The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Find out how to run or complete the DofE
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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is an awards programme which gives young people the chance to make friends, have fun and build confidence in an empowering, exciting and non-competitive learning environment. It's delivered by a number of licensed providers across the UK and Scouts is one of the biggest.
Young people build their own DofE programme choosing an activity for their volunteering, physical, skill, expedition, and at Gold level a residential experience. If you need more motivation to get started, you can read about the benefits of doing DofE.
To get started on your award or if you have any questions: chat to your leader, County/Area DofE lead or email us at [email protected].
Do your DofE
Take a look at our resources for completing your DofE:
Support the DofE
Find out how to support young people to complete their DofE:
The DofE levels and requirements
There are three DofE levels. They all link to the Scouts Top Awards and the Young Leader Scheme.
Take a look at the DofE sections to find out which activities you can do.
The Bronze award forms part of the Chief Scout's Platinum award.
- Young people who are 13 years old and in Year 9 are eligible to start their Bronze Award. See the guidance on Starting DofE in the Scout Section
- Young people who are 13 but still in Year 8 are not eligible to begin the award.
- Completion time: 6 months
- Section length:
- Volunteering - 3 months
- Physical - 3 months
- Skill - 3 months
- Expedition - 2 days/1 night
- Longer section: One section needs to undertaken for 6 months.
- Commitment: Each section needs to average an hour per week.
The Silver DofE forms part of the Chief Scout's Diamond award.
- Age: 15 - 25th birthday (or Explorer Scout in school year you turn 15)
- Although young people are technically eligible to begin Silver DofE at 14.5 years old, this will not be permitted within the Scout Section.
- Silver Awards will only be able to be started once the young person has moved into the Explorer Section.
- Completion time: 12 months, or 6 months if Bronze is complete
- Section length:
- Volunteering - 6 months
- Physical & Skill - one for 3 months and other for 6 months
- Expedition - 3 days/2 nights
- Direct entrants: If you did not complete Bronze, you need to complete 12 months for the volunteering section, or longer of the physical/skill sections.
- Commitment: Each section needs to average an hour per week.
The Gold DofE forms part of the King’s Scout award.
- Age: 16 - 25th birthday
- Completion time: 18 months, or 12 months if Silver is complete.
- Section length:
- Volunteering - 12 months
- Physical & Skill - one for 6 months and other for 12 months
- Expedition - 4 days/3 nights
- Residential - 5 days/4 nights
- Direct entrants: If you did not complete Silver, you need to complete 18 months for the volunteering section or longer of the physical/skill sections.
- Commitment: Each section needs to average an hour per week.