Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

A Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme is a real adventure from beginning to end.

It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. If you’re aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is for you.

You can do DofE programmes at three levels, Bronze, Silver or Gold, all of 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).

Take a look at why it’s so great to complete your Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Why do the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?

The positive benefits of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award are clear – team work, leadership and independence to name just a few.

For the expedition section in particular, the opportunity to step out of the classroom into an entirely different environment and gain a whole new personal and social education is hugely beneficial.

Research has shown that taking part in outdoor activities in general challenges people on in new ways and has a positive effect on concentration levels and therefore academic achievement. As Colin Mortlock said ‘To adventure in the natural environment is consciously to take up a challenge that will demand thebest of our capabilities – physically, mentally and emotionally…’
However, we believe that education should comprise more than improving academic ability; it should also be about self-discovery, self development and learning to become self-reliant.
Embarking on a DofE Expedition teaches all of these as well as decision making, teamwork and leadership skills – all attributes that employers and higher education providers look for.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award sections are:

Volunteering – helping someone, your community or the environment

Physical – becoming fitter through sport, dance or fitness activities

Skills – 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 DofE programme you’re doing

“To adventure in the natural environment is consciously to take up a challenge that will demand the best of our capabilities – physically, mentally and emotionally“… Colin Mortlock, ‘The Adventure Alternative’, first published 1984