FAQ

Maybe.

A participants volunteering activity must align with the volunteering outcomes listed below. 

Through volunteering, participants can: ■ Increase community cohesion through a cause or social action. ■ Support the well-being of members of their community and themselves. ■ Feel empowered to lead change. ■ Build empathy and make a positive impact on others. ■ Further understand their own goals by evaluating their progress and building confidence and self-esteem. ■ Get a chance to develop teamwork and leadership abilities, increasing their employability and skills for life. 

Q: Can we allow volunteering at a business or commercial organisation? A: In most cases, businesses cannot offer volunteering opportunities as they are not organisations established for civic benefit but for profit. However, we also recognise that several types of businesses can clearly demonstrate civic good and offer impactful volunteer experiences. In these circumstances, this is permissible. These businesses should be able to demonstrate that they offer volunteering opportunities in line with the outcomes of the section. Apart from expenses, the participants should not be paid and should only be present in a supporting role, not part of any required staffing ratios. The organisation must also provide a suitable volunteering activity that stretches over the required timeframe. *See document linked below.

This document provides some examples of suitable commercial and business volunteering opportunities: https://www.dofe.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/01/Framework_Volunteering_v4-004-1.pdf 

No you cannot do any paid work as part of your DofE.

You cannot "volunteer" at any business or for profit organisation or undertake work for these types of organisations if it would normally be paid for.

However, unpaid work experience can count as a Skill:

"While the activity still needs to be in the participant’s own time, developing work skills through optional unpaid work experience or training would count for this section as life skills. This is a good way for participants to use the DofE to help them bridge the gap between education and employment."

You can do similar activities for two sections but they need to be separate i.e. 1 hour for each section.

For example you could do Gymnastics as a Physical (1 hour per week) then coach younger people Gymnastics (Sports leadership) as Volunteering (additional 1 hour per week).

Yes if required. Assessors need to complete a report after a participant has finished a section.

This can be done online: 

Or on paper which will be supplied as part of the participant's welcome pack.

Participants can log their own activities and time spent on these themselves either on paper: https://www.dofe.org/do/activitylogs/ or on an app.

You can do either or any combination. Sections at the same time and commit 3 hour per week or two sections at a time or only one section at a time.

Yes, you need to complete all the sections (Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition) to obtain your DofE Award. 

The DofE endeavours to keep your costs down so the current Welcome Pack, which includes the participation fee, is £25.50 for the Bronze Award, £25.50 for Silver and £32.50 for Gold which goes directly to the award.

There will be additional costs for activities and BxA adds a small fee (£2 Bronze/Silver, £5 Gold) to cover administration costs etc, so:

• Bronze = £27.50

• Silver = £27.50

• Gold = £37.50

If you wish to enrol in the award and require help with the cost, there is a fund available. Please see Mr Bappoo.

Participants would be asked to pay fees after they have decided the DofE is for them and they have settled on section activities.

Yes, but you would need to organise and fund expeditions by Bicycle, Boat, Canoe or Kayak, Wheelchair or Horseback yourself using external providers. As an example a two day expedition with an external provider start at £120 for walking and £220 for Canoeing.

Banff Academy offers walking expeditions due to the low associated cost and not having staff trained or equipped for other types of expeditions. We expect a Banff Academy 2 day Bronze walking expedition to cost around £15 including equipment hire (optional fee), food, gas for cooking but not including transport to and from the expedition.

Yes. Most expedition equipment will be provided.

There is a small optional hire cost associated with this to pay for equipment costs and upkeep.

We currently do not have sleeping bags or walking boots but are looking at purchasing sleeping bags.

You will need to provide your own food for expeditions.