Exeter teenager selected as Youth Ambassador for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

A young person from Exeter who has completed his Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), wants to connect young people with accessible music groups after being selected as a Youth Ambassador for the charity.    

Ved Jan Kumar, 16, plays the Saxophone and did his DofE Award through St James School. He joins a cohort of just 35 DofE Award holders aged 16-24 from all over the UK, who will advocate for young people by sharing their expertise on key issues impacting them. Together, they will make young people’s voices heard by speaking at events, meeting key decision-makers in Parliament and beyond, and feeding into decisions to shape the direction of the DofE charity’s work. 

Ved’s DofE journey began during lockdown, when he sent video performances of his saxophone playing to care homes as part of his Volunteering section during the COVID-19 lockdowns. Ved says: “Being able to play even a small role in helping the most vulnerable cope and get through the pandemic was a really gratifying experience. I was glad to keep residents’ spirits high without risking their health. I received really positive feedback and was asked to send the videos to hospitals too. The DofE has also inspired me to push past the boundaries of what I thought I can do and help develop myself as a young adult.” 

As a Youth Ambassador, Ved plans to advocate for more music education in schools. Ved explains: “I am a young jazz musician, and it is alarming to see the gradual decline in musical education and engagement in my generation.  The situation is especially dire in schools, where music and the arts are neglected as they are not seen as ‘employable’ subjects. Music is an important escape for me, and I want other young people to have access to playing an instrument.” 

To do their DofE, young people aged 14-24 choose their own activities to complete Physical, Skills and Volunteering sections, an Expedition and a Residential at Gold level. They have fun, discover new passions, give back to their communities, grow in resilience and self-belief, and develop vital skills employers value – while working towards a widely recognised and respected Award.  

More young people than ever started their DofE in 2022/23 – with half a million actively participating and more schools, community organisations and prisons running the DofE. 

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. 

DofE Youth Ambassadors have met 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:  

“Ved is one 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 connect them with opportunities to make a positive impact on the issues they care about – and we can’t wait to see what our new cohort of Youth Ambassadors achieve this year. 

“As they navigate the ongoing after-effects of the pandemic and a severe cost-of-living crisis, it’s more vital than ever that all young people get access to 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.”