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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is the world’s leading youth achievement award for 14–24 year-olds, with over 545,000 young people currently doing their DofE in the UK.
Any young person aged 14-24 can take part, with the deadline for activities being the 25th birthday, although the goal for Bronze and Silver is to complete in a year. Young people doing their DofE programme complete volunteering, physical and skills activities and an expedition to achieve Bronze and Silver Awards, plus a residential section to achieve a Gold Award.
Where age requirements are met, “Direct Entry” is possible to the Silver or Gold Award without completing previous levels.
Gillingham (Dorset) DofE Open Award Centre was licensed to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award through Dorset Council until 30 Aug 2024.
We have enjoyed decades of delivery in the North Dorset area and thank all those volunteers and local organisations who supported local young people in the achievement of at least 830 Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.
In view of the relatively small size of our Centre, a remarkable 130 youngsters achieved Gold and received their Awards from the Duke of Edinburgh at either St James or Buckingham Palace.
Registered Charity Number 1178953. Contact the Charity Commission for more information.
DofE Direct is a unique way to achieve a Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award independently, without the need to attend weekly sessions at a local DofE centre. You’ll be able to progress through your DofE activities in your own time by managing your DofE journey yourself through eDofE online. Support is available from a DofE Leader via email, and eDofE messaging or phone when needed.
If you haven’t got a local DofE group nearby (see below) or your local DofE centre doesn’t offer Gold level, you can do your Gold through DofE Direct. You can also go straight to Gold without having achieved a previous level.
Any questions? Find out more in the FAQs.
If you are not able to join a DofE group at school you will can get in touch with a local group and enrol directly with them. It’s worth bearing in mind that each will have their own membership requirements and you will be expected to take a full part in their own programmes, not just DofE. Here are some links you may find useful:
Scouts – Find your local Scout Group | Scouts
Guides – Finding your nearest unit | Girlguiding
Army Cadets – Find a detachment | Army Cadets UK
RAF Air Cadets – Find your local squadron | Royal Air Force Air Cadets (mod.uk)
Sea Cadets – Unit Finder – Find Your Nearest Unit – Sea Cadets (sea-cadets.org)
St John Ambulance Cadets – St John Ambulance Youth Programme (sja.org.uk)
Boys Brigade – Find a Group – The Boys Brigade (boys-brigade.org.uk)
Girls Brigade – Find a group | Girls’ Brigade Ministries (girlsbrigadeministries.org.uk)
Church Lads & Church Girls Brigade – CLCGB.org.uk – Find A Local Church Boys & Church Girls Brigade Group
Baden-Powell Scouts: The Baden-Powell Scouts’ Association (traditionalscouting.co.uk)
Royal Yachting Association: Start Boating (rya.org.uk)
Surf Life Saving GB: Become A Club Member – Surf Life Saving GBSurf Life Saving GB (slsgb.org.uk)
The Campaigners: jointhecampaigners.org.uk