The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is an awards programme which gives young people the chance to make friends, have fun and build confidence in an empowering, exciting and non-competitive learning environment. It’s delivered by a number of licensed providers across the UK and Scouts is one of the biggest.
Young people build their own DofE programme choosing an activity for their volunteering, physical, skill, expedition, and at Gold level a residential experience. If you need more motivation to get started, you can read about the benefits of doing DofE.
An Introduction To The Awards
14–24-year-olds can do a DofE programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Any young person can do their DofE and achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first.
There are four sections to complete at Bronze and Silver level, and five at Gold. They involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for and completing an expedition, and – for Gold only – working with a team on a residential activity. Through a DofE programme, young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They develop essential emotional and social skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and confidence.
Bronze
- Age: 14 – 25th birthday (or Explorer Scout in school year you turn 14)
- Completion time: 6 months
- Section length:
- Volunteering – 3 months
- Physical – 3 months
- Skill – 3 months
- Expedition – 2 days/1 night
- Longer section: One section needs to undertaken for 6 months.
- Commitment: Each section needs to average an hour per week.
Silver
- Age: 15 – 25th birthday (or Explorer Scout in school year you turn 15)
- Completion time: 12 months, or 6 months if Bronze is complete
- Section length:
- Volunteering – 6 months
- Physical & Skill – one for 3 months and other for 6 months
- Expedition – 3 days/2 nights
- Direct entrants: If you did not complete Bronze, you need to complete 12 months for the volunteering section, or longer of the physical/skill sections.
- Commitment: Each section needs to average an hour per week.
Gold
- Age: 16 – 25th birthday
- Completion time: 18 months, or 12 months if Silver is complete.
- Section length:
- Volunteering – 12 months
- Physical & Skill – one for 6 months and other for 12 months
- Expedition – 4 days/3 nights
- Residential – 5 days/4 nights
- Direct entrants: If you did not complete Silver, you need to complete 18 months for the volunteering section or longer of the physical/skill sections.
- Commitment: Each section needs to average an hour per week.
To get started on your award or if you have any questions have a chat with your leader who will be able to put you in contact with your district’s Duke Of Edinburgh’s Award Advisor.
