All state schools in England to now offer DofE
More young people in schools across England will have the chance to do their DofE thanks to a major new government funding boost, offering an additional £22m investment in extracurricular opportunities
Why do your DofE? That’s a very easy question to answer: it’s fun, it’s easy, it looks great on your CV!
The benefits are endless and will help scope a successful future, build confidence, gain skills, become healthier, make new friends and make lasting memories. Many young adults who have completed their DofE says it has given them more resilience, which has improved their mental health and wellbeing and help them face and overcome personal challenges.
Anyone can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location.
Lucy Atkins as an OS GetOutside Champion
From the age of 14 (year 9) you are eligible to begin your Bronze Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, aged 15+ and you can do Silver, 16+ and you can do your Gold. You have up to the age of 25 to complete it so there really is no excuse. Handily, it fits in with all the other activities that you’re probably already doing. The three sections can be done with friends or alone and can be something amazingly new and adventurous or something familiar and rather more sedate. The choice is yours.
Gaining your Bronze Award takes a minimum of 6 months, the Silver Award takes 12 months and Gold takes 18 months.
Don’t be afraid of these lengths though; your activity should be approximately one hour per week so if you are already playing a sport for your local team for instance, then you don’t need to do anything different.
Physical
This section ensures that you are doing something that makes you sweat for the required time. It can be an exciting new sport such as parachuting or street luge! Or it can be as simple, and cheap, as walking the neighbour’s dog every Sunday morning. You can even do Parkour if you wish!
Skill
The skill section can also be done in a very simple way. The activities range from DJ-ing or music analysis, to taxidermy or dog training (not to be merged!). Popular options for the skill section are learning to play a musical instrument or writing. Creating a portfolio of film and book reviews was one year 9's solution to not having enough money to join an organised activity.
Volunteering
This is the section that I find gives the biggest rewards and sparks the most conversation, but seems to be the hardest to organise, especially at Bronze level.
Being 14 places certain restrictions on the type of voluntary work that can be done but don’t be put off; there are plenty of excellent opportunities. The most popular volunteering placement, by far, is working in a charity shop.
This is a great option as it gives you the skills needed to be able to successfully apply for a paid Saturday job at a later date. Other options for volunteering are helping old people, perhaps by reading to them, helping with a local Scout group, or coastal or countryside conservation.
I have seen many great examples of voluntary work. Perhaps the most successful was two friends who together joined a community project which was to create and maintain a community garden, complete with sensory section for those with no sight. After the 6 month time frame was up they decided to continue helping with the project.
Expedition
Every DofE Award needs an expedition section too. This is a two-day
trip at Bronze, three at Silver and four at Gold.
The journey that is embarked
on is designed to be challenging for all and has many variations to help get
the balance right between too hard and too easy. Don’t be put off by this section
if you don’t even own a pair of walking boots; expeditions can be done on
water, on horseback, on a bicycle or in a wheelchair. This section allows you
and your team to see new parts of the countryside and experience being
self-sufficient.
Residential
If you are doing your Gold DofE you also have to complete a residential. This is a trip away from home that will cover 5 days and 4 nights. Again, it doesn’t have to cost the earth and can fit in with the things that you enjoy doing already or be something completely new.
The different categories are:
- Service to others
- Environment and conservation
- Learning and activity based.
Your residential could be to attend a summer camp as a leader or go on a cookery course.
All the information you need, including how to get in touch with your local group, is on the DofE website.
Doing your DofE will open up new possibilities, allow you to explore and push your boundaries, and create memories that will last a lifetime. What are you waiting for?