The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The International Award for young people

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is an internationally recognised program that aims to engage and empower young people and help them to explore and develop their potential.

The concept of the DofE is simple – anyone aged between 14 and 25 can do a program at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.

There are four sections at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold.

With assistance from adult Leaders, participants select and set objectives in each of the following areas:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.
• Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.
• Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.
• Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.
• At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home doing a shared activity.

Each section must be done for a minimum period of time. It must be monitored and then assessed by someone with knowledge of that particular activity to achieve an Award. Each progressive level demands more time and commitment from participants.

The Award presents a balanced, non-competitive and enjoyable program of voluntary activities, which encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility and service to the community.

 Any of the particpants who complete a level of the Award is to be congratulated for showing initiative, perseverance, commitment and dedication to completing all sections of the Award over a period of six to nine months.

The rewards for the participants are many, but it is the process they go through, the contacts they make with the community, the self-confidence they develop, as well as the fun and memories they create along the way that make the Award program so beneficial to participants. The program is entirely voluntary and each participant is free to choose their own activities within the guidelines, and to progress individually through the various sections of each award level at their own pace

The Award utilises a self-directed planning approach, which creates a program of structured but independent activities. Research on The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has shiown that the program has positive impact on long term employability, leadership and how young people see themselves. 

The Duke of Edinburgh Award brochure (PDF File)