A 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, Bronze, Silver or Gold, which lead to a Duke of Edinburgh's Award.
You achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold).
You'll find yourself helping people or the community, getting fitter,developing skills, going on an expedition and taking part in a residential activity (Gold only).
But here's the best bit - you get to choose what you do!
Your programme can be full of activities and projects that get you buzzing. And along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life.
You achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold).
These sections are:
(Click on the blue section below to see further ideas)
Volunteering- helping someone, your community or the environment
Physical- becoming fitter through sport, dance or fitness activities
Skill- developing existing talents or trying something new
Expedition- planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey
Residential(Gold only) - staying and working away from home as part of a team
The length of time you have to spend on each section depends on the level of programme you're doing.
A Bronze DofE programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition.
You need be at least 14 years old to start a Bronze programme and you must do a minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections, and plan, train for and do a 2 day (1 night) Expedition.
You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.
This table shows what you need to do:
The next step up from Bronze... you need to be at least 15 to start doing your Silver DofE programme.
A Silver DofE programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You need to do at least 6 months Volunteering and a minimum of 6 months on either Physical or Skills and 3 months on the other. It’s up to you which one you do for longer.
The Expedition section involves planning, training for and doing a 3 day (2 night) expedition.
If you start the Silver without doing Bronze first you’ll have to do an extra6 months volunteeringor doing whichever of the Physical or Skillssections you have spent more time on. Though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.
This table shows what you need to do:
Once you hit 16 you can do your Gold DofE programme.
You’ll spend 12 months on your Volunteering section. For Physical and Skills you must spend 12 months on one and six months on the other - you decide which way round you do it.
The big difference at Gold, is you'll also do a Residential section - staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don't know. It's great fun and a real chance to do something different!
If you’ve jumped straight into your Gold DofE programme you’ll need to do a further six months either volunteering or whichever one of your physical or skills activities you spent the most time on.
This table gives you a summary of what you have to do: