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Registered Charity Number 1178953 (detail here).

Gift Aid Number: ZD05035

#DofEWithADifference

We recognise that this is a worrying time for everyone, and you may be concerned about how you will continue your DofE. The Award has created a hub where participants, Leaders and parents can find all the information and ideas they need during the coronavirus outbreak.
The coronavirus doesn’t mean your DofE needs to stop – far from it. Whether you’re doing or delivering the DofE, here’s everything you need to keep yours going.

Dorset Council – latest updates and advice

Find out about the latest updates and advice on coronavirus and what the council is doing here

Upcoming Expeditions

We have taken the plunge and put dates into the diary from August 2020 onward. Pages dedicated to each level show more detail.

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

127 young people are currently working on their Award at all levels, 146 have achieved an Award since June 2018. Full Awards, since 2003, are recorded on our Awards page.

Yr9 to 24yrs can start from:

  • Bronze can start as early as the June before they go into Yr9
  • Silver can start as early as the June 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:

We meet at the Slade Centre  – from 3.45pm to 6pm term time TUESDAYS 

From Sept to Dec new participants will be invited in to dicsuss their own DofE programme. There will be specific events to attend – see the calendar.

There must be time spent planning and completing the prep for the assessed expedition. Regular Tues evening attendance is expected from the silvers and bronzes as below. This is mandatory.

  • Silvers Jan to Easter
  • Bronzes Mar to June/July

From 2020 Golds will do their planning for their Expedition final in one day to be agreed with the team. This year it is planned to be Friday 12 Feb 2021.

Training and Expedition dates are fixed the June before the new intake. Please check them against your own family and activity calendars before signing up.

Important Downloads and links 

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?

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