Lucy Marshall, 17, was chosen after the award helped her find confidence following a period of home education.
She joins 30 other DofE award holders aged 16 to 24, who will represent young people across the UK.
They will speak at events, meet decision-makers in Parliament, and contribute to shaping the DofE charity’s work.
Lucy signed up for her Bronze Award in her first month back at Hayes School in Bromley, after being home schooled.
She said: “DofE gave me purpose again after a period where I had lost all of my self-esteem.
“In Years 8–10, I was home-schooled due to my father having cancer, and our family having to shield during the pandemic.
“Unfortunately, in 2021 my father passed away and I was dreading my return to school.
“Having missed so much, I struggled to fit back in.
“I had been in a period of anxiety and grief, and I had lost confidence.
“Starting my DofE helped me make connections with other people my age and got me out of the house.”
Lucy has represented the DofE in her new role, attending the Liberal Democrat party conference in September.
She called on leading politicians to back an Enrichment Guarantee – 80 hours of high-quality enrichment activities per year for all young people, as part of the Government’s National Youth Strategy.
Ashley Williams, UK Youth Engagement Manager at The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, said: “Lucy has achieved incredible things through her DofE.
“As a charity, we’re committed to putting young people at the heart of everything we do and give them the opportunity to make a positive, lasting impact on the issues they are passionate about.
“I am excited to see the impact that our new cohort of Youth Ambassadors will make this year.
“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.”
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.
The Gosling Foundation funds the Youth Ambassador programme, which involves young people in shaping the DofE’s work to benefit other young people.
DofE Youth Ambassadors have met ministers and 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 in feeding into key decisions across the charity.
Lucy is now hoping to complete her Silver Award in Year 13, with support from a bursary.
As a Youth Ambassador, she hopes to share her story and encourage others to take part.
Lucy said: “DofE gave me confidence.
“It made me feel capable of going to university and gave me experience beyond school.
“I want to show people that if I can do it, they can too.
“It’s achievable – and it can change your life.”
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award wants to see 1.6 million young people start their DofE by Spring 2026.
It has launched ambitious projects to fund schools and community organisations in the UK’s most deprived areas to start offering the DofE, to expand into more prisons and young offender institutions, and to support more young people with additional needs and disabilities to achieve their DofE Awards.
The DofE is delivered in schools, colleges, community organisations, hospitals, prisons and more, all over the UK.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is open to any young person aged 14–24.
Participants build their own programmes, choosing activities and a cause to volunteer for, in order to achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Award.
