Duke of Edinburgh
What is the Duke Of Edinburgh all about?
A Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by.
You can do programmes at three levels, which when completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
Bronze Award
You can do a Bronze DofE programme once you’re 14 (or nearly 14, which sometimes happens when you and your friends decide to start your adventure together. However, your Leader must agree this.)
A Bronze DofE programme has 4 sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You must do a minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections, and plan, train for and complete a 2-day (1 night) Expedition.
You’ll also need to spend an extra three months on one of your sections: Volunteering, Physical, or Skills. It’s up to you which one you choose. You can change your mind later if you need to, but it’s best to decide at the start. Knowing which section you’ll be doing for longer will help you choose the right activity and set clear goals for each section.
It will usually take you at least 6 months to complete your Bronze programme.
Volunteering
Volunteering is all about making a difference to other people's lives. Getting off your sofa and taking time out to change things for the better can be great fun.
From conservation to youth work to fundraising for your favourite charity or caring for animals, there's an endless list of the types of projects you can get involved in, so have a chat with your Leader and other people in your community to find out what’s on offer, what needs doing and who needs help!
If you can't find a project you want to get involved in, why not set up a new one that will help your community? This can be on your own, with a couple of friends or even with your whole DofE group – your Leader can help you do this and may be able to act as your Assessor.
Physical
Through the Physical section you should achieve a greater physical fitness through participation and improvement in physical activity. It's sure to make you feel healthier, and you'll have fun along the way!
You don't need to be super fit or of Olympic standard to achieve this section - giving it a go and getting better is enough.
From hockey to dance, rock climbing to swimming, wheelchair basketball to yoga - almost any dance, sport or fitness activity can count. You can join a team or do it on your own, concentrate on something you're already doing or try something completely different - it's up to you.
If you are still unsure about what you could do, then have a chat with your Leader and other people in your community to find out what's on offer!
Skills
The Skills section is all about developing practical and social skills and personal interests. By choosing to develop a particular skill you are not only developing a new talent, but you will also boost your self-esteem, develop practical and social skills and learn how to set and rise to a challenge. If this isn't enough, it should also be good fun too!
From podcasting to playing a musical instrument, fine art to website design, there's an endless list of the types of skills you can do, so have a chat with your Leader and other people in your community to find out what’s on offer!
Expedition
Achieving your Award is an adventure from beginning to end and this section can give you some of your most memorable experiences!
From sailing along the Norfolk Broads to walking in Canada or horse riding in the Brecon Beacons, it can be as far-flung or as close to home as you want it to be. You can also choose how you want to travel – it doesn’t just have to be on foot! You could choose to do your expedition by bike, by canoe, by kayak, by wheelchair, by sailing boat or even on a horse or llama!
There’ll need to be between four and seven of you in an expedition team (eight if you’ve chosen to travel by tandem canoe or bike). With your team, you’ll plan an aim for your expedition, decide on your location and do lots of fun training to make sure you’re fully prepared and know what you’re doing! Your Leader will arrange a supervisor to work with your team to organise all of this and help you plan your expedition.
Once you’ve done the preparation the fun starts when you go out and do a practice and a qualifying expedition. Once you’ve completed your final expedition, you’ll give a presentation about your experiences and your achievements to your Supervisor, Assessor or another adult.
Achieving your award
Once you’ve completed your programme, you need to make sure:
- You've done all your sections for the minimum time required, for an average of an hour a week (or the required timescale for your expedition)
- You've uploaded all your evidence to eDofE - the best option for this is as jpegs so you can use them in your Achievement Pack
- Your Assessors have provided reports/comments on your activity, how you met your goals and how you have progressed, and you have added them into eDofE
Whether you've submitted each section for approval as you've gone along, or are submitting them all at the end, your Leader will check and approve them in eDofE. Once they've approved your final section, they will then send it to your Operating Authority (OA) who will check everything is in order.
All being well you will be told that you’ve achieved your Award – congratulations!
For your Bronze and Silver Award you’ll receive your certificate and badge locally – ask your Leader where this will be. It could be at school, in your group or at a larger local presentation.
Cost
When you decide to do your DofE, you'll pay a small participation fee to the DofE Charity in order to get your Participation Place. This is currently £50.00 for Bronze Award.
Interested?
If interested, you need to see Mr Dooley in the Key Stage 3 office.