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Running DofE

Find out how to run DofE in your unit

Thank you for volunteering to support young people to complete their DofE Award. We're here to celebrate and champion every young person, enabling a safe, supportive environment to share unforgettable experiences with friends and build vital skills that last a lifetime.

This webinar will give you an overview of running DofE within your unit.

Get set up on eDofE

The DofE is run through a system called eDofE. To get set up on the system you need to contact your County/Area DofE lead. If you need help contacting them, email [email protected].

Once you're set up, you can learn more about using DofE via our Introduction to eDofE webinar, the eDofE YouTube channel and eDofE help pages.

Register participants

You can register participants via your County/Area DofE lead. The participants will complete a form, pay the participation fee, and have a place set up for them. They'll be sent an automated email with their login information.

Young people in the Scout Section starting DofE

Young people in the Scout Section can now begin working towards their Bronze DofE Award. Responsibility for delivering and managing the programme sits with the Explorer Scout section, who will support participants throughout the awards and run the Expedition section. Scouts will register with their feeder Explorer unit, helping them to create a smooth transition between the two sections. While Scouts may start any of the other sections: Skill, Physical or Volunteering, the Expedition must be completed with the Explorer Section or an external Approved Activity Provider, as it cannot be delivered with the Scout Section.

There is no requirement to complete the DofE sections simultaneously. Young people may choose to complete the Skill, Physical and Volunteering Sections while in the Scout Section and then complete the Expedition Section with their Explorer Section.

Scouts need to be in the academic year they turn 14 to start. Those in previous year groups are unable to take part. Scouts cannot take part in the Silver Award until they have joined Explorers

1. Initial Contact

The Scout or their Scout Leader contacts the Explorer Scout Leader of the local unit to discuss starting the Bronze DofE Award, including any plans for the Expedition Section. Where an Explorer Unit does not offer DofE, contact should be made with the 14-24 lead and County DofE Lead to discuss options for completing the award.

2. Award Registration

The Scout registers for the Bronze Award with their County DofE Lead, following the local registration process.

3. Programme Support

The Explorer Scout Leader or District DofE Lead helps the young person select appropriate activities for each section and supports them throughout their award journey.

Young people in Scouts can normally begin linking with their Explorer Unit, between the ages of 13.5 and 14.5. However, those working towards their Bronze DoE Award may start attending Explorer run DofE events before they reach 13.5. This early involvement is part of the support arrangements for their award and helps create a smooth transition into Explorers.

Scouts can take part in the Bronze DofE expedition with the Explorer Unit, including any training and the qualifying expedition. Guidance on running a DofE expedition can be found here Running DofE Expeditions in Scouts They could also take part in expedition with an approved activity provider if they wish, details of which are on the DofE Opportunity Finder

The Scout Expedition Challenge has different requirements, and the Bronze DofE cannot be used as an alternative for this expedition. 

The Bronze DofE is more challenging and shows progression from the Chief Scout Gold expedition, however they can be completed in any order

The nights away from Bronze DofE undertaken as a Scout can either be used towards Scout Outdoor Challenge or Platinum Chief Scout Award - however they cannot be used for both awards. 

Scouts aged 13.5+ can be a Young Leader for the volunteering section of their DofE Award, in line with POR rule 4b2.

For this to happen:

  • They may help with another section, but not the Scout Troop where they are a member
  • The must register with the Explorer Team Lead – Young Leaders
  • They must complete module A within 3 months of starting

The Scout will continue to pay subscriptions to the Scout Troop. They would pay for the costs of their participation to the expedition, which might include a contribution towards any equipment used. 

County/Area DofE Leads register participants on eDofE. You can find guidance on registering participants here Managing DofE | Scouts

Young people record their progress on the eDofE system. The Programme Planner and Sections are approved by the DofE Leader from the Explorer Unit or District DofE Lead.  Each section of the award is approved by a DofE Leader who will also approve the assessors you chose for each section.

Guidance on eDofE can be found on The Duke of Edinburgh Awards eDofE webpage

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Support programme choices

There are several resources to help you support young people get started on their DofE and choose their programme:

You can use this Introduction to DofE programme plan to run a session for your unit. You could to invite parents along to learn more about the Award.

Getting started:

Choosing activities:

Benefits of the award (for parents/carers):

There are a range of resources available to support delivery of the award.

Please also refer to the DofE sections for more information on activities and to ensure activities are in the correct section.

Running DofE expeditions

Find out how to deliver DofE expeditions.

Running DofE expeditions

Sign off DofE Awards

When a participant has completed a section of the award you need to ensure it meets the requirements. The verifier checklist will help you understand what the verifier is looking for.

The minimum evidence for each section is an assessor's report which we recommend is put in via the DofE website, as it collects all the information needed.

For the Gold Award you need to complete the Gold Award celebration information before submitting the award for approval. All awards should be approved or queried within 14 days.

Celebrate success

Participants get a DofE certificate and lapel badge from the DofE lead once the award is approved. At Gold level, the badge and certificate are posted directly to the participant. Uniform badges can be purchased from the Scout Shop.

All Duke of Edinburgh's Awards should be presented at an appropriate occasion.

  • Bronze or Silver Awards are usually presented by the District Lead Volunteer (or nominee)
  • Gold Awards are usually presented by the County Lead Volunteer (or nominee)

Deliver Scout Top Awards

Please remember that the DofE links closely into the Chief Scout’s Platinum, Chief Scout's Diamond and King’s Scout Awards, as well as the volunteering section linking with the Young Leaders' Scheme.

You'll find lots of useful resources on the Top Awards page and Top Awards webinars.