The Duke of Edinburgh award is a life changing experience for young people. The DofE helps students to develop essential skills for life and work. It is well respected by sixth forms, colleges and employers.
The award scheme is open to all young people and offers the opportunity to set personal challenges and push personal boundaries.
Students develop their skills by completing four sections: Physical, Skill, Volunteering and the Expedition. This involves helping the community or the environment, improving fitness, developing skills and planning an expedition. Each section must take 3 months each, with one section also taking a further 3 months.
For more information regarding the award, please visit the DofE website: https://www.dofe.org/
Volunteering
3
months
Physical
3
months
Skills
3
months
Expedition
2 days
1 night
Plus a further 3 months in either the
Volunteering, Physical or Skills section
Volunteering
Volunteering’s all about taking action and making a difference – there are lots of options here:
- Fundraise for an important cause, such as St John Ambulance, YHA, Leonard Cheshire, The British Heart Foundation or create your own campaign
- Help with social media content for YHA or St John Ambulance
- Maintain Facebook / Instagram / websites for a local community group or charity
- Mentor a sibling or relative, such as by helping with schoolwork
- Coach a family member or friend to develop a new skill
- Become a volunteering videographer for YHA
- Create a campaign to raise awarenessabout an important issue
Physical
The Physical section is a chance for you to focus on your health and fitness and have fun along the way:
- Do an online yoga course with Lizzie Ward Yoga, The Kindness Club, Yoga CharmDor The Yoga Gate
- Explore walks in your local area – use an app to track your routes to upload as evidence on eDofE
- Complete the Couch to 5k challenge, or many of the other NHS fitness sessions
- Do an hour’s YouTube fitness video each week (you can try boot camps, pilates, dance routines and more)
- Take part in fitness games through your games console
Skills
From coding to cookery, the Skills section lets you learn a new talent, develop existing skills and discover new things you love:
- Learn to cook in your own kitchen with Be in the Kitchen, Blackberry Cottage, Cookability, Egg and Soldiers, Flora’s Kitchen, Kiddy Cook, Lorna Wing Cookery, Sassy Stirrers, The Organic Cookery School, Etoile Bakery,Ruth’s Little Kitchen and Secret Ingredient
- Express yourself with a free creative writing course
- Join the virtual youth orchestra
- Learn first aid with St John Ambulance
- Do a John Muir Award to discover nature from home
- Take part in online quizzes and learn about new subjects with Quizlet
Expedition
Getting into the great outdoors and spending a night away with your friends – your expedition will give you lifelong memories.
As part of a small team, you’ll plan your aim, choose your location and do some training to make sure you’re prepared and know what you’re doing — then spend two days and one night away.
Your expedition will improve your resilience, communication, teamwork and leadership skills.
You’ll come home with a rucksack full of washing — and an experience you won’t forget.
