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DofE Gold Award – go the extra mile

Go the extra mile and start your Gold DofE Award. Open to all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, DofE could be the challenge you are looking for – raising your self-esteem, aspirations, developing your skills and opening doors to employment! North Lincolnshire DofE is here to inspire, engage and motivate you through your award. Start your DofE award at any point in the year and make connections and friends outside of your school. There’s no restriction as to when or where you can join. Find out more by watching our video.

What age can I start?

You can register for the Gold Award once you turn 16 years old. You can start your Gold Award at any point after your 16th birthday. The award must be completed by your 25th birthday.

What’s involved?

  • Volunteering in the community for 12 months
  • Working towards a physical goal for 12 months*
  • Working towards a skills-based goal for six months*
  • Exploring on a four-day/three-night expedition
  • Going on a residential for five days/nights nights

*If you haven’t completed Silver, you are classed as a direct participant. You must commit to a further six months in either the volunteering section or the longer of the skills or physical sections.

For further information about what to expect, read DofE’s summary of all the sections.

How are the sections approved and evidenced?

  • Select the timescales on eDofE for your Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections. Don’t worry if you’re not sure, you can always go back and edit these dates later. Watch this eDofE training video
  • Submit the activity you’d like to do for each section. Please check the activity is permitted for each section. You can check this with your D of E Leader if you’re not sure. For section ideas, visit: Ideas for Activities – DofE
  • Your DofE Leader will review the activity you’ve submitted. Once they have approved, you’re ready to get started
  • At the end of the section, you will need to ask your identified assessor to write a short assessor report evidencing your work towards your chosen goal. This can be completed using the relevant page from your welcome book or completed online: Assessor’s Report – DofE
  • Your DofE leader will review, approve, and sign-off sections

How much is it?

Registration for the Gold Award is £40 payable upon registering for the award. This registration fee includes:

  • eDofE account creation
  • DofE physical welcome pack
  • eDofE support and advice – join our monthly support calls or email us anytime
  • Leader approving evidence and approving/querying sections
  • Award verification
  • Badge and certificate processing
  • Training sessions – taking place at either an open session or virtually. View our programme dates and what’s involved.

The expedition section, which includes a Training Day, Practice, and Qualifying expedition, costs £120 (totalling nine days). This is payable at the point of expedition booking or can be paid in three instalments.

Our qualified and experienced DofE leaders support participants through their entire DofE journey, from start to finish. They prepare participants for the expedition plus provide one-to-one support with eDofE and give guidance on section activities throughout the entire award journey.

Expedition Snapshot - What to Expect

  • Skills Day: one full day
  • Practice Expedition – four days/three nights
  • Qualifying Expedition: four days/three nights

As part of an expedition team (between four and seven young people), you’ll plan and complete a skills day, a practice expedition and one challenging expedition. On the skills day you will take part in different workshops including how to put up a tent, learn or refresh your skills in using a compass and map, complete route planning for the expedition and cook outdoors. On the expedition you’ll navigate and hike in the countryside, camp under the stars, cook in the outdoors, and be self-sufficient. The skills day and qualifying expeditions take place between April and October each year.

In the lead-up to and throughout the qualifying expedition, participants are assessed against DofE’s Expedition Requirements. Read more about expedition requirements.

View our expedition dates.

When do I get started?

You can register and start your DofE journey at any point in the year. You can get started with the physical, volunteering, and skill sections when you receive your eDofE account and welcome pack. If you want to get set-up on eDofE ahead of your first training session, watch this eDofE training video. There are lots of recommended videos to watch, so do take a look at the full training list.

Get in touch

Our friendly DofE Award Team would love to hear from you: DofE@northlincs.gov.uk.

dofe-group-smiling-and-waving-on-expedition

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