Chorlton Scouts is pleased to be able to offer our Explorer Scouts the opportunity to participate in the world renowned Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme.
What is the DofE?
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: Scouts being one of the biggest.
By taking part, young people build on a huge range of practical and character skills – like resilience, problem-solving, team-working and drive – and come out the other side with a stronger sense of self (something really brilliant to put on their CV), or talk about in their uni and job applications).
There are three award levels to achieve:
Bronze – for those aged 14+ years*
Silver – for those aged 15+ years*
Gold – for those aged 16+ years
Young people build their own custom DofE programme: choosing from a range of skills-based challenges, physical activities, volunteering opportunities and expeditions to suit their interests and goals.
As part of their Gold Award, they also take part in a residential activity.
Scouts can complete their DofE while they’re in Explorers or Network, linking their achievements to the Chief Scout’s Platinum, Diamond and Queen’s Scout Awards. As well as the Young Leaders’ Scheme.
* If a young person isn’t 14 or 15 yet, but is in the school year in which their peer group turns 14/15, they can start their respective award. All activities must be completed by a young person’s 25th birthday.
Award levels and requirements
Young people build their own custom programme, choosing a unique range of skills to focus on and develop in – for at least one hour a week, for a set period of time.
Each of these represents a key area of the programme.
These are: volunteering, physical activity, skills and expeditions.
As part of their Gold Award, young people also go on a residential.
Depending on their age, young people can start their DofE adventure at any level. Most prefer to start with their Bronze Award and work upwards.
Bronze
- For ages 14+*
- Takes place over at least six months
- Young people choose one physical activity, one skill and one volunteering opportunity to focus on: developing two of these for three months and one of these for six months
- They go on an expedition for two days (including an overnight stay) in standard country terrain
- Their achievements link directly to the Chief Scout’s Platinum Award(Explorers)
* If a young person isn’t 14 yet, but is in the school year in which their peer group turns 14, they may still be able to start. All activities must be completed by the young person’s 25th birthday.
Silver
- For ages 15+*
- Takes place over at least 12 months – if the young person is new to DofE – or six months if they’ve already completed their Bronze award
- Young people choose a physical activity and a skill to focus on: developing one for three months and the other for six months
- They take on a volunteering opportunity for six months
- They go on an expedition for three days (including two overnight stays) in open country terrain
- Their achievements link directly to the Chief Scout’s Diamond Award(Explorers and Network)
* If a young person isn’t 15 yet, but is in the school year in which their peer group turns 15, they may still be able to start. All activities must be completed by the young person’s 25th birthday.
Gold
- For ages 16+*
- Takes place over at least 18 months – if the young person is new to DofE, or has only completed their Bronze Award – or 12 months if they’ve already completed Silver Award
- Young people choose a physical activity and a skill to focus on: developing one for three months, and the other for six months
- They take on a volunteering opportunity for six months
- They go on an expedition for four days (including three overnight stays) in wild country terrain
- They embark on a residential project for five days (including four overnight stays)
- Their achievements link directly to the King’s Scout Award (Explorers aged 16+ and Network)
* The age range for this award is strictly set: any work done on the award by young people under 16 unfortunately won’t count. All activities must be completed by the young person’s 25th birthday.
