The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a personal development programme for people aged 14 to 24. It’s meant to be a real adventure from beginning to end, so you will be helping people, the community or (in our case) the environment, getting fitter, developing skills, going on an expedition and taking part in a residential activity (Gold only). You can do programmes at three levels, Bronze (14+), Silver (15+) or Gold (16+), which lead to a Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE). Your activities are in four sections (five at Gold), which are:
Volunteering -helping someone, your community or the environment
Physical - becoming fitter through sport, dance or fitness activities
Skills - developing existing talents or trying something new
Expedition - planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey
Residential (Gold only) - staying and working away from home as part of a team
If you wish to ask about taking part in DofE in your area – as a potential participant, a participant’s parent or as a potential voluntary supporter – go to the Taking Part page of the DofE website to find a county or district level contact who will be able to tell you about your nearest DofE group.
Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award – 2012 Residential Opportunity
In August each year the Authority provides a Residential opportunity (an outdoor, practical conservation task-based project) for young people who are working on their Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award. The next will be based in North Ribblesdale, from Saturday 18 to Friday 24 August 2012, running alongside the region’s Yorkshire Dales Open Gold Expeditions. To access further information on the Residential and an application form, as well as seeing previous participants’ feedback, follow the appropriate link, below. The week’s programme has been developed to include achievement of the ‘Discovery’ level of John Muir Award – a very worthwhile extra. The cost for this event is £170.
(updated 9 January 2012)
The following documents tell you more:
Feedback from 2011 participants
Missed your Gold expedition? It’s not the end of the world!
If for some reason (injury, bad timing, lack of companions) you’ve missed out on your Gold expedition, there is a ‘second chance’, in August. At the same time as the Residential, above (Saturday 18 to Friday 24 August 2012), assessors from the Yorkshire Dales and Pennines Support Group of DofE will be offering ‘Open Gold Expeditions’, making up groups of young people in the same situation as you and then both supervising and assessing the expeditions. Email yorksandhumber@DofE.org for details or visit the DofE website.
(9 January 2012)
Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award – Volunteering
Individual opportunities are available for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award participants to train with new Dales Volunteers and understudy others who are more experienced. This opportunity begins each Autumn (and not, currently, at any other time). As travel can be difficult for young people, candidates must live fairly close to the Dales and be flexible. Our aim is that all DofE conservation programmes with the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority will be linked to the John Muir Award. To express an interest, please email us at volunteers@yorkshiredales.org.uk.
There are no opportunities currently available.
(updated 9 January 2012)
Bronze or Silver Duke of Edinburgh’s Award –Volunteering
Although the Yorkshire Dales National Park Authority is unable to to offer opportunities itself, if you are interested in the ‘conservation’ (Volunteering section) projects at Bronze or Silver levels of the Award we may be able to put you in touch with local assessors who can give you more advice. Please contact the Volunteers Support Officer at volunteers@yorkshiredales.org.uk.
(updated 9 January 2012)
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