Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a real adventure from beginning to end

Contents

Introduction

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by. The award consists of 4 sections at Bronze and Silver – Skill, Physical, Volunteering and Expedition, with the addition of a residential at Gold. And best of all, the young person gets to choose what they do! It takes a minimum of 6 months to complete an award and requires a weekly commitment for the first three sections.

Find out more on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website

DofE Centres

There are over 60 active Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Centres across Somerset and the number grows each year, reflecting school and college leaders’ recognition of DofE as the world’s most successful youth development programme. Across the County, work with schools, colleges, SEND providers and PRU’s as well as offering a ‘Somerset Open Award’ package, enabling young people to achieve an award directly with Somerset County Council’s DofE Team.

information

The award is very flexible and set up to ensure that any young person can achieve the award and the team are very experienced in working with SEND requirements.

Sign up and bursary fund

Through our Somerset centres we sign around 2400 young people up to an award each year from all walks of life and have a bursary fund to help support disadvantaged young people, so that any young person living in Somerset can access the award, whether through a centre – school, college or other education provider, or remotely through our team. The bursary is also available for those accessing the award through other providers in Somerset like the Scouts.

Benefits of taking part

Research shows that employers and universities understand the skills, knowledge and characteristics which DofE helps build and they look out for it on young people’s CVs and applications.

Find out how doing the DofE can have a positive impact on a young persons mental health and well-being.

Find out more

To find out more about the award in Somerset, or get in touch please take a look at the Support Services for Education Duke of Edinburgh’s Award page or email DofE@somerset.gov.uk

Last reviewed:July 12, 2022 byJennifer

Next review due:January 12, 2023

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