own.

"I took on board all of the advice from the experienced staff. All this hard work paid off as it allowed me to take the next step, to becoming a full time member of staff.

"In October 2017 I was offered another role as apprentice youth worker with the Thurrock Prince's Trust team. I am now a qualified youth worker and I have been supporting young people in Thurrock with the Prince's Trust and Youth service for four years.

"I would like to thank HRH Duke of Edinburgh for this opportunity and journey as I wouldn't be supporting young people who are looking for new skills and opportunity's to gain confidence or employment .

The Duke of Edinburgh Awards is a youth awards programme for 14-24 years old. It gives young people the opportunity to discover new interests and talents and is tool to develop essential skills for life and work, a recognised mark of achievement respected by employers.

There are four sections to complete at bronze and silver level at five at gold. They involve helping the community /environment and becoming fitter, developing new skills planning and training for and completing an expedition and, for Gold only, working at it with a team on a residential activity.

You can find out how the scheme could help you or your children via this link.