DofE, or The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, is a national youth achievement award open to young people up to the age of 24. The popular award is thriving at Beverley Grammar School with large numbers of students taking advantage of the school’s involvement in the scheme every year. We have been running a very successful program for a number of years and are now one of the largest independent providers of the DofE Award in the North of England. The DofE Award consists of three levels: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.

Each level has four sections:

• Physical,

• Volunteering,

• Skill

• and Expedition.

The Gold Award also has a residential component.

These different activities involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, planning, training for, and completing an expedition, and, for Gold only, working with a team on a residential activity.

Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, background, or location. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first. It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has been a British institution for over 65 years and during that time has become a highly sought after Award which is widely recognised by British employers and Universities alike. The reason why both employers and Universities have such high regard for the Award are the skills it instills in young people and the level of commitment it demands.

The skills students develop while undertaking the Award include:

• Self-belief

• Self-confidence

• A sense of identity

• Initiative

• A sense of responsibility

• A real awareness of their strengths

• New talents and abilities

• The ability to plan and use time

• The ability to learn from and give to others in the community

• New friendships

• Problem-solving, presentation, and communication skills

• Leadership and teamworking skills

The Award achieves this by providing a balanced, non-competitive program, which is voluntary and available to all.