Teen wins gold Duke of Edinburgh Award (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Teen wins gold Duke of Edinburgh Award

AN ENTERPRISING teenager is one of only four pupils at her school to take on the Duke of Edinburgh's Award and achieve GOLD.

It took Nicola Winning four years to complete the impressive feat, but this week she was among a handful of young people to collect the top award in London.

Through the voluntary programme the 18-year-old, who lives in Fairford, has done charity work, led expeditions and even travelled to Mongolia. She said: "It's a clich, but it has been a life-changing experience - fantastic and unforgettable.

"I started it at school for years ago and really enjoyed doing the BRONZE level, so just carried on. It looked fun and I love outdoor sports and a challenge."

The GOLD level involved Nicola learning to drive in six months, taking up running and helping with Duke of Edinburgh expeditions to the Brecon Beacons and the New Forest.

More importantly, however, she took herself off to work at an outdoor activities centre for disabled children in Surrey for five days.

She said: "I was quite scared about doing it, but it turned out to be really fun and interesting."

But her trip to Mongolia was the definite highlight of her four-year undertaking to achieve the clean sweep of BRONZE, SILVER and GOLD.

In preparation Nicola and three school friends went on a walking/camping trip to Wales.

"I had never done any camping before," she said. "But now I am really into it."

In Mongolia she was part of a team of 15 from her Oxfordshire school Headington, spending four months in the country and even briefly visiting China.

She said: "We spent about two weeks trekking - a week on foot and a week on horseback - then we spent time at an orphanage. It was quite shocking to see how the conditions were like there, but everyone was so helpful with everything."

Nicola spent the visit painting buildings at the orphanage and organising games for the children, which she said was a wonderful experience.

Also, last Thursday she was congratulated by the Duke of Edinburgh himself at a special ceremony at St James's Palace.

Of the 60 pupils at her school to take part in the scheme only four were able to jump the final hurdle and achieve GOLD.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, which is celebrating its 50th birthday this year, is open to anyone aged 14-25.

It aims to help communities and encourage young people to learn new skills, take up sports and embark on expeditions.

Those tackling the GOLD level must also undertake an enterprise with people not known to the participant. For more information visit www.theaward.org