Former foster child celebrates Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award

Jay Passmore, a former foster child/child-in-care, is now a Support Worker with Fostering Services.  Jay has been working towards his Duke of Edinburgh Award for some time, and was recently rewarded with a Gold Award.

Accompanied by Shaun Blair, his Support Worker and mentor, Jay received his Gold Award certificate at St James’ Palace.

He started his day seeing London from the London Eye, then walked to the Houses of Parliament and Westminster Abbey, explored Horse Guards, Trafalgar Square, Piccadilly Circus, Chinatown and Buckingham Palace, before ending up at St James’ Palace.

Jay tells us: “At St James’ Palace, I was interviewed by the Duke of Edinburgh Awards Communications Manager.  We talked about my background and my experience of taking the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, as well as my hopes and aspirations for the future. The purpose of this interview was to promote the scheme to young people.  My experience as a foster child meant that I could explain things from a unique perspective.

“Shaun and I then queued in the courtyard with 300 other Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award Winners, before a briefing in the Palace State Room.  Prince Edward was there and he asked if anyone had completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award outside of school, and I was able to say that I had completed it with the Devon Fostering Service.  He was very interested in my story and asked if I was still in contact with the Service.

“Prince Edward then had a long conversation about me and my life experience with Richard Rochester, the Duke of Edinburgh Co-ordinator for Devon Fostering Service.

“After the presentation of certificates, we had a tour of some of the State Rooms, including the Throne Room and the Entrée Room, where Prince William and Kate Middleton announced their engagement.

“Without a doubt, this was the best day of my life, and a remarkable once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

“I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend that any young person grabs the opportunity to work towards a Duke of Edinburgh Award. It wasn’t easy to achieve the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award, but the hard work was definitely worth it – after all, it isn’t every day that you get the opportunity to go to a palace and meet a member of the Royal Family.

“The journey back to Devon gave me time to reflect on my life and all the people that have helped me get to where I am now.  I felt overwhelmed that someone in the Royal Family had taken the time to show interest in my story.

“The experience of being in care has meant that I know the very worst and very best of myself.  My lows have been very low, but my highs have exceeded my expectations.  Words cannot describe how, from day one, my foster carer and support workers have been there for me and taught me so many invaluable lessons.

“I hope that other young people in care are able to experience the same opportunities as I have had.  Given the same level of support, they, too, will be able to be the very best that they can.  I have learnt so much and am now the very proud owner of a Duke of Edinburgh Gold Award.”