Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Includes

DofE

Description

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14 to 24. Doing their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills.

There are three progressive levels of programmes which, successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Young people create their own DofE programme by choosing a Volunteering, Physical and Skills activity, going on an Expedition and, for their Gold only, taking part in a Residential activity.

The DofE programme is balanced and develops the whole person – mind, body and soul, in an environment of social interaction and team working. Award holders say that participation develops:

self-esteem
self-confidence
a sense of identity
independence of thought and action
respect and understanding of people from different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life
a sense of responsibility
new talents
the ability to plan and use time effectively
the ability to lead and work as part of a team.

Full details can be found at www.dofe.org/.

Who can participate?

All those aged between 14 and 24.

Ratio of adults to girls

The DofE programmes for Skill, Physical Activity, Volunteering, and Residential at Gold level, are carried out individually by the DofE participant.

Expeditions are undertaken in groups of four to seven unaccompanied participants, but are supervised by appropriately experienced and qualified adults.

Regulations

All participants must follow the processes, procedures and rules detailed for DofE programmes. Full details can be found at www.dofe.org/. Details are also given in The Handbook for DofE leaders.
For expeditions, all participants under 18 must have written permission to take part.
Every DofE expedition team within the Girlguiding UK National Operating Authority undertaking a Practice or Qualifying (Assessed) expedition should complete the Girlguiding UK Green form.
All Practice and Assessed expeditions must be approved by the Home County DofE Adviser/Coordinator (the Green form provides for this).
Carry out a risk assessment for the activity.
Training, planning and preparation for all expeditions should be carried in accordance with the guidance given in the DofE Expedition Guide (CD Rom version).
Qualifying expeditions will be assessed by a DofE Accredited Assessor.

Forms

The number of forms required to undertake your DofE expedition with Girlguiding UK has been reduced. Rather than completing both DofE and Residential Event Notification forms separately you can now complete the Girlguiding UK Green form.

Please download both the guidance notes and the Green Form here.

Every DofE expedition team within the Girlguiding UK National Operating Authority undertaking this section of the award should complete this form with their group Leader. Instructions on who to send the form to are included on the document.

Instructor qualifications

Training provided for expedition participants should be delivered by adults experienced and appropriately qualified in:

first aid
emergency procedures
awareness of risk and health and safety issues
navigation and route planning
campcraft, equipment and hygiene
food and cooking
country, highway and water sports codes
observation, recording and presentation of the expedition aim
team building and proficiency in the mode of travel.

Training guidance can be found at www.dofe.org/training/.

Training in navigation for expeditions on foot should be provided by leaders qualified in the Girlguiding UK Walking Scheme in accordance with the classification of countryside through which the expedition group will be walking.

Training for expeditions by other modes of transport must be given by appropriately-qualified adults. Examples include cycling, horseriding, canoeing, rowing and sailing.

Expedition supervisors must be technically competent and qualified in the mode of travel chosen by the participants and for the environment in which they are going to be journeying. Click here for information on countryside classification.

Useful information

Further guidance and support is available from your County DofE Adviser/Coordinator. Visit the DofE website: http://www.dofe.org/. The Senior Section website also has information for participants.

Members of Girlguiding UK doing their DofE with an operating authority other than Girlguiding UK

Some Girlguiding UK members will do their DofE at school, or with another organisation such as Cadets, and this is completely satisfactory.

Some of these members may still decide to do part of their DofE programme with their guiding unit, for example their Expedition or Volunteering. If this is the case, then it is necessary to comply with the rules and regulations of the operating authority with whom the girl is registered as well as with any applicable Girlguiding UK regulations.

DofE Participants who are not members of Girlguiding UK and who are doing their DofE with another Operating Authority.

Non-members of Girlguiding UK may give service to guiding for the 'Volunteering' section of their DofE award at any level.

The participant must be registered on Go! with the role 'DofE Volunteer'. If the participant is over the age of 16, Girlguiding UK recruitment checks must also be completed.

If the Leader is unable to access Go! directly, the Adult Application form can be used to transfer the necessary information.

The DofE Award and the Queen's Guide Award

If girls and young women are undertaking both their DofE Award and the Queen's Guide Award, then they are required to comply with the conditions of each Award. One activity can count towards both awards provided it meets the required criteria for each. Participants should make sure their leaders and assessors are aware of their involvement of both programmes.

Page last updated: 5/18/2012

The Guiding Manual