Introduction
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by. The award consists of 4 sections at Bronze and Silver – Skill, Physical, Volunteering and Expedition, with the addition of a residential at Gold. And best of all, the young person gets to choose what they do. It takes a minimum of 6 months to complete an award and requires a weekly commitment for the first three sections.
Find out more on the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award website.
DofE Centres
There are over 65 active Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Centres across Somerset and the number grows each year, reflecting school and college leaders’ recognition of DofE as the world’s most successful youth development programme. Across the County, work with schools, colleges, Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) providers and alternative learning provision as well as offer a ‘Somerset Open Award’ package, enabling young people to achieve an award directly with Somerset Council’s DofE Team.
SEND information - part of our Local Offer
Any young person can achieve the award
The award is very flexible and set up to ensure that any young person can achieve the award and the team are very experienced in working with SEND requirements.
Sign up and bursary fund
Through our Somerset centres, we sign around 2,700 young people up for an award each year from all walks of life and have a bursary fund to help support disadvantaged young people, so that any young person living in Somerset can access the award, whether through a centre – school, college or other education providers, or remotely through our team. The bursary is also available for those accessing the award through other providers in Somerset like the Scouts.
Benefits of taking part
Research shows that employers and universities understand the skills, knowledge and characteristics which DofE helps build and they look out for it on young people’s CVs and applications.
Find out how doing the DofE can have a positive impact on a young person’s mental health and wellbeing.
Find out more
To find out more about the award in Somerset, or get in touch please take a look at the Support Services for Education Duke of Edinburgh’s Award page or email DofE@somerset.gov.uk