Skills

For your skills activity you need to choose an activity that will allow you to prove you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in your chosen skill.

It should not be a physical activity, for example horse riding, as this counts towards your physical section, however, you could choose to learn about caring for horses.

Checklist

The activity is suitable for the skills section.
Make sure it's a skill rather than a physical activity!
Progression is shown over time practising the skill.
All activities completed for an average of an hour per week for the required timescales.
You'll be able to show progression over your time doing your skill.
Many skills activities that count for DofE also count towards other activity badges.
If an activity's being completed through Scouts, make sure it's in line with POR.
You've agreed your activity with your leader before getting started.
Programme planner on eDofE is completed and approved by a leader.
An assessor is identified and completes an assessor's report for the participant via the DofE website or using the card in the DofE welcome pack.

Skills ideas

Assessor

Assessors check on the progress of a young person and confirm completion of the section - there is a useful card in the welcome pack which can be given to assessors at the beginning of the placements.

They should have some knowledge or be involved in the activity the young person is undertaking (eg Scout Leader or charity shop manager).

The assessor must be 18+ and not related to the participant. They'll write an assessor's report which can be submitted via the DofE website or using the card in the welcome pack.