Berkshire Youth are able to register young people on to the DofE award. Young people work independently on their award sourcing their own assessors and expedition programme. We offer support and advice through the eDofE on line platform. Current registration costs are bronze / silver £65, Gold £75 – eDofE enrolment_form.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a non-competitive accreditation programme for young people between the ages of 14 and 24. Employers and Universities value the award and recognise the commitment and dedication needed to achieve any of the levels.
Young people who achieve their gold award are invited, along with one of their parents/guardians, to one of the Royal Palaces to receive their certificate.
There are three levels to the award, the time commitment increases with each level. At Bronze and silver Young people complete 4 sections, there is an additional section at gold. Each section has a range of activities young people can choose to participate in, these can be activities they already participate in or could be completely new.
- Bronze – September as start school year 9
- Silver – September as start school year 10
- Gold – start from age 16
- All awards / activities must be completed before the participant is 25.
Sections
The award is thought of as a ‘marathon not a sprit’ and young people need to commit at least an hour a week for the required number of months various section. (https://www.dofe.org/do/timescales/ )
- Volunteering – From helping at an after-school club or running an awareness campaign to raising money for a charity or working on a recycling project young people commit regularly to helping others in their community. (Volunteering ideas)
- Physical – from football to yoga, swimming to skateboarding young people participate in a sport, dance or fitness activity in which they demonstrate improvement during their involvement. (Physical ideas )
- Skills – Young people can either develop an existing skill or lea new one. With choices from Djing and science to drama and zoology the options are plentiful. (Skills ideas )
- Expedition – Young people plan, train and complete an adventurous journey normally on foot but they can cycle, canoe or horse ride. There are a number of groups who specifically organize these events (Expedition ideas and AAP’s).
- Residential (Gold level only) Young people participate in a 5-day 4 night residential with people they do not know. Examples can include a conservation holiday, a cooking or language course, a children’s activity camp.
Young people record their achievements through the online record system (eDofE), leaders can monitor, support and approve the young person’s achievement.
Daisy completed her Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards with Berkshire Youth. Read her story here.
For more information please contact us by email or phone 0118 909 0927.