The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Find out what the Duke of Edinburgh's Award is, the new approach it's delivered, who can take part and where it's held.

What is The Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award?

The Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award is nationally and internationally recognised by colleges, universities and employers as a programme showing that young people have achieved and ‘done something different’ with their lives that makes them stand out from the crowd.

Full details of the award can be found at:

Duke of Edinburgh's Award (external website)

Levels of award

The DofE is available at three different levels dependent on the participant's age:

Bronze (for those aged 14 years or in Year 9 at school)

The Bronze level can be completed in a minimum of 6 months.

Silver (for those aged 15 years or in Year 10 at school)

The Silver level can be completed in a minimum of 6 months for those who have completed the Bronze level, or 12 months for direct Silver entrants.

Gold (for those aged 16 years and over)

The Gold level can be completed in a minimum of 12 months for those who have completed the Silver level or 18 months for direct entrants.

Whatever level is undertaken, a personal programme of activities is achieved that includes:

  • volunteering - helping people in the community
  • skills - almost any interest or hobby
  • physical - sport, dance and fitness
  • expedition - training, planning and completing a practice and assessed expedition using a chosen mode of transport such as on foot or cycle, or canoe
  • residential project (only at Gold level) - spending time away from home, learning a new skill with new people.

Order that awards can be attempted in

It is recommended to complete each award level progressively eg Bronze, Silver then Gold as this reduces the time it takes to achieve each award.

However, you can start on a Silver programme without having previously undertaken the Bronze award. Likewise, you can undertake the Gold programme without having completed the Bronze or Silver. All awards must be completed by your 25th birthday.

Please note: as long as you meet the age requirements of the next award level, you can enrol for the next award level if you have completed, and had approved, one section of the previous award.

What is the new approach for the delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award?

Following a review of the council’s involvement with the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award it was agreed that on the 31 December 2017 the East Riding of Yorkshire Council would terminate its Licensed Operator (LO) status. This means that schools and/or colleges would be encouraged to become Direct Licensed Centres (DLCs) thus enabling young people across the East Riding to either start or continue their D of E journey.

The council along with the Regional DofE Office have been proactive in supporting the new delivery approach by helping schools and/or colleges in the transition to become a new unit.

We are delighted to announce that the following schools and colleges have become DLCs :

  • Beverley Grammar School

  • Beverley High School

  • Bridlington School

  • Cottingham High School

  • Driffield School and Sixth Form

  • Hessle High School and Sixth Form

  • Hornsea School and Language College

  • Howden School

  • Hull Collegiate School

  • Market Weighton School (The)

  • Pocklington School

  • Snaith School (The)

  • South Hunsley School and Sixth Form College

  • St. Anne’s School and Sixth Form College

  • Woldgate School and Sixth Form College

Please note: there are also Open DofE Award Centres at Easington Youth Centre, The Moorlands Community Charity (Old Goole).

The new delivery model enables the council’s Youth and Family Support (YFS) service retain a stake in the DofE by continuing to encourage young people from vulnerable groups to enrol on the DofE.

This approach is supported by the Dewhirst Charitable Trust DofE Bursary, which has now operated by the regional DofE office for the last three years, which helps to provide suitable equipment and clothing to those young people from lower-income families.

Who can take part?

Anyone can take part in the award as long as they are aged 14 years or in year 9 at school when they enrol.

Participants must have completed their award(s) by the age of 25.

You can read more about the levels and timescales involved in the DofE Award using the links in the further information section of this page.

What are the benefits of taking part?

Achieving the award can help you gain the skills and attributes that could make you a successful candidate for college, university, and employment. You will gain self-confidence, learn new skills, talents and meet new friends. It's all about getting out there and having fun.

The award is nationally and internationally recognised. Skills you can gain include the following:

  • Self-management
  • Problem-solving
  • Independence
  • Teamwork
  • Communication.

Read more about reasons to do the DofE Award and the benefits you can gain using the links in the further information section of this page.

Where is it held?

The new Direct Licensed Centres (DLCs) operate at the following schools and colleges:

Beverley Grammar School

Queensgate
Beverley
HU17 8NF
Contact: Dan Bibbington
Tel: (01482) 881531

Beverley High School

Norwood
Beverley
HU17 9EX
Contact: Louise Lewis
Tel: (01482) 881658

Bridlington School

Bessingby Rd
Bridlington
YO16 4QU
Contact: Sarah Green
Tel: (01262) 672593

Cottingham High School and Sixth Form College

Harland Way
Cottingham
HU16 5PX
Contact: Damian Gath
Tel: (01482) 847498

Driffield School and Sixth Form

The 6th Form Centre
Manorfield Road
Driffield
YO25 5HR
Contact: Jess Yates
Tel: (01377) 253631

Easington Youth Club

Beck Lane
Easington
HU12 0TX
Contact: Christina Keyworth
Mobile: 07340 032981

Goole

The Moorlands Community Charity
16A Moorland Road
Old Goole
DN14 5QA
Tel: (01405) 768111

Hessle High School

Tranby House
Heads Ln
Hessle
HU13 0JQ
Contact: Kat Moore
Tel: (01482) 648604

Howden School

Derwent Road
Howden
DN14 7AL
Contact: Charlotte Scott
Tel: (01430) 430448

Hornsea School and Language College

Eastgate
Hornsea
HU18 1DW
Contact: John Hart
Tel: (01964) 532727

Hull Collegiate School

Tranby Croft
Anlaby
East Yorkshire
HU10 7EH
Contact: Sally Groves
Tel: (01482) 657016

Market Weighton School (The)

Spring Road
Market Weighton
York
YO43 3JF
Contact: Marjorie Lamb
Tel: (01430) 873450

Pocklington School

West Green
Pocklington
YO42 2NJ
Contact: Adam Hall
Tel: (01759) 321200

The Snaith School (The)

Pontefract Road
Snaith
DN14 9LB
Contact: Melanie Till
Tel: (01405) 860 327

South Hunsley School and Sixth Form College

The Green Room
Kingston Building
East Dale Road
Melton
North Ferriby
HU14 3HS
Contact: Jasmin Oxlade
Tel: (01482) 631208

St. Anne's School and Sixth Form College

St. Helen's Drive
Welton
Brough
East Yorkshire
HU15 1NR
Contact: Sue Hosdell
Tel: (01482) 667379

Woldgate School and Sixth Form

92 Kilnwick Rd
Pocklington
York
YO42 2LL
Contact: Ruth Painter
Tel: (01759) 302395

Please note: if you are interested in undertaking the award at your school, academy or youth club please contact your school’s DofE Manager or:

Emma Stothard, DofE Regional Operations Officer
Mobile: 07920 501983
Email: emma.stothard@dofe.org

Please note: each school will have its own arrangements and costs.

How can I obtain a Dewhirst Charitable Trust D of E Bursary?

The Dewhirst Charitable Trust's Duke of Edinburgh’s award grant is for participants to support them in undertaking the expedition element of the Award. Participants are eligible for a grant at each level: Bronze, Silver and Gold.

How to apply

Applications to the Dewhirst Charitable Trust's Duke of Edinburgh’s Bursary are currently closed.

Where can I find further information?

If you want to find out more about the D of E Award, what it is and how it is run, there is a lot of useful information for young people and parents and guardians on the D of E national website:

Duke of Edinburgh's Award (external website)

Activities

You can read more about the types of activities you can take part in on the activities section of the D of E website:

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Activities sections (external website)

Reasons to take part

Read more about reasons to do the D of E Award and the benefits you can gain using the links below:

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Why (external website)

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Benefits (external website)

Levels and timescales

You can read more about the levels and timescales involved in the award on the D of E Award website:

Duke of Edinburgh's Award - Timescales (external website)

Equipment you may need to take part

You can read more about the kind of equipment you may need on the D of E website:

Duke of Edinburgh's Award Shopping - Expedition Kit (external website)

Subscribe to East Riding of Yorkshire Council

Stay updated on the latest East Riding news

We use GovDelivery to send you emails, which is secure and you can choose to stop receiving emails at any time.

Find out more in our Privacy notice.

Subscribe to East Riding News

Alerts