ABOUT DUKE OF ED
The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is available to 14 to 24 year olds regardless of background.
The Award is comprised of three levels each progressively more challenging. These levels are:
The Award is comprised of three levels each progressively more challenging. These levels are:
Bronze:
For those 14 years and older |
Silver:
For those 15 years and older |
Gold:
For those 16 years and older |
Participants at each level are required to complete four sections:
- Voluntary Service (eg. sports coaching, charity work, volunteering at a hospital, visiting and supporting those in need, first aid)
- Skill (eg. music, sports refereeing, arts and crafts, painting, photography, agriculture, fishing, film, writing, public speaking, website development, chess)
- Physical Recreation (eg. ball sports, athletics, water sports, martial arts, horse riding, dancing, gymnastics, cycling)
- Adventurous Journey (eg. exploring the natural world completing a demanding journey by foot, cycle, canoe or kayak).
Bronze Award
In the Bronze Award, participants should complete 3 months (averaging at least 1 hour per week) in each section - voluntary service, physical recreation and skills, plus an additional 3 months for a Major section (either Service, Skill or Physical Recreation). Participants also complete one practice adventurous journey (2 days/1 night) and one qualifying adventurous journey (2 days/1 night) for the Bronze Award.
Silver Award
In the Silver Award, participants should complete 6 months (averaging at least 1 hour per week) in each section - voluntary service, physical recreation and skills. If participants are completing their Silver Award without having completed a Bronze Award, they need to complete an additional 6 months for a Major section (either Service, Skill or Physical Recreation). Participants also complete one practice adventurous journey (3 days/2 nights) and one qualifying adventurous journey (3 days/2 nights) for the Silver Award.
Gold Award
In the Gold Award, participants should complete 12 months (averaging at least 1 hour per week) in each section - voluntary service, physical recreation and skills. If participants are completing their Gold Award without having completed their Silver Award, they need to complete an additional 6 months for a Major section (either Service, Skill or Physical Recreation). Participants complete one practice adventurous journey (4 days/3 nights) and one qualifying adventurous journey (4 days/3 nights) for the Gold Award. Participants are also required to complete a Gold Residential Project (5 days/4 nights).
The table below provides an overview of the requirements for each section of each level of the Award.
The table below provides an overview of the requirements for each section of each level of the Award.
Voluntary Service
In this section, participants are required to volunteer their time and give service that enables them to experience the benefits of what their service provides to other people.
Examples of voluntary service include:
Examples of voluntary service include:
- Visiting and providing support to people in need (such as the elderly, or those with disabilities)
- Volunteering at a hospital or local care home
- Volunteering with a conservation group
- Sports coaching
- Charity work
- First aid
list_of_service_volunteering_ideas.pdf |
Skills
The Skills Section provides the opportunity for participants to improve on an existing skill or develop a new skill. As with all Sections of the Award, commitment over a period of time is required to progress a skill, leading to a sense of achievement and improved well-being, and possibly improved employability through development of life and vocational skills.
Examples of skills include:
Examples of skills include:
- Music – singing, learning to play an instrument, music event management
- Sports related – sports officiating, umpiring/refereeing, sports ground maintenance
- Arts and crafts – ceramics, embroidery, jewellery making, drawing, graphic design, painting, sculpture, photography
- Nature and the environment – agriculture, astronomy, bee keeping, conservation, fishing, forestry, gardening
- Communication – film and video, languages, reading, writing, public speaking, journalism, website development, coding
- Games – billiards, snooker or pool, chess, darts, backgammon
list_of_skills_ideas.pdf |
Physical Recreation
The aim of this section is to improve the health, team skills, self-esteem and confidence of participants. It not only benefits participants but also benefits their communities, whether through improved health or active participation in team activities.
Examples of physical recreation include:
Examples of physical recreation include:
- Ball sports – football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, cricket, golf, tennis, netball
- Athletics – running, jumping, throwing, triathlon, decathlon
- Water sports – surfing, canoeing, kayaking, swimming, water polo, diving, rowing
- Martial arts – karate, judo, kickboxing, boxing, taekwondo, kendo, jiu jitsu
- Animal sports – horse riding, polo
- Dancing, gymnastics, cycling, mountain biking
list_of_physical_recreation_ideas.pdf |
Adventurous Journey
The aim of the adventurous journey is to provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the environment around them, as well as to developing important skills, building self-confidence and health, and working as part of a team. Participants complete a challenging expedition or exploration in an unfamiliar environment but kept within a safe and secure setting, achieved through suitable training and supervision.