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Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Every year, DofE inspires hundreds of thousands of young people, from all walks of life, to explore who they are, grow in confidence and develop the skills they need to successfully navigate life. The DofE award helps them build lifelong belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their passions, and discover talents they never knew they had. The DofE is delivered in schools, colleges, community organisations, hospitals, prisons and more, all over the UK and internationally.
DofE is open to any young person aged 14-24. Participants build their own programme, choosing activities and a cause to volunteer for. The DofE is structured into three levels of Award which increase in challenge and duration: Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The main differences between the Award levels are the minimum length of time it takes to complete the programme, how challenging it is, and the minimum age you can start. There are four main sections of a DofE programme: Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition. At Gold, participants will also complete a Residential section.
In 2023-24, 330,984 young people started their DofE, giving 4.7 million hours of volunteering to their communities. The DofE charity has increased our target to give 1.6 million young people the chance to participate in a life-changing DofE programme by 2026.
At Welling School, we are excited to recruit Year 9 and Year 10 students for the DofE Award at the Bronze level. It is a personal challenge available to all students however it does require students to commit some of their own time to undertake their selected activities. Bronze award has four sections to complete, Volunteering, Skill, Physical and Expedition. Activities for each DofE section take a minimum of one hour per week over a set period of time, so that they can be fitted around students’ studies and life outside school. Students will also need to participate regularly and show that they’re committed to their DofE during this time. To see firsthand what participting in the DofE Award is like, please take a look at the video below:
There are four sections to the DofE Award:
Volunteering is all about taking action and making a difference to other people’s lives. Maybe you’re interested in animals or tackling climate change? Or you want to raise money for a cause that means a lot to you? From coaching a local football team or collecting for a foodbank to starting a campaign, you’ll give up your time to help others and change things for the better. It’s extremely rewarding, grows your confidence and independence — and can give you the chance to experience the world of work too.
The Physical section is a chance for you to focus on your health and fitness and have fun along the way. Try something completely different or concentrate on something you already do, as long as it requires a continuous level of energy and physical activity. From yoga to going to the gym, skateboarding to wheelchair tennis — almost any dance, sport or fitness activity can count. And doing more physical activity can give your mental health a great boost too. You can decide to join a team or do it on your own — it’s up to you
From coding to cookery, the Skills section lets you learn a new talent, develop existing skills and discover new things you love. By developing practical and social skills and gaining interests and talents, you’ll enjoy yourself and get a real sense of achievement. If you’re interested in a specific field, this could be the perfect chance for you to do something related to it. So, if you’re interested in photography, you could do it as your skill. You’ll grow your confidence and show you’re committed, motivated and can rise to a challenge.
Getting into the great outdoors and spending a night away with your friends – your expedition will give you lifelong memories. As part of a small team, you’ll plan your aim, choose your location and do some training to make sure you’re prepared and know what you’re doing — then spend two days and one night away. You can choose how you want to travel – it doesn’t have to be on foot. You could do it by bike, canoe, kayak, wheelchair, sailing boat or even on a horse. Your expedition will improve your resilience, communication, teamwork and leadership skills. You’ll come home with a rucksack full of washing — and an experience you won’t forget.
For more information or to sign up for this exciting opportunity, please contact Mrs Chuddy :