Duke of Edinburgh's Award

An Overview

Our mission: To inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and recognise their achievements.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award programme is a voluntary, non-competitive programme of activities for anyone aged 14-24. Doing their DofE gives young people the opportunity to experience new activities or develop existing skills. There are three progressive levels of programmes which when successfully completed lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award. Young people create their own DofE programme by choosing a volunteering, physical and skills activity, going on an expedition and, for their Gold only, taking part in a residential activity. (more information on this can be found at DofE.org

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a national youth charity that operates throughout the UK. Founded by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh in 1956, DofE programmes are now delivered under licence by over 3,000 partners who offer it through DofE groups in youth clubs, voluntary organisations, schools, colleges, young offender institutions, housing associations and businesses.

At Hurstmere we are providing the DofE programme for pupils in year 10 to complete their bronze award. We are hoping that within a couple of years, we will also be able to offer the silver award.

Benefits for pupils

Achieving an Award will give you skills, confidence and an edge over others when you apply for college, university or a job. Beyond your academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of so called ‘soft skills’ that you have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice.

You’ll also make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, be fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime.

When your child does their DofE programme they’ll develop the skills and attitudes they need to become more rounded, confident adults. Qualities that colleges, universities and employers are attracted to. So when you support your child’s pursuit of their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, you’re investing in their future.

You can expect to see your child develop in the following areas as they work through their DofE programme:

– Self-belief and self-confidence

– A sense of identity

– Initiative and a sense of responsibility

– A real awareness of their strengths

– New talents and abilities

– The ability to plan and use time effectively

– Learning from and giving to others in the community

– Forming new friendships

– Problem solving, presentation and communication skills

– Leadership and team working skills.

Diamond Funding

Hurstmere School is delighted to announce that we have received a grant from The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) Diamond fund for up to date equipment to give all pupils the best possible experience.

Thanks to this fantastic offering we will be able to provide more of our young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the opportunity to partake in this prestigious award.

The DofE’s Diamond fund is made up of £1.5 million raised by over 15,000 supporters during the Charity’s Diamond Anniversary year (2016), £1 million from the #iwill Fund for England – a joint investment from The National Lottery and the Department of Culture, Media & Sport to support young people to access high quality social action opportunities – and additional DofE donations to double Diamond Anniversary fundraising in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. With a total of £3 million to invest over the next four years, the Charity aims to work with Licensed Organisations/centres, like Hurstmere School to give more disadvantaged young people the chance to develop life-changing skills and attributes – such as communication, determination and teamwork – for life and work, create new friendships and gain the confidence to reach their full potential. 

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