Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is for young people from 14 until 24 years old and if you are in Guides, Rangers or you look after Rainbows, Brownies or Guides and you’re under 24 years old you can do your Award through Girlguiding.

If you are already completing the scheme elsewhere and are interested in volunteering with Girlguiding for your service project please enquire via the JOIN US button on the top of the page.

The Duke of Edinburgh Award team have some places available on this year’s expedition training for those keen to achieve their Bronze level award.

The award is divided into four sections and encourages young people to learn new skills, make new friends and set themselves new goals.

They will need to take part in volunteering, physical, and skills activities on a weekly basis for a period of bewteen three and six months, as well as complete a two-day expedition in a small group, camping out over night.

If you have any girls or women in your unit who are aged between 14 (including thosee turning 14 this academic year) and 23 who would like to find out more please email Natalie Sadler, DofE Adviser – dofe@girlguidingessexne.org.uk.

The training weekend is due to take place over on July 9/10 with a qualifying event in early September 2022.

More about the scheme

In year 9, you can start the award at Bronze level. In year 10 you can start the award at Silver level And if you are 16 – 24 years old you can start the Award at Gold level. You will need to complete 4 sections of the Award (5 at Gold level) and these are Service, Skills, Physical Recreation and an Expedition (and a Residential Project for Gold Award Participants).

Since the D of E and Girlguiding’s Queen’s Award are very similar, you can do both at the same time! For more information on the Guide’s Queen’s award, email our Queen’s Guide Adviser who will be happy to assist.

Ideas for Service – looking after a Rainbow unit, helping out at an old people’s home or going to live in a different country for a year and teaching the children English (without getting paid).
Ideas for Skill – Learn a new instrument, learn a new language or study photography (out of the school timetable) Ideas for Physical Recreation – Netball, canoeing or gain your abseiling qualification. Ideas for Expedition – a walk round the Essex country side, a hike up Snowdon or an expedition through India.
Ideas for Residential Project – A week organising Mersea Camp, a week organising several aspects of an International Jamboree, a week in a remote village of Africa preparing to build a playground (for Gold Awards Participants only).

These are just some of 100s of ideas for all the sections of the Award. If they look interesting to you and you want to find out more, drop me an email with your name, age and which unit you belong to or look after.

If you’re not sure about doing the whole Award, you don’t have to! If you are already looking after a Rainbow, Brownie or Guide group you are already doing a service and you can get a Certificate from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award for all your hard work. Or, if you go on a jamboree or a weeks camp with new people (that you’ve only met through sorting the residential) you can get a Residential Certificate – both look great in your NRA (CV).

Once you complete your full Award, you will receive a badge and Certificate for all your hard work. If you complete the Award at Gold level, you will be invited to St James’ Palace where you will be presented with your certificate.

For more information please email dofe@girlguidingessexne.org.uk
To register please click here for an application form.

Whilst payment is made to Anglia Region forms must be sent to the County Duke of Edinburgh Adviser at the email above or posted to County Office.