At the end of 2025, we welcomed our third DofE cohort to Black Girls Hike.
Following the success of our previous cohorts, we were excited to welcome 10 young women from Manchester as they took on the challenge of completing their Duke of Edinburgh’s Bronze Award.
For us, DofE is about so much more than completing an expedition. It’s an opportunity for young people to try new things, push themselves outside their comfort zones and develop skills that stay with them long after the programme ends.
And over the course of the year, we watched that happen.
Building the skills
The girls attended weekly sessions where they learned everything they would need for their expedition. They practised planning routes, reading maps and using a compass, gradually becoming more confident with skills that initially felt unfamiliar.
That confidence extended beyond the classroom.
For their physical sections, the girls committed to activities including running, walking and swimming, as well as private gym sessions at The Training Club Manchester. They really locked in, and all that preparation put them in a strong position for the expedition ahead.
Their volunteering also took them into different parts of their community, from supporting local charity shops and retirement homes to getting involved with the Manchester Museum.
In April, the girls delivered their own presentations on an artwork of their choice, sharing their research with friends, family and members of the public. Then in May, they supported the museum’s Africa Day.
It was brilliant to see how much their confidence had grown by this point. The girls who had once been learning new skills in the classroom were now confidently leading people around a museum and sharing their knowledge with the public.
Finding new passions
The skills section gave everyone the chance to explore something they were interested in, and the girls certainly made it their own.
They chose photography, baking, crocheting and guitar lessons, dedicating time throughout the year to developing their chosen skills.
One of the girls even brought her camera along on the expedition, capturing moments from the two days along the way.
The big one: the expedition
Then came the part everyone had been preparing for.
The qualifying expedition meant 12km of walking without phones, relying on the maps, compasses and navigation skills they'd spent months learning.
Before setting off, the girls had practised packing their bags, plotting their routes, pitching tents and using camping stoves. They also refreshed their navigation skills, including orientating a map and working out what to do if they lost their way.
When expedition day finally arrived, the girls were in good spirits, with backpacks filled with everything they needed.
They split into two groups and headed into the hills of Stockport, with the BGH team stationed at checkpoints along the route.
And it was a real journey.
There were moments of uncertainty as they tried to work out whether they were on the right track. There were breaks when the backpacks felt a little heavier and the miles seemed a little longer. But there was also plenty of teamwork, with the girls supporting each other and working through the challenge together.
Eventually, they made it to camp.
After all that practice, pitching the tents turned out to be surprisingly straightforward. Once they were settled, it was time to put their cooking skills to the test and get some well-earned rest.
The following morning, they headed back out feeling refreshed after a good night's sleep. The scenery was beautiful, and there was a definite new energy in the group.
Carla, their assessor, was a welcome sight at the checkpoints, encouraging the girls to put the skills they'd been developing over the past few months into practice.
And they did.
Bronze Award complete
All 10 girls successfully completed their Bronze expedition, a huge achievement and something we're incredibly proud of them for.
Watching their progress throughout the programme has been such a rewarding experience. From learning how to use a compass to confidently navigating an expedition, from trying new physical activities to speaking in front of a museum audience, the girls have shown real commitment to their goals.
A huge thank you to Alice, our DofE Lead, Lashone, our DofE Volunteer Leader and Support, and Carla, our assessor, for all their hard work and support throughout the programme.
And, of course, a massive congratulations to our 10 DofE participants.
They put in the work, supported each other and got themselves across that finish line.
We can't wait to see where they take these skills next. 💚