14-24 year-olds may choose to complete a Duke of Edinburgh programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.
Through a DofE programme young people have fun, make friends, improve their self-esteem and build confidence. They gain essential skills and attributes for work and life such as resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication and drive, enhancing CVs and uni and job applications.
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Programme Aims
To develop the skills and attitudes needed to become a more rounded, confident adult.
To promote and develop the following:
- Self-belief Self-confidence
- A sense of identity Initiative
- A sense of responsibility
- A real awareness of their strengths
- New talents and abilities
- The ability to plan and use time
- The ability to learn from and give to others in the community
- New friendships
- Problem solving, presentation and communication skills
- Leadership and team-working skills
These are all qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to.
Bronze Award (14+ years old)
There are 3 parts of the programme, Volunteering, Physical and Skills. Each require a minimum of three months to complete, whilst the Expedition involves planning, training for and undertaking a two-day (one night) expedition.
Participants must also decide whether to spend a further three months on the Volunteering, Physical or Skills section.
The decision is entirely theirs. It must be made at the start but can be reviewed later.
To achieve their Award, participants must have completed their programme and be at least 14½ years old. It is possible to allow a young person to start their Bronze programme shortly before their 14th birthday, if they are part of a larger group that is aged 14 plus. This often happens when friends or a school year group decide to embark on their adventures together. However, for this to be allowed, you must be sure that the young person is sufficiently mature to do their programme and also gain approval from your DofE Licensed Organisation.
| Volunteering | 3 months |
| Physical | 3 months |
| Skills | 3 months |
| Expedition | Plan, train for and undertake a 2 day (1 night) expedition. At least 6 hours during the daytime (at least 3 of which must be spent journeying). Time associated with overnight accommodation and catering is additional to the minimum daytime hours of planned activity. You have to undertake at least one practice expedition as part of your training. This may be more closely supervised than your final assessed expedition, which is remotely supervised to develop independence and a sense of personal responsibility. |
All participants must undertake a further 3 months in the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections.
Silver Award (15+ years old)
Participants spend a minimum of six months volunteering. For the Physical and Skills sections, they must spend a minimum of six months on one and three on the other.
The Expedition involves planning, training for and undertaking a three day (two night) expedition.
The decision on which section to do for the longest time is totally theirs. If they have jumped straight into their Silver programme they’ll need to do a further six months either volunteering or doing whichever of the physical or skills activity they spent more time on. This decision must be made at the start but can be reviewed later.
To achieve their Award, participants must have completed their programme successfully and be at least 15½ years old if they already have Bronze. Direct entrants must be at least 16 years old before they complete their Silver programme. LOs sometimes let young people who have achieved their Bronze Award make a start on their Silver Award before their 15th birthday. However, in such situations you must consult your LO before agreeing anything.
| Volunteering | 6 months |
| Physical | One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months |
| Skills | One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months |
| Expedition | Plan, train for and undertake a 3 day, 2 night expedition. At least 7 hours during the daytime (at least 3½ of which must be spent journeying). Time associated with overnight accommodation and catering is additional to the minimum daytime hours of planned activity. you have to undertake at least one practice expedition as part of your training. This may be more closely supervised than your final assessed expedition, which is remotely supervised to develop independence and a sense of personal responsibility. |
Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.