Doing your Gold Duke of Edinburgh (Gold DofE) at university

For most young people aged 14-24 years in the UK, the Duke of Edinburgh Award (DofE) is a popular scheme to do in order to become more employable. For those who don't know, the DofE is a youth achievement award that allows people aged 14-24 years to gain new skills and push themselves in order to enhance their CV. It has 3 levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold and once successfully completed, you get an award. 

In order to achieve an award, you have to complete a programme that is broken into 4 sections in Bronze and Silver and 5 sections in Gold. For all three levels, the 4 sections are volunteering, physical, skills and expedition. For Gold, there is the extra section of residential. As you progress through the levels, the duration of the sections also changes but you can still choose the time lengths that you want to do them in. More information about the time scales and levels can be found by following this link: https://www.dofe.org/do/timescales/ 

I finished my Gold award through DofE Direct. I started the Gold programme when I was a 2nd year student at University. I was an ambassador for the DofE at my university where I helped run this scheme by creating a DofE society. Usually the award is run through schools and colleges but for those over 18, not at school or at university, can do their Gold Award through DofE Direct. I did Bronze and Silver at school before taking a few years off and signing up for Gold at university. 

I simply went on the DofE website and signed up for the Gold level. Once I have finished Gold, I have the oppotunity to collect my certificate and badge (or brooch) at Buckingham Palace. The award tends to be given out by a member of the Royal Family, most notably the late Duke of Edinburgh (the Queen's husband) but this baton has now gone to Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex. I am still waiting for the ceremony as I finished my expedition in October 2020 as the pandemic put a hold on to the ceremonies. 

If you want to learn more about DofE, check out this link: https://www.dofe.org/do-your-dofe/
If you want to know more about DofE Direct, then you can follow this link: https://www.dofe.org/dofe-direct

One thing that I would like to mention is to make sure you budget. DofE is a rewarding scheme but it can also be expensive especially the expeditions. The cost of doing the award increases up every level due to the increase in the time scales as well as the expedition lengths. So make sure you don't break the bank! That being said, DofE is great fun! You never know how much you can do until you challenge yourself and this itself is very rewarding!

For more FAQs do check out the DofE info website. I am also happy to help out if necessary