The Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is many things to many people, supporting generations of young people to successfully navigate adult life. At Somerford Youth and Community Centre, we are proud to offer this life-changing programme to young people in our community.
What is the DofE?
The DofE is a personal development programme available to 14-24-year-olds, designed to help them develop essential life skills, resilience, and confidence. Young people can participate at three progressive levels:
- Bronze
- Silver
- Gold
Each level has a set of challenges to complete, leading to an official Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. At the Bronze and Silver levels, participants complete four sections, while the Gold level includes an additional fifth section.
The Five Key Sections
- Volunteering: Helping the community or environment.
- Physical: Improving fitness and well-being through physical activity.
- Skills: Developing a new skill or hobby.
- Expedition: Planning, training for, and completing an adventurous journey.
- Residential (Gold level only): Working with a team on a residential activity.
Who Can Participate
Any young person can take part in the DofE, regardless of ability, gender, background, or location. The programme is not about competition or being the best; instead, it focuses on personal growth, setting individual goals, and pushing personal boundaries.
Benefits of the DofE
- Fun and Friendship: Participants meet new people, build lasting friendships, and enjoy shared experiences.
- Improved Self-Esteem: The challenges help build self-worth and confidence as young people achieve their goals.
- Essential Life Skills: Participants develop resilience, problem-solving, team-working, communication, and drive — valuable skills for the workplace and beyond.
- Enhanced Opportunities: The DofE is recognised by top employers and universities as a mark of achievement and preparedness for work and life.
Our Commitment
As a Licensed Organisation (LO), we are proud to be the only non-school, community-based centre operating the DofE scheme locally. Our focus is on supporting young people who may not have the means or self-belief to undertake the Award. We provide guidance and encouragement to ensure they complete the programme successfully and benefit from all it has to offer.
If you are interested in learning more or signing up for the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme, please contact us.