This website is mobile friendly.

Registered Charity Number 1178953 (detail here).

Gift Aid Number: ZD05035

Gillingham (Dorset) DofE Open Award Centre has been operated entirely by volunteers since Sept 2014 and has to be self-funding, as per our Young Friends of Gillingham DofE page. Pics and posts on our Facebook page.

Find out more about the DofE Award itself on The Award page. Other Dorset DofE Centres and schools delivering DofE under DC are listed on DofE Dorset

105 young people are currently working on their Award at all levels, 121 having achieved a full Award over the last two years. These are recorded on our Awards page.

Yr9 to 24yrs can start from:

• Bronze can start as early as the July before they go into Yr9
• Silver can start as early as the July before they go into Yr10
• 16th birthday for Gold (Expedition training can start earlier)
• Direct entry to Silver or Gold is possible if of the right age

Enrolment:

to all levels is possible at any time but there are key dates you have to attend to be eligible for a dofe qualifying expedition. 

If you did a previous level it is expected to have been finished unless there are extenuating circumstances!

Attendance:

Gillingham School is our base of operation. We aim to be in or near the Dance Studio on TUESDAYS immediately after school until approx 5.30pm term time. 

New participants are invited in to discuss their own DofE programme shortly after enrolment.

Regular Tuesday evening attendance is expected in the summer term from the Bronze cohort in order to plan and complete the preparation for the assessed expedition.

Silvers and Golds do their expedition planning over one or two days. 

Important Downloads and links 

• Expedition detail is posted here
• The 21-22 overview grouped per level, with costs, is HERE 
  • Latest News – Institute of Outdoor Learning
  • Previous exped training may count; clashes or illnesses are usually resolved with other Dorset DofE centres.
  • Team equipment is provided.
  • Rucksacks, Sleeping bags and some other personal kit can be borrowed. 
  • Please speak to us in confidence if costs appear prohibitive. 
• enrol online – link above website banner
• The enrolment fee is as per enrolment form and any cheques are made out to Gillingham DofE OAC. BACs payments are preferable – see below. 
  • Accredited First Aid (6hr) Certification (£30) and Expedition costs are extra to the enrolment fee.
  • Please speak to us in confidence if costs appear prohibitive. 
• Medical and Consent GillOAC 2021
• Participation Statement
• Bullying Policy
• Guidance for safer recruitment and working practice for those working with young people May 2019
• DofE Safeguarding code of behaviour for adults
• Gillingham DofE OAC Mission Statement
• Complaints Procedure

BACs – Bank: Gillingham DofE OAC. The Ref MUST BE full name of participant. sortcode 30.98.97 (Lloyds) a/c 47830260

Note that the enrolment fee goes elsewhere to buy your place for you and we can’t get it back if you change your mind.

It is an individual responsibility to choose and to check that any activity  undertaken for the DofE programme is appropriately managed and insured, unless the activity is directly managed or organised by their DofE group, such as the Expedition. We’ve lots of ideas and contacts but cannot organise them for you.

What’s Happening at Gillingham DofE OAC?

• First Aid for the 2021-22 cohort
• Award History up to date October 4 2021 – 670!
• Info session for 2022-23 is Tues 21 June 2022
• Summer 2020 – Local links updated for sectional activity, with ideas for 2020 restrictions

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Gillingham, Dorset is delivered under the DofE licence of Dorset Council by Gillingham Open Award Centre (OAC).