HEY! Who are you guys?

Our volunteers are of all ages and from a variety of backgrounds. Many have themselves completed their award and feel passionate about helping young people to experience The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Our volunteers take on a wide range of roles across the award centre, from assisting participants in signing up to planning and coordinating expeditions. Many of our volunteer expedition leaders hold recognised outdoor qualifications, vital to the successful operation of our expeditions.

We monitor and guide young people in their choices and support them along the way until they have fully completed their award. We operate a full training programme for the Expedition section of the DofE Award at all levels, including day walks and practice expeditions.

As an Open Award group, all are welcome to join us to complete a DofE award. Young people can join from Year 9 at bronze moving to silver in Year 10 and gold after their 16th birthday. Young people are accepted at any level provided they meet the age requirements; they do not have to work their way through all the Award levels.

The Award is built by the young people themselves, depending on their own interests and activities. It is split into 4 sections at Bronze and Silver Level and 5 sections at Gold Level. Each section has equal merit and the whole award cannot be gained without completing all the sections. Young people must take part in a Volunteering activity, a Physical activity, a Skill activity and an Expedition. At Gold a Residential experience is also a requirement. Many activities that young people already do can be used to help them to gain their DofE Award, e.g. Music lessons = Skill, football club = Physical or helping out at cubs = Volunteering.