Learning
Learning outside school
Duke of Edinburgh's Award
What you need to know
You might have heard people talking about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) and wondered what it is all about.
The Award is a voluntary programme of activities which you can do in your spare time and anybody aged 14-19 can try for an award regardless of their background.
The DofE is a great way to improve on your existing skills and learn new ones. It is also something that you can put down on your CV and it might help you in your chosen career as lots of employers now regard the Award as an extra qualification.
What you can do
There are three levels: Gold, Silver and Bronze, and at each level there are four sections. These are:
- Service - to encourage service to individuals and the community
- Skills - to encourage the discovery and development of personal interests and social and practical skills
- Physical Recreation - to encourage participation and improvement in physical activity
- Expeditions - to encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery.
You have to show that you have undertaken one activity for each area but there is also an extra requirement for the Gold award:
Residential Project - to broaden experience through involvement with others in a residential setting.
For more details take a look at the Duke of Edinburgh's Award website.
