The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Impress potential employers and universities with an achievement they know and respect. The internationally-recognised Duke of Edinburgh's Award programme operates in about 100 countries and has three levels: Bronze (for those aged 14 and over), Silver (for those aged 15 and over) and Gold (for those aged 16 and over).

Download the Working Together leaflet to see how being part of Girlguiding helps you with your Duke of Edinburgh award.

What is involved?

At each level you have to satisfy the requirements of four sections:

  • Volunteering - undertaking service to individuals or the community
  • Physical - improving in an area of sport, dance or fitness activities
  • Skills - developing practical and social skills and personal interests
  • Expedition - planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey in the UK or abroad
Gold programme participants must also do an additional fifth:
  • Residential - involves staying and working away from home doing a shared activity.

You have until your 25th birthday to complete any of the three awards but it takes at least six months to complete the Bronze, 12 months for Silver and 18 months for Gold for direct entrants (i.e. those without Silver or Bronze awards).

Achieving the Duke of Edinburgh's Award

  • The whole idea is for you to choose activities of interest to you, although everything must be done in your own leisure time (that is, out of school, college or work hours).
  • Members can achieve their Duke of Edinburgh's Awards through Girlguiding. Volunteers can also use their time spent volunteering with a unit (Brownies, Guides or Senior Section), towards their Volunteering section of their DofE programme.
  • Who signs off each section? How is it measured? If you are a Leader in charge, your Assistant Leader or local Commissioner can sign off your Volunteering section.

Want further details?

Visit the DofE section of the Guiding Manual to find out more

Finished?

After you've successfully completed the Gold Award, you'll get the invite of a lifetime. Recipients go to one of the royal palaces to accept their award in the presence of its patron, the Duke of Edinburgh (funnily enough). Not bad!