Kettering's Amy can't wait for Royal trip after gaining gold Duke of Edinburgh Award

The sixth former showed great determination and resilience
Amy Bird has received the gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.Amy Bird has received the gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.
Amy Bird has received the gold Duke of Edinburgh Award.

A Kettering schoolgirl says she can't wait for the chance to visit Buckingham Palace after gaining a gold Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award.

Amy Bird, who is in Year 13 at Bishop Stopford School, impressively achieved the award despite restrictions she faced because of the Covid pandemic.

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And she said it was very poignant to receive her pin badge and letter in the post last week after the recent death of Prince Philip, who founded the youth awards programme in 1956.

To gain the award, Amy has been volunteering at the 16th Kettering Brownies, cycling with the Kettering Cycling Club and learning photography, as well as completing a residential at the Phasels Wood Activity Centre.

Her practice expedition took place last August in the Lake District with her actual expedition taking place in the Peak District during four chilly days last October.

Amy is now waiting for restrictions to ease and then hopes to be invited to Buckingham Palace to receive her certificate.

She said: “I was really pleased to receive my award.

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"I have had lots of new experiences, discovered skills I didn’t know I had and learnt a lot about myself during the whole experience.

"But I am most looking forward to vising the palace once restrictions ease to receive my certificate.”

Those who take on a Duke of Edinburgh Award select and participate in objectives which cover volunteering, physical, skills and expedition. People who take on a gold award must also do a fifth additional residential section.

Each level, between bronze and gold, demands more time and commitment from participants with gold awards taking between 12 and 18 months to complete.

Statistics for the year to March 2020 showed just 12,403 people completed their gold award over the 12 months.

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