DofE LEVELS
There are three levels of programme you can do which, when you've successfully completed lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
The main differences between them are the minimum length of time it takes to complete them, how challenging it is and the minimum age you can start.
Depending on your age, you are free to start at any level but most people prefer to try for Bronze and work upwards. There are age restrictions for each one so it makes sense to build yourself up rather than dive in at the deep end.
Don’t forget, you have until your 25th birthday to complete whichever level you’re working on and achieve an Award.
The table below shows the different overall age restrictions and time requirements for each level.
BRONZE
A Bronze DofE programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You need be at least 14 years old to start a Bronze programme and you must do a minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections, and plan, train for and do a 2 day (1 night) Expedition.
You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.
This table shows what you need to do:
SILVER
The next step up from Bronze... you need to be at least 15 to start doing your Silver DofE programme.
A Silver DofE programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You need to do at least 6 months Volunteering and a minimum of 6 months on either Physical or Skills and 3 months on the other. It’s up to you which one you do for longer.
The Expedition section involves planning, training for and doing a 3 day (2 night) expedition.
If you start the Silver without doing Bronze first you’ll have to do an extra6 months volunteeringor doing whichever of the Physical or Skillssections you have spent more time on. Though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.
This table shows what you need to do:
GOLD
Once you hit 16 you can do your Gold DofE programme.
You’ll spend 12 months on your Volunteering section. For Physical and Skills you must spend 12 months on one and six months on the other - you decide which way round you do it.
The big difference at Gold, is you'll also do a Residential section - staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don't know. It's great fun and a real chance to do something different!
If you’ve jumped straight into your Gold DofE programme you’ll need to do a further six months either volunteering or whichever one of your physical or skills activities you spent the most time on.
This table gives you a summary of what you have to do:
HOW OLD DO I NEED TO BE?
You can do a Bronze DofE programme once you’re 14 (or nearly 14, which sometimes happens when you and your friends decide to start your adventure together. However, your Leader must agree this.)
If you are 15, you can start on a Silver DofE programme. If you've achieved your Bronze Award, your Leader may allow you to start your Silver a month or two before your 15th birthday.
As for the Gold programme, no activities can be counted for this before your 16th birthday.
All activities that you do for any DofE programme MUST be completed before your 25th birthday.
HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME?
It will usually take you at least 6 months to complete your Bronze programme.
It will take you at least 6 months for Silver if you've already achieved your Bronze, or 12 months if you've jumped straight into Silver.
For Gold, you'll need to do your programme for at least 12 months if you've got your Silver Award, or18 months if you've started at Gold level without doing Silver- even if you've done Bronze.
We've put the length of time in months - you need to show regularactivity and commitment during this time of at least an hour a week. You can't achieve an Award in a short burst of enthusiasm over one weekend!
Remember, all activities for a DofE programme MUST be completed by your 25th birthday.
Once you've done the minimum amount of time needed to complete your DofE programme, we're sure that you'll have had so much fun that you'll want to keep on doing your activities!
TIMESCALES
Bronze (14+ years old)
| Volunteering | Physical | Skills | Expedition |
| 3 months | 3 months | 3 months | Plan, train for and undertake a 2 day, 1 night expedition. |
| All participants must undertake a further 3 months in the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. | |||
Silver (15+ years old)
| Volunteering | Physical | Skills | Expedition |
| 6 months | One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months | Plan, train for and undertake a 3 day, 2 night expedition. | |
| Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections. | |||
Gold (16+ years old)
| Volunteering | Physical | Skills | Expedition | Residential |
| 12 months | One section for 12 months and the other section for 6 months | Plan, train for and undertake a 4 day, 3 night expedition. | Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights. | |
| Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections. | ||||
Length of time of DofE expeditions
| Level | Duration | Minimum hours of planned activity each day |
| BRONZE | 2 days and 1 night | At least 6 hours during the daytime (at least 3 of which must be spent journeying) |
| SILVER | 3 days and 2 nights | At least 7 hours during the daytime (at least 3½ of which must be spent journeying) |
| GOLD | 4 days and 3 nights | At least 8 hours during the daytime (at least 4 of which must be spent journeying) |
Notes: Time associated with overnight accommodation and catering is additional to the minimum daytime hours of planned activity. Participants have to undertake at least one practice expedition as part of their training, in addition to the final assessed expedition.
WHY DO IT?
Good question!
Because, from the first day to the last it’s a real adventure. Every section gives you something different - that's the fun of it!
You’ll enjoy loads of new experiences, discover talents you never thought you had, challenge yourself and meet loads of people just like you. Plus you’ll do things you love and get a kick out of. It’s a real buzz!
Then there’s all the other stuff…
…like the fact that achieving an Award will give you skills, confidence and a view on life that everyone is looking for, from employers to colleges and universities.
...you're getting recognised for doing things you want to do (and may even be doing already).
...plus you’ll make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, be fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime.
And above all, it's a great laugh!
The question should really be why wouldn't you bother!
Interested? Need to know more?
Have a look at more detailed info on DofE programmes, including how to get started, here or
click on one of the sections on the right for loads of ideas of things you could do for your DofE.
Have a look at more detailed info on DofE programmes, including how to get started, here or
click on one of the sections on the right for loads of ideas of things you could do for your DofE.
Find out how to get involved by asking the person who runs the DofE in your school, college, youth group, company etc.,
or contact your local Operating Authority here.
or contact your local Operating Authority here.
YOUR DofE PROGRAMME
This part of our site will give you more detailed info on how to build your personal DofE programme.
We'll tell you how to get started, give you some ideas on what you could do for each section and how to record your progress. We'll also tell you about what you get at the end of it all... and it's not just a piece of paper!
Your first question should be what do I want to do? Once you’ve chosen the level you want to do, you create, plan and complete your own programme, making sure you've chosen an activity that counts for each section.
It’s your chance to decide what you want to do, so you really go for stuff that you're interested in. Maybe you want to be a DJ or musician or perhaps you’re big into skateboarding or football?
Whatever really gets you going, the odds are you can do it for your DofE.
And it doesn't matter if you've never done an activity before or if you've been doing it for years - you set your own challenges for each activity and just need to prove you've got better while you're doing it.
Can't find what you're looking for? Check out our handy FAQ pages as the answer's probably there and we'll point you to the right place!
VOLUNTEERING
This is all about making a difference to other people's lives. Getting off your sofa and taking time out to change things for the better can be great fun.
You'll need to agree the type of volunteering you want to do, what you plan to achieve and do any training (if you need to) before you get started.
Ben Fogle, TV presenter and Silver Award holder reckons volunteering is a great thing to get involved in: “Employers and universities recognise the value of having people who have a life away from their job. This is where the DofE comes in, it's now become the leading Award for young people to demonstrate they have interests outside of everyday life. Volunteering gives you a chance to make a difference to others and to their community. I believe that you'll find your voluntary work will increase your confidence and self-esteem and give you new skills. I would advise you all to embrace volunteering opportunities; it's a great way to collect extra experience that could give you the edge at a college, university or job interview.”
In case you're still wondering what you'll get out of the Volunteering section, this is what Sarah has to say about it...
"For my volunteering I spent a year helping children with special needs. Doing my DofE gave me even more back than the hours and effort I put in." Sarah, DofE participant.
From conservation to youth work to fundraising for your favourite charity or caring for animals, there's an endless list of the types of projects you can get involved in, so have a chat with your Leader and other people in your community to find out what’s on offer, what needs doing and who needs help!
Once you've found an activity or project, you'll need to get someone who's running it to agree to help you through it and sign off your evidence once you've completed to prove you did it - we call them your Assessor. Your Assessor will also check on your progress whilst you're doing the activity.
If you can't find a project you want to do, why not set up a new one that will help your community? This can be on your own, with a couple of friends or even with your whole DofE group – your Leader can help you do this and may be able to act as your Assessor.
Remember - you need to get your Leader to agree your choice and make sure it fits our rules for the Volunteering section. They'll have a quick meeting with you to make sure you’ve set yourself enough of a challenge, arrange when they'll catch up with you over the time you're volunteering and when you’ll have your final assessment. Then you’re good to go!
Use the activity finder on the right to find out about the types of volunteering you can do, plus some ideas to get you started.
Debra Searle MBE, Trustee and Gold Award holder said:
“The Volunteering section teaches young people valuable lessons about the importance of giving back to the community. A wonderful 61% of Award holders go on to volunteer in their local community. Just imagine what an impact it would have on our society and the economy if every young person in the UK had the opportunity to have a DofE volunteering experience. It is aspirations like this coupled with the impact of my own volunteering for my Gold that inspire me to commit wholeheartedly to volunteering as a DofE Trustee.”
“The Volunteering section teaches young people valuable lessons about the importance of giving back to the community. A wonderful 61% of Award holders go on to volunteer in their local community. Just imagine what an impact it would have on our society and the economy if every young person in the UK had the opportunity to have a DofE volunteering experience. It is aspirations like this coupled with the impact of my own volunteering for my Gold that inspire me to commit wholeheartedly to volunteering as a DofE Trustee.”
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Leave a legacy
Your support can ensure that The DofE will still be making a difference to young people in the future. Together we can help the young people of tomorrow build a better future for themselves.
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However you have chosen to donate to The DofE we would like to say a really big
THANK YOU
You have helped us to inspire, guide and support young people.
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