Duke of Edinburgh's Award

What is the Duke of Edinburgh's Award?

Founded by His Royal Highness in 1956, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is widely recognised as the world’s leading youth achievement award. Now operating in more than 140 countries, the DofE has helped to transform the lives of millions of young people in the United Kingdom and across the globe.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a challenging programme of activities which enables young people to learn new skills, help others, and experience adventure, and will give a great sense of achievement.  Many organisations, such as employers and universities take a very positive view of young people who have achieved it.

The programme is based on ten guiding principles, which are:

• Non competitive – a personal challenge – not a competition
• Achievable by all – regardless of ability, gender, background or location
• Voluntary – young people choose to undertake a programme and commit some of their free time to it
• Personal Development – commitment and achievement inspires personal and social development
• Personalised – young people design their own programme, setting their own goals
• Balanced – challenges young people in different aspects
• Progressive – each level requires greater time, commitment and responsibility
• Achievement focused – young people set their own challenging goals to achieve the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• Demand commitment – persistence and commitment must be demonstrated with participants encouraged to continue beyond the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

Benefits to Young People

When your child does their DofE programme they’ll develop the skills and attitudes they need to become more rounded, confident adults. Qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to. So when you support your child’s pursuit of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, you’re investing in their future.

You can expect to see your child develop in the following areas as they work through their DofE programme:

• Self-belief and self-confidence
• A sense of identity
• Initiative and a sense of responsibility
• A real awareness of their strengths
• New talents and abilities
• The ability to plan and use time effectively
• Learning from and giving to others in the community
• Forming new friendships
• Problem solving, presentation and communication skills
• Leadership and teamworking skills.

How You Can Help

It’s personal: Help ensure that the activity choices they find are exciting, but realistic for your budget, transport and local facilities.

Get the Evidence
Remind them to keep gathering their evidence, e.g. photographs/certificates, and uploading it to eDofE.

Help Find an Assessor
Every young person needs to find an Assessor to sign off each DofE section. The Assessor can be anyone who knows about or organises the activity. It might be the gym or sports instructor, art teacher, club or volunteering event organiser and so on. It cannot be a family member.

Financial Support
Your child will receive a personalised DofE Card when they start their Award. This gives at least 10% off at our recommended retailers, helping you save on expedition kit and other items needed for their DofE.

Prove It
As their programme comes to an end you can remind them to make sure their Assessors write their reports so that they can complete the section.

Use it
Ensure they include their DofE involvement and achievements in their CV or personal statement.

At the Academy, DofE is offered to students in Years 9, 10 and 12, currently at the Bronze and Silver levels.

For further information, please see the links below or contact dukeofedinburghaward@attleboroughacademy.org

https://www.dofe.org/do/parents/