Teen ambassador wants DofE for all young people

Saieesha Bailoor, 19, hopes to break into a political career to keep enacting change

A 19-year-old woman recently appointed as a Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award ambassador says she wants to make the scheme more accessible in deprived areas.

Saieesha Bailoor from Basildon, Essex, hopes to work with key decision-makers in Parliament to try ensuring everyone can take part.

During the Covid-19 pandemic, she overcame her nerves to take on her Bronze Award, before earning her silver and gold.

"I had such an amazing experience that I think it should be available to every young person no matter where they live or what their circumstances are," she told the BBC.

"I think that for multiple reasons DofE could be inaccessible but also people don't know about it.

"In Essex it's pretty well known I'd say but in other areas, not so much."

Ms Bailoor, who attended Westcliff High School for Girls near Southend-on-Sea, is one of 31 new DofE youth ambassadors aged between 16 and 24.

She spoke at the Liberal Democrat party conference in September to garner support for an enrichment guarantee, which is a campaign asking government that all young people are guaranteed access to activities.

"It was great to be able to just cut out everything else and talk directly to the policymakers," she said.

"[Politicians] love to talk about young people, but not necessarily to them."

The DofE Award wants to increase uptake in more deprived areas, as well as in prisons and young offender institutes. It is also targeting young people with additional needs and disabilities.

Saieesha chose to learn bharatanatyam, a classical form of Indian dance, as part of her physical challenges during her DoE Award activities

In 2024-25, a record-breaking 572,802 young people took part in the DofE Award.

This amounted to 5.2 million hours of volunteering.

The DofE Award requires young people carry out a series of programmes and challenges - including volunteering and expeditions - in order to achieve their certificate.

Ms Bailoor said: "I loved being outdoors with my group, even getting lost.

"It was the first time I'd really had to rely on myself and others in that way, and it gave me a huge sense of independence.

"I realised I was capable of more than I thought."

Earlier this year, the YMCA England and Wales charity said 643 youth centres had closed over the last decade, and that 63% of councils anticipated further cuts to services for young people and families.

Ashley Williams, UK youth engagement manager at the DofE Award, said: "It is a challenging time to be a young person, with cutbacks to youth services, rising living costs, and a mental health and school attendance crisis.

"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."