Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is open to all young people aged 14 to 24. Participants undertake a series of activities programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

They can take on average between 1-year and 3-4 years to complete, depending on the activities undertaken and in the UK at any given time there are around 275,000 participants.

There are four sections at Bronze and Silver level and five at Gold level.

Participants undertake activities from the following areas:

• Volunteering: undertaking service to individuals or the community.
• Physical: improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities.
• Skills: developing practical and social skills and personal interests.
• Expedition: planning, training for and completion of an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad.
• At Gold level, participants must do an additional fifth Residential section, which involves staying and working away from home doing a shared activity.

For more information on the Duke of Edinburgh Awards visit http://www.DofE.org