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What is the Duke of Edinburgh Award?
The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is a national programme for young people aged 14 to 24. It offers participants a chance to experience adventure, develop skills, teamwork and confidence. The DofE award is attractive to employers and can give a CV the competitive edge.
There are three levels of award: Bronze, Silver and Gold. In each, the participant needs to demonstrate growth in four areas, called sections.
- Volunteering
- Physical
- Skills
- Expedition
Girlguiding is an operating authority for DofE
Duke of Edinburgh Award in Girlguiding Hampshire West
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is available to any Girlguiding member in Hampshire West from the start of year 9. This means that many eligible members will still be attending guides rather than rangers.
Members can start the award at the following times:
- Bronze - from the start of year 9
- Silver - from the start of year 10
- Gold - from the start of year 12 (this is currently being reviewed).
Members can choose which level to join the scheme, as long as they meet the minimum age category for that level.
Who runs the Duke of Edinburgh Award in Hampshire West?
Some ranger units run the award as part of their programme.
We also have a county team that runs a County Duke of Edinburgh's Award Group - this means that all eligible girlguiding Hampshire West members now have the opportunity to sign up.
Interested guides and rangers are asked to complete the following form to sign up:
DofE Enrollment Form Girlguiding Hampshire West, it is possible to sign up at any point during the year.
There will be one Bronze expedition and one Silver expedition run during each calendar year - Gold expeditions will be run when needed/we have sufficient volunteers.
The dates for 2024 are as follows:
- Alternative D of E Bronze expedition 27/28 July 2024
- Silver qualifying expedition 26-28 July 2024
If you are a Ranger Leader and interested in offering DofE to your girls, please contact the Duke of Edinburgh Adviser at dofegghw@gmail.com.
Volunteering with Girlguiding as part of the DofE award for those not already in Girlguiding
Young people volunteering with Girlguiding as part of their DofE Award who are not currently members of Girlguiding, have the role ‘Young External Volunteer’ in GO added to the unit by the Division Commissioner. The starting age for this role has been lowered from 14 to 13 now that many young people start their Bronze Award at 13. The upper age limit is now 18 – young people over 18 need to be assigned an adult volunteering role. Girls who are Guides and are completing their volunteering for their DofE Award will be registered as a Rainbow or Brownie helper on GO with the unit. Girls who are Rangers will be registered as a Young Leader with the unit they support but may only stay in this role for the period of time they need to complete their DofE volunteering. DofE volunteers must be on GO for the unit they support.
Here are some useful links
- Duke of Edinburgh – http://www.dofe.org
- DofE and Girlguiding – https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/rangers/the-duke-of-edinburghs-award/
- Getting started on your DofE award – https://www.girlguiding.org.uk/what-we-do/rangers/the-duke-of-edinburghs-award/get-started-on-your-dofe-award/
