DofE has 3 levels, with 4 sections (Bronze and Silver) and 5 (Gold) to complete.
Participants can start at any level, but each has an age restriction imposed by the scheme. Activities must be completed before participants reach their 25th birthday.
Anyone who would like to complete DofE with Scouts Hereford & Worcester needs to be an Explorer or Network member. If you are not currently signed up as a Scout, then we will find you a unit where you can participate with other young people and join a team to complete the expedition section.
The Levels
Bronze
- Age: 14+ (or in year 9) and to be completed by 25
- Duration: 6+ months
- Sections: Volunteering, Skill & Physical each for 3 months, and one of them for 6 months
- Expedition: 2 days, 1 night in familiar country
Silver
- Age: 15+ (or in year 10)
- Duration: 12+ months (6+ if Bronze Award completed)
- Sections: Volunteering (6 months), Skill & Physical (one for 3 months and the other for 6 months); if Bronze not completed participants must do an additional 6 months Skill or Physical, whichever was done for 6 months
- Expedition: 3 days, 2 nights in unfamiliar country
Gold
- Age: 16+
- Duration: 18+ months (12+ if Silver Award completed)
- Sections: Volunteering (12 months), Skill & Physical (one for 6 months and the other for 12 months); if Silver not completed, participants must do an additional 6 months Skill or Physical, whichever was done for 12 months
- Expedition: 4 days, 3 nights in wild country
- Residential Project: 5 days, 4 nights
The Sections
Volunteering
For this activity you need to choose to give time to do something useful without getting paid (apart from expenses).
You can volunteer alone or in a team.
Being a Young Leader is a great volunteering opportunity and will be something that builds on your existing scouting skills, too.
Skill
Choose an activity that will allow you to broaden your understanding or increase your expertise in your chosen skill.
Don’t choose a physical activity – use this in the Physical section.
Do your skill in your own time, not as part of a directed activity in school
Physical
Choose any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity and that you can do regularly, showing personal improvement would count.
Note: learning to be a coach in a sport would be a Skills section activity, whilst being a volunteer coach counts for the Volunteering section.
Expedition
Plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. You must do the correct training for your level and mode of travel, at least one practice expedition (except Bronze), a qualifying expedition (the one that is assessed) and a final presentation in order to complete the section.
Your expedition must be completed by your own physical efforts and should also be a continuous journey.
Usually you will complete your expedition within your Explorer or Network Unit.
Residential
Undertake a shared activity or course with people you don’t know in a residential setting away from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Evenings are often as much a part of the experience as daytime activities.
This section offers a high degree of flexibility but it must be done with an organised group, registered charity or Approved Activity Provider. You must join it individually and not with an existing group of friends or as part of a school or youth group trip. You will be staying away – anything from an activity centre or camp to a boat or barge – but you cannot stay with friends or relatives.
There are no age restrictions on who you can do your residential activity with and you may even be the only person under 25 or doing your DofE.
Your activity can be anything that provides you with an opportunity for broadening your interests and experiences. It’s a great opportunity to try something new, but you can also base it on existing interests.
