Going for green - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award · equipment, courtesy of Vango. Participants at...

Going for greenPlaying your part in improving the environment through the #iwill campaign

ISSUE 33: SUMMER 2019

New 20 conditions for the Expedition section

Following the Bronze level

expedition changes that

were implemented last year,

we’ve updated the 20

Conditions.

View from the farm

A sheep farmer from

Lancashire tells us

about the balance between

earning a living off the land

he farms and making it

accessible for walkers.

The magazine for DofE Leaders

2 DofE Magazine

Issue 33: Summer 2019 3

Our Mission To inspire, guide and support young people in their self-development and recognise their achievements.

Published by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Gulliver House, Madeira Walk, WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU. T: 01753 727400 E: [email protected]

Editorial Office Gulliver House, Madeira Walk, WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU [email protected] Distribution [email protected] Editor/Designer Dave Wood

Advertising sales Mark Brown, Fellows Media Ltd, The Gallery, Manor Farm, Southam, Nr Cheltenham, Gloucestershire GL52 3PB T: 01242 259249 E: [email protected]

Submitting articles The Editor welcomes contributions on subjects related to the DofE, especially good quality colour photographs, articles, letters, news stories etc. for possible publication. Please note that we cannot guarantee publication of any submitted items. For any image submitted to the DofE Magazine it is the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that all the relevant and necessary permissions for the use of the images they submit are obtained from people featured in a photograph. Therefore any person featured in a picture must give their permission, and written consent must be obtained from the parents/carers/guardians of any child under the age of 16. The DofE would also reserve the right to publicly display and publish any image submitted to this magazine in promotional, PR and operational materials, printed, digital and online. Our photography and privacy policies are available on DofE.org/privacy. Whilst every care will be taken, the DofE Magazine cannot and will not be held responsible for any material which is lost, mislaid or damaged.

Participants should check with their Licensed Organisation to ensure that an opportunity they wish to pursue, advertised in these pages, will count for their DofE programme.

Email newsletter Read the latest news and information from the DofE Head Office through our email newsletter, sent to Leaders registered on eDofE. View it at: DofEnews.org/DofE_News.html.

The DofE Magazine The DofE Magazine is aimed at DofE Leaders at all levels and Licensed Organisations. Items (not photographs) in the magazine may be reproduced free of charge, with acknowledgement to its source. Whereas every reasonable precaution is taken prior to accepting advertisements in the DofE magazine, in respect of the suitability of the advertisers and their abilities to provide the goods and services they advertise, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award cannot and will not accept responsibility for the failure of advertisers to fulfil their obligations to their customers as a result of an advertisement appearing in this magazine.

We have a limit on the amount of adverts we carry in this magazine. We hope you can support our advertisers as this income enables us to print and distribute the magazine to you free of charge.

CHANGE OF ADDRESS?The magazine mailing list is taken directly from your profile on eDofE. If you change your address, please amend your own details within eDofE.

If you have more than one role and receive more than one magazine, please pass it on to someone who may like to read it. If you are no longer involved in the DofE, please arrange for your account to be archived.

you make it

ISSUE 33: SUMMER 2019

UK DofE OfficesDofE HEAD OFFICE: Gulliver House, Madeira Walk WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU T: 01753 727400 E: [email protected] DofE.org

SCOTLAND: Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, EDINBURGH EH12 5EZ T: 0131 343 0920 E: [email protected] DofE.org/scotland

WALES: First Floor, Plas Y Ffynnon, Cambrian Way, BRECON, Powys LD3 7HP T: 01874 623086 E: [email protected] DofE.org/wales

NORTHERN IRELAND: Unit 4 Lower Ground Floor, Forestgrove Business Park, Newtownbreda Road, BELFAST BT8 6AW T: 0289 069 9100 E: [email protected] DofE.org/nireland

ENGLAND:

Central England: First Floor Offices, Arthur House, 21 Mere Green Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 5BS T: 0121 308 9470 E: [email protected] DofE.org/central

London: The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, London Regional Office, 11 Belgrave Road, LONDON SW1V 1RB T: 0207 630 9092 E: [email protected] DofE.org/london

North of England: Knotty Ash Centre, 251 East Prescot Road, LIVERPOOL L14 5NA T: 0151 228 2533 E: [email protected] DofE.org/northofengland

South East: Gulliver House, Madeira Walk, WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU T: 01753 727450 E: [email protected] DofE.org/southeast

South West: Unit 12A, Church Farm Business Park, CORSTON, Somerset BA2 9AP, T: 01225 874 354 E: [email protected] DofE.org/southwest

The Award Scheme Ltd (ASL): Unit 18-19, Stewartfield, Newhaven Road, EDINBURGH, EH6 5RQ., T: T: 0131 553 5280 E: [email protected]

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award: Award House, 7-11 St Matthew Street, LONDON SW1P 2JT T: 020 7222 4242 E: [email protected] intaward.org


The magazine for DofE Leaders

Proud to be

In the UK

4 DofE MagazineAPPROVEDACTIVITY

PROVIDER


Contents Have you got the #DofEDifference? See how doing a

DofE programme can make a difference.

Money well spent An update on how the money raised in our Diamond Anniversary year is being spent.

We need your help! Tell us how participation in the DofE helps young people with additional needs.

DofE schools can show the way The DofE's CEO Peter Westgarth is grateful for your feedback.

DofE update The latest news from DofE Head Office.

The DofE in action News of DofE activities and achievements from around the UK.

20 Conditions updated Details of the recent changes to the 20 Conditions of the Expedition section.

View from the farm A sheep farmer tells us of the balance between farming and making land accessible.

Ready for an Adventure Your chance to join us this year for an amazing Adventure.

DofE Q&A Our latest collection of answers to frequently asked questions.

eDofE update All the recent developments within the ever-changing world of eDofE.

Out there Resources, opportunities and more to help you in your DofE work.

Opportunities spotlight Highlighting some great opportunities for your participants.

Perfect partners News from some of the DofE’s partners, who help participants succeed.

Will you challenge yourself in 2019? The DofE Challenge is back for another year.

Going for green The DofE is keen to encourage participants to help improve their local environment.

Shout about your DofE group Discover our great new communications pack.

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The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a Registered Charity No. 1072490, and in Scotland No: SC038254, and a Royal Charter Corporation No. RC000806.

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41theDofE@DofE #DofE @DofEuk theDofEuk


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Cover photo: #iwill Ambassadors Yetunde (16) and Princess (17).

Pic by Zach Haynes (14), #iwill Ambassador.

6 DofE Magazine

We know that doing a DofE programme can change a young person’s life – helping them gain skills such as problem-solving, communication and resilience. They can then get ahead and develop into well-rounded, confident characters ready to take on the world. In a recent survey we conducted, 81% of participants who do their DofE at school agreed that the experience has had a positive impact on their wellbeing and self-esteem.

But there are also many benefits for our adult volunteers – the amazing people who give up their time to support young people with their DofE.

To put it simply, we wouldn’t be able to do what we do, if it wasn’t for you. That’s why we launched our #DofEDifference campaign.

Making a real differenceAt the end of 2018, we asked all adult volunteers who are teachers/head teachers to tell us about the benefits they gain from running the DofE.

Almost half believe that it has given them opportunities for professional development, such as leadership skills and management experience.

Some 66% of teachers said that the positive relationship they now have with their students,

both inside and outside of the classroom, makes a DofE school different to others.

Kate Sherwin from Blatchington Mill School in Brighton and Hove said: “As a relatively new teacher, taking on DofE in my second year of teaching has helped me learn a variety of skills which I would never have acquired had I just been in the classroom.

“Things like dealing with finance, organising trips and going through procedures has certainly helped me to develop skills that I can now apply to my job.”

The survey also highlighted that 80% of students value and respect teachers for the time they spend supporting them with their DofE, while 65% appreciate that their DofE Leader is invested in their personal development.

Have you got the #DofEDifference?


Giving you recognitionAs part of the #DofEDifference campaign, we also wanted to highlight the great work you do. So, we ran a competition asking participants to tell us, via a video on social media, about an amazing adult volunteer at their school or centre who always goes above and beyond.

We were blown away by all of the entries, but there could only be one winner (judged by the number of likes their video received). Our winning entry came from Greenhead College in Huddersfield – receiving £1,000 worth of camping equipment, courtesy of Vango.

Participants at Greenhead College told us about Barbara, who has been running the DofE at the school for almost 30 years. During that time, she’s worked with thousands of students. We can only

imagine how much of a difference she’s made, to both the college and the young people she’s given up her time for.

Are you looking to recruit more volunteers?As you know, volunteering to support young people do their DofE isn’t all about hiking and camping – there are many different roles available, with time commitments being from as little as just an hour or so a month.

So, to help you emphasise this and all the benefits when recruiting more DofE volunteersfor your school or centre, download our range of tools – including a video, promotionalleaflet, email template and social media posts – at DofE.org/DofEDifference.


Doing things with the DofE, like dealing with finance, organising trips and

going through procedures, has certainly helped me to develop

skills that I can now apply to my job.”KATE SHERWIN, BLATCHINGTON MILL SCHOOL

“

To watch Greenhead College’s video, visit DofE.org/DofEdifference-competition

8 DofE Magazine

Woodlands School in Luton is a large SEN secondary school and sixth form. They have used Diamond funding to support the school in building a community café. The café opened in February and is already being used by students for the Skills section of their Bronze, Silver and Gold programmes.

Students are using the café to develop life skills, complete new qualifications and gain work experience. The café is not only supporting DofE delivery but is also a vital community asset for local residents.

South Ayrshire Council, in partnership Sustrans (a charity focused on making it easier for everyone to walk and cycle) is promoting ‘future commuters’, a programme of works to encourage sustainable transportation. They have offered the opportunity of training 54 young people a term from three schools in South Ayrshire to develop their skills in cycling and bike maintenance skills.

The project is being tri-funded and supported by Sustrans, South Ayrshire Council and the Diamond fund.The Diamond fund money will be providing them with recovered cycles, (in partnership with Police Scotland and recovered lost/stolen bikes) that they can maintain and use to learn improved cycling skills. The plan is to enable

participants to get to their chosen DofE activities, school, work placements and interviews.

Sustrans will also be offering, to some older participants, the opportunity to become cycle-ability instructors, in order to volunteer with future intakes.We are also hopeful that some of the young people may also opt for a cycling Bronze expedition in the 2019 season.

The Hans Price Academy is located in a neighbourhood that is amongst the 10% most deprived in the UK.

They are planning to use Diamond fund money to create an eco-friendly, sustainable allotment and garden space in an allocated area within the school. This will give DofE participants the opportunity to complete their Volunteering and Skills sections within their local environment through extra-curricular school activities.

Their current participants have found it really challenging to identify suitable volunteering opportunities so they hope that this will overcome those barriers. The grant will be used to buy tools, protective clothing and topsoil. These are needed to create the eco-garden that can be used by their DofE students as well as the rest of the school.

A year and a half into the Diamond fund project we take a look at how the money that was raised by our volunteers and participants, which was boosted by £1m from #iwill, is changing young people’s lives.

Money well spent

8 DofE Magazine

FUN

DIN

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If you have a project that you think will make a difference to young people’s lives speak with your

Operations Officer about your idea and possible Diamond funding.


Participants and staff from Woodlands School pictured celebrating the opening of their community café.

This, in turn, will help to increase participation by offering Bronze to all of Year 9, instead of the present arrangement of it being offered as one of a number of options that pupils choose.

Victoria School and Specialist Art College has used a Diamond fund grant to purchase and set up a bespoke, portable market stall. On this, participants sell products that are made in school through the Skills section and enterprise work in their community as part of their volunteering and fundraising work.

Since October the participants have been using the market stall to display some of the items of footwear they have collected from running a UNICEF ‘shoeshare’ initiative in school, after they contacted families and parents to donate old shoes. They will eventually take them to a local Clarks store to be distributed to disadvantaged youngsters around the world.

The participants will eventually use the market stall to take their enterprise projects into the local community and part of their volunteering activities.

Humphry Davy School has a bungalow on the school premises that houses their small animal care room which includes many pets. This assists the teaching of life skills to some of their students who have been using this for their Skills and Volunteering sections when they assist with the day-to-day care of the animals and in the creation a ‘how to’ guide.

They wanted to expand this initiative to include setting up and managing bird and squirrel feeders.

The school also has a small area of land in the grounds that is used to run the allotment club. Here, students can learn skills or volunteer to assist in the growing of crops and flowers.

With the Diamond fund grant they are going to use these crops/herbs/edible flowers in a pop-up kitchen and sell to the nearby college kitchen.

The money gained helps make this a viable and sustainable part of school life, used in lessons as well as to enrich their offer to other students.

10 DofE Magazine


We know that the DofE has a huge impact on young people with special educational needs and disabilities, but we’ve never measured this. We need your help with some exciting research we will be undertaking in the autumn which is being made possible thanks to support from MariaMarina Foundation.

The aim of this research is to find out more about how the DofE helps this group of young people while at school and once they have left.

Are you a DofE Leader or Manager working with young people with SEND?In September/October we will be calling on you to help us complete four short surveys. These will be aimed at: - DofE Leaders and Managers

who are working with SEND young people including Award Verifiers and members of the senior leadership team within SEND schools.

- Young people with SEND doing their DofE.

- Young people with SEND who achieved an Award but who have since left school.

- Parents of young people with SEND doing their DofE.

We need your help to make this research a success We need these surveys to be completed by as many individuals from as many different organisations working with SEND young people from around the UK as possible. Links to the surveys will be sent out in September via the DofE Newse-mail and other outlets.

Please circulate the relevant link to young people, staff and parents and encourage them to complete the short questionnaire.

We know that many of the young people will need your support to complete the questionnaire. We would therefore be grateful if you could schedule some time now to do this with them in the autumn term. Hard copies of the questionnaire will also be available if these are easier for participants.

Clear guidance will be provided in the autumn and will be included with the links to the surveys. Should you need any additional help, please do speak to your Operations Officer.

Why is this research so important?Alongside providing valuable evidence regarding the impact of the DofE on young people with SEND this will also provide information to help us understand if we can give more support to SEND schools. The results of the research will be published in early 2020. Thank you!

How does participation in the DofE help young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities* (SEND)?

We need your help!

Hope’s story

Hope has Asperger’s Syndrome, and has struggled with periods of severe depression. She worked hard to achieve her Bronze, Silver and Gold DofE Awards.

“My Asperger’s means I don’t think the same way most people do, and I don’t always understand what they mean. As I grew up, this made me very shy, as I was always worried about how people would react to me.

“Doing my DofE was something I really wanted, as it seemed exciting, even though it took me well out of my comfort zone.

“There are so many good memories – particularly of the expeditions, and the residential we did on a Thames sailing barge. We met gale force winds in the Thames Estuary and the North Sea. What the DofE taught me was, no matter how frightening things seem, you can always get through them.”

Hope designs and makes jewellery and plans to train as a DofE volunteer Leader.

How many young people with SEND are currently doing their DofE?

An incredible 11,438 young people with SEND did their DofE in 2018 – an increase of 36% on the previous year. This includes young people in mainstream schools who have a self-declared disability as well as those taking part from the 676 SEND DofE centres across the UK. *Additional Support Needs in Scotland/

Additional Learning Needs in Wales.

12 DofE Magazine

DofE schools can show the way!

DEVELOPMENT

12 DofE Magazine

Just as this edition of the DofE Magazine was going to press it was announced that Peter Westgarth would retire from his role as Chief Executive at the end of June.

The Trustees have appointed David Oates, Finance Director (pictured), to the role of Acting Chief Executive whilst they undertake the recruitment for Peter’s successor.


Amanda expressed concern that the inspection framework restricted a school’s ability to offer “things that we know help to build young people’s resilience and confidence – such as cadet forces, DofE Awards, sports, drama or debating teams”.

We hope that the new Ofsted inspection framework will aim to recognise and value the broader curriculum that enables activities such as those that make up a young person’s DofE programme.

No sooner had I sent off our response to the Ofsted consultation than up pops the Secretary of State for Education, Damian Hinds, to set out his vision for developing character and resilience in young people and also referencing DofE.

This followed hard on the heels of his visit to Wye School which is a new Free School in Kent and part of the United Learning Trust (ULT). Some of you may remember that the ULT’s research into employer attitudes found that DofE was top of employers’ list of extra-curricular achievement they look for in applications.

Wye has just completed its first year as a Directly Licensed Centre (DLC) and has its second cohort of year nine students doing their Bronze programmes. As you can see in the picture (below left), our Operations Officer, Ed Gaskin, was on hand to brief the Secretary of State and support the teams.

Ed Reported, “In temperatures of -20C, Mr Hinds was introduced to two groups of DofE participants from the first cohort which enrolled last March. The first group was able to explain the intricacies of planning a route using their orienteering and map reading skills. They were able to explain the duration, distance and aims of their expedition and went into some detail as to the planning and training for their practice and qualifier. Mr Hinds was suitably impressed with the level of detail involved.

“The second group, now year 10, treated Mr Hinds to a hearty breakfast of sausage and egg roll. This was welcome after such an early start travelling from Westminster. Mr Hinds was intrigued as to the cooking skills, the use of the Trangia. He was impressed with the participants’ knowledge of the calorific values needed for journeying and the weight and type of food they had used in their recent expedition to ensure success.

A student by the name of Zara was keen to explain that she has chosen cooking for her Skills section activity. This set her up nicely for the expedition

DofE schools can show the way!

and she also sees the benefit of this when going to university where she will cook for herself instead of having to buy expensive and potentially unhealthy ready meals.

“Mr Hinds was really interested in the work the DofE is doing in Margate and other coastal towns where levels of disadvantaged young people are high. He was keen to learn of the huge growth in numbers of enrolments this year from 2,000 to 2,700 across my portfolio and the benefit this is having to those most at risk.”

The DofE is a great way for schools to demonstrate how they are developing great character and resilience in young people. But, these days, just having the DofE plaque in the reception area isn’t enough of a differentiator. The vast majority of UK secondary schools now run DofE programmes.

What will impress is the extent to which the DofE culture is integrated into school culture and made available to all young people and supported by the whole school.

That’s what will make a real difference.

Peter WestgarthChief Executive, DofE

@DofE #DofE

theDofE

@DofEUK


I am sure that, like me, you were delighted to hear that The Chief Inspector of Schools, Amanda Spielman, is introducing a revised inspection regime that will take account of a school’s achievements in broadening the horizons of their young people.

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Getting involved with the DofE is a great team builder – for participants and volunteers alike. We’ve seen an increase recently in schools getting DofE Clothing. Here’s why, from four DofE volunteers…

Smarter teams

Why did you order DofE Clothing?“I ordered them as I think it adds value to our provision – it’s a small gesture that goes a long way. DofE Clothing rewards the staff for volunteering and makes them feel part of the team. It motivates the kids who wear it with pride, and promotes the DofE when people see 80 kids from our school in their DofE t-shirts.” said Patrick Tasker, DofE Leader at Manor CE Academy, York.

Tom Hancock, DofE Administrator at Ralph Allen School, Bath agrees, “It demonstrates the professional approach we take to delivering the DofE and the value the school places in the outdoor education of our students”.

Schools have found that the clothing appeals to, and bonds, their groups. Joe Stevens, DofE Manager at Highcliffe School, Dorset says: “The hoodies for students were relatively cheap, with a big range, and we thought that they would feel a bit more part of it and together as a team.”

Jo Dobson, DofE Co-ordinator at The Langley Academy, Berkshire, adds “We often do hoodies for residentials outside of DofE, so I decided to gauge interest. All participants and volunteers paid for their hoodies, although volunteers were partially subsidised as a thank you.”

Did you add your school logo and get the clothing personalised?Jo says, “Having The Langley Academy logo on our DofE hoodies means it is an official school hoodie and students can wear them during PE lessons and on sports days. We also have names on the back to help the volunteers learn the students’ names.”

“We ordered personalised t-shirts for each participant as part of their enrolment package, to help create a sense of team identity and spirit,” says Tom.

Colours and personalisation can be varied. “Our staff all had the same colour with just their names on them. However, we let the students choose their own colours, styles – and even group names.” said Joe.

Manor CE Academy had over 200 DofE participants, so they opted for t-shirts but with no personalisation for their students, to save staff time and cost.

What do the DofE participants and volunteers think about their DofE Clothing?All four teachers said the students loved them, with Patrick saying his students were queuing up to get them. They also had great feedback from staff: “I see them wearing them regularly around school – and even out of school – as the garments are thick and warm. These were the official premium hoodie, they are thick and of excellent quality. I also ordered one of the technical t-shirts and I really like it.” ends Joe.

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A Bronze group from Ralph Allen School at the end of a wet expedition training day.

Jo, Tash and Chad from The Langley Academy.

Joe in his hoodie with his son at Dancing Ledge, Dorset.

See the full DofE Clothing range at clothing.DofE.organd call 020 8569 2250 or email [email protected]

for a group order quote.

ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE


Sectional certificates

The sectional certificates have been updated with a new design, to complement the Bronze, Silver and Gold Award certificates. These are available from DofE Essentials via eDofE. They are not mandatory but many Leaders find them useful to provide recognition and motivation for those who take longer to complete their programmes than others.

Leader’s checklist

Have you seen our Leader’s Checklist? This useful sheet helps you decide whether the young people in your group have chosen a programme activity which meets DofE criteria: DofE.org/leaderchecklist.

Food for thoughtThe DofE has a new expedition food licensee– Wayfayrer Expedition Food.Wayfayrer provides a range of

breakfast, main and dessert pouches, including vegetarian options, with more planned for 2019. Wayfayrer is stocked by the DofE Recommended Kit suppliers in store and online. For more details see DofE.org/shopping/food.

Keeping participants safe

Help parents/carers/guardians to understand their responsibility to safeguard their children doing DofE activities outside of your centre.

Share this link – DofE.org/safeguarding – and consider how you could get the message across, for example, a mention on your welcome letter or on your website.

Book updates

Following the recent changes to the Bronze level Expedition section, some of the guidance in current editions of the Expedition Guide and the Handbook for DofE Leaders requires updating.

update

Please download an addendum sheet for each book to ensure your copies are up to date: DofE.org/addenda.

DofE Card

Your personal DofE Card can give you great savings – and not just on expedition kit. Good news – your adult DofE Card will now save you an even better 20% in Blacks, Millets and Ultimate Outdoors (previously 15%). The participant discount has also increased to 15%. The 15% off GO Outdoors’ Discount Card price and 20% discount at Tiso still apply. Use in store and online.

See DofE.org/shopping/card for full details.

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NEWS OF DofE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE UK

The DofE in action

Animal magic Last autumn, Chester Zoo helped DofE participants from Upton High School complete their Volunteering section. The students were trained as visitor engagement volunteers and gave their time on Saturdays and Sundays to engage with zoo visitors. They then created a range of videos and materials to help the zoo’s various campaigns.

Fully inclusive The Royal Association for Deaf People celebrated its first DofE practice

expedition earlier this year. Its first group enjoyed their training experience and looked forward to completing the qualifying expedition with confidence.

Top trekkers Early this year seven participants from Southgate School, an additional needs school in Huddersfield, climbed to the top of Snowdon. This was a massive achievement for the participants, led by Ben Walker and Sue Norman, giving them a real taste of the adventure the DofE brings.

Get your skates on...Rachel Rogers and Dave Humphreys from Llanfyllin High School, Powys, have been experimenting with a low impact transport approach to get around when supervising DofE expeditions. They use rechargeable electric skateboards fitted with all-terrain tyres to visit groups in remote locations. With a top speed of over 30mph, the skateboards have a range of 20 miles between charges and can tackle the steepest forestry tracks.


Digging deep to help DofE participants from Edinburgh helped tidy up local beauty spot Starbank Park recently. Their work was part of a drive to restore this beautiful community park to its former glory.

Leading by example Ashford School in Kent has become the first in the South East to offer DofE Gold to its staff. Staff aged 23 can sign up for their Gold programme at no cost. As part of the school’s adventurous learning ethos, the decision was made with the aim to further embed the DofE into the life of the school and encourage staff to continue to drive their professional development.

Litter pickin’ good! DofE participants from Graveney School, London, have been cleaning Graveney Wood and surrounding areas for their Volunteering section. They attracted lots of praise in the community, especially on social media, for their excellent work.

On the right track Apprentices from GWR are offered the chance to do their Gold DofE. They have grasped the opportunity enthusiastically, celebrating 23 Gold Awards since they started offering the DofE to apprentices.

Twins’ triumph Kind-hearted pupils from Kimbolton School, Cambridgeshire, have raised over £2,000 to help support families in Tanzania through the charity Rise Africa UK. Oli and Charlie raised the money as part of their Volunteering section. The twins raised the funds through their Right Royal Bash event, to celebrate the marriage of TRH Harry and Megan.

Training the trainers Leaders involved with DofE expeditions gathered in Wales recently for Expedfest19. Our photo shows a group of Leaders who are new to expeditions enjoying a training session on navigation and equipment with instructors from RAW Adventures.

Pictured below is the largest gathering of DofE Leaders in Greater Manchester and Cheshire on one weekend. They took part in one DES course and two Lowland Leader training courses earlier this year.

Send your stories and pictures to [email protected]


Perfect planning DofE students from Crown Hills Community College, Leicester, are pictured above doing research for their Parkrun event. They planned to raise funds and awareness for SightboxUK as part of their Volunteering section.

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Following the Bronze level expedition changes that were implemented in 2018 (see DofE.org/bronzechanges), we’ve now updated the 20 Conditions of the Expedition section to reflect these changes.

20 Conditions updated

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This includes changing the conditions to reflect that (at Bronze level only) there is no longer a requirement for a practice expedition or presentation; the ability for one individual to assess and supervise a team and raising awareness of the option to use appropriate indoor accommodation.

Updating the 20 Conditions gave us the opportunity to review them more widely and address the most common quality issues that arise on expeditions each year.

Feedback on the 20 Conditions over the past few years was considered, alongside comments from a recent survey to all Leaders and Expedition Assessors. As a result, several other changes have been made to the 20 Conditions, to ensure they remain relevant.

All participants completing their DofE programmes should have a consistent, top quality experience. They should benefit from all the learning outcomes we know the Expedition section provides.

The changesThe wider changes that have been made to improve the quality of DofE expeditions across all levels are:

Groups adhering to the mobile phone policy as agreed between their Supervisor and Assessor.

This new condition draws attention to our current guidance on mobile phone usage on expeditions (Chapter nine in the Expedition Guide) and aims to ensure that participants can enjoy the self-reliance and isolation an expedition offers away from social media and instant communication.

Teams adhering to the Countryside/Scottish Outdoor Access/Highway/Watersports Code(s) as appropriate, and behaving responsibly with respect for their team members, Leaders, the public and animals.

These two new Conditions draw attention to our current guidance on participant behaviour and the DofE’s Environmental Impact Policy. Every year we receive a number of complaints from members of the public and landowners about some of the teams that cause disruption in the area. These new conditions enable Assessors to defer an expedition if a team repeatedly and deliberately flouts the agreed codes of behaviour.

Teams must possess the necessary physical fitness, first aid and expedition skills required to complete their expedition safely.

This new condition aims to provide clarity on the competency of expedition teams. If they are not able to complete their expedition safely due to a lack of knowledge or skills then the Assessor can defer the expedition.

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The Condition on accommodation has been extended to include the possibility of using simple self-catering accommodation (e.g. camping barns and bunkhouses).

This better reflects the existing guidance of both the DofE and the International Award (which has always allowed the use of simple indoor accommodation), without the need for variation requests.

The Conditions have also been re-ordered so that they are grouped together in the order in which they might be applied (planning, training and during the expedition).

Highlighting guidanceAny Conditions that have been created are not new programme rules but, instead, highlight the DofE’s current guidance. The guidance to support these new Conditions can be found in the DofE’s Expedition Guide, and you can also visit our website or speak to your Regional/Country DofE Office for more information.

We will be updating all our programme resources (including the Expedition Guide and Handbook for DofE Leaders) and training materials to reflect the new 20 Conditions, along with other programme changes, over the next few months.

In the meantime, please use a copy of the new Conditions to supplement your programme materials.

We hope that these revised Conditions will continue to help participants, with the support of their Leaders and Supervisors, plan their expedition.

They will also understand more easily the requirements they need to fulfil to complete their Expedition section, whilst ensuring they undertake a fun and valuable learning experience.

20 Conditions updated

Download the new-look sheet at

DofE.org/20conditions


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View from the farm

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I want people to be able to enjoy the iconic landscape that I call home. I’m keen for them to learn more about food production and farming and the balance that must be struck between that and environmental management. THOMAS BINNS, FARMER

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As a sheep farmer, my main priority is producing safe, traceable and affordable food for the nation. But the importance of looking after the environment, being a custodian of the countryside, cannot be overlooked. After all, us farmers are the original friends of the earth.

I count myself very lucky. Each day I wake up with this great picturesque canvas on my doorstep in such a lovely part of the country. One million people live within half an hour of the farm here in the Ribble Valley and I spend much of my time maintaining the 11km of footpaths on the land. This helps the public explore the great outdoors. Engaging with the public and helping them learn more about the countryside and food production is something I care about passionately.

Farmers throughout the UK host and maintain a vast network of rights of

way which are used during the year by DofE participants. In predominantly upland areas there are vast stretches of open access land, providing the public with a unique opportunity to experience the farmed environment.

It is important that farmers continue to play a pivotal role in making the landscape accessible.

But providing this access comes with its own challenges, with littering, crop damage and livestock worrying some of the more high-profile issues we deal with.

Littering is costly and time-consuming to remove and is dangerous to wildlife and livestock.

Crop damage can be avoided by ensuring that one sticks to the path and, in order to keep livestock happy, treat them with respect.

View from the farm There’s a real challenge in terms of allowing people access to the countryside and maintaining a profitable farm business. On the farm, we use large machinery so we have diverted our paths to go around the farmyard so that members of the public, including DofE participants, are safe. We’ve put signs up which indicate where the paths are to help walkers stick to the route.

There will be thousands of young people setting out over the coming months on DofE expeditions and I wish them all well. I hope they will take a moment or two to remember the landscape they are enjoying and the efforts that farmers and the farming industry goes to in order to maintain access to the countryside we all enjoy today.

Thomas Binns is a tenant sheep farmer who farms 1,600 acres near Clitheroe, Lancashire, 35 miles north west of Manchester. He is also chairman of the NFU Hill and Uplands Forum. Here, he tells us about the balance between earning a living off the land he farms and making it accessible for walkers.


Don’t be a code breakerIt is important that everyone takes pride in, and responsibility for, our countryside. A simple first step is to follow the Countryside, Outdoor Access or Leave No Trace codes while out enjoying our amazing landscapes.

Whilst out and about on your DofE practice and qualifying expeditions ensure that you:

Leave gates and property as you find them and follow paths - A farmer will normally close gates

to keep farm animals in but may sometimes leave them open so animals can reach food and water. Leave gates as you find them

or follow instructions on signs. When in a group, make sure the last person knows how to leave the gates.

- Leave machinery and farm animals alone – don’t interfere with animals even if you think they’re in distress. Try to alert the farmer instead.

- Use gates, stiles or gaps in field boundaries if you can – climbing over walls, hedges and fences can damage them and increase the risk of farm animals escaping.

Leave no trace of your visit and take your litter home - Litter and leftover food doesn’t

just spoil the beauty of the countryside, it can be dangerous

to wildlife and farm animals – so take your litter home with you. Dropping litter and dumping rubbish are criminal offences.

- Fires can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as they are to people and property – so be careful with naked flames at any time of the year.

Remain on the footpaths or bridalways - Walking through crops can

damage them and that costs the farm money. Also, by remaining on the path means that there is less opportunity to stray into where animals or machinery are likely to be and there keep everyone safer.

Copy and give participants the following as a useful reminder of their

responsibilities in the countryside.

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This year’s DofE Adventure takes place in the South Downs, A weekend of hiking and camping open to anyone over the age of 18, this is a uniquely DofE fundraising event. It enables you to challenge yourself, have fun, meet like-minded people and raise money to help ensure more young people transform their lives through the DofE.

With tents, warm showers, marquee, live music, bar provided for everyone at Base Camp, plus the option to pre-pay for plentiful hot meals and packed lunches, you’ll hike 30km (one day) or 50km (two days), self-navigating or following a signposted route. You don’t have to carry your gear with you – though you can if you fancy an extra challenge!

The Adventure is once again made possible thanks to Title Sponsor St. James’s Place Wealth Management.

We caught up with some of the DofE Leaders already registered to find out more about them and why they’re taking part.

Ready for an Adventure

Steve Main, SomersetSteve started volunteering with the DofE three years ago, in response to a call for volunteers from his daughter’s school.

He was hooked from the first walk, bringing back memories of walking as a young adult on Dartmoor. He’s been a Leader for the last two years.

Less than a month since registering for the DofE Adventure, Steve has already smashed his DofE Adventure fundraising target. He puts it down to the enthusiasm that comes through when he talks to friends and family about the DofE:

“The people who’ve given me support are the ones who know me. They know how excited I am when I talk to them about the DofE and how it benefits young people.

“Doing the DofE Adventure and raising money will help enable more young people to do their DofE. I’m expecting the weekend to be challenging but fun – and it will be great not to have to carry my own tent with me!

“I’m looking forward to meeting others who may also be Leaders to share ‘war stories’ and find out how they offer the DofE in their area of the country.”

Emma Thomas, CambridgeshireEmma took part in the DofE Adventure 2018 and can’t wait to do it again.

“I took part by myself last year but I met people there and walked with them. It was hard – I come from flat Cambridgeshire, so the hills we faced were a challenge. I was in the last group to cross the line and it was such an accomplishment. It was great fun and nice to meet people from outside too, who’ve not come from the DofE but were there to take part and support.

“I’ve got in early this year and I’ve put a team together. I’m doing the Lowland Leader Award at the moment, so I’m already out training! As long as I’m not last across the line this year I’ll be happy.”

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Title sponsor

“I’m expecting the DofE Adventure to be challenging but fun. And I’m looking forward to sharing ‘war stories’ with other Leaders!”STEVE MAIN, DofE LEADER


We’re offering DofE Magazine readers 25% off the DofE

Adventure registration fee. Sign up by 31 May with entry code APRMAG at DofE.org/adventure.

READER DISCOUNT: SAVE 25%

DofE ADVENTURE

Ready for an Adventure

Dan Gangai, HampshireDan moved to the UK from America ten years ago. Growing up with family camping trips he was pleased to discover the opportunities the DofE offered his sons and himself to get outdoors again.

When one son took on his Bronze programme, he started volunteering as a Leader. Dan had been looking for a similar programme for his two sons to join in the States, so was delighted to have come across the DofE soon after moving.

“I signed up for the DofE Adventure after our open centre Co-ordinator sent a message to all the Leaders encouraging us to take part. I’m excited at the idea of a two-day walk since usually we are just following after the young people as we train them. I don’t get to do long walks very often, so this is a great opportunity to cover some ground rather than meandering around the New Forest. My team will be self-navigating – getting lost and then figuring out where you are is part of the fun! “I’m also looking forward to the camaraderie and being with like-

“Crossing the finish line is such an accomplishment.”EMMA THOMAS, DofE LEADER

“I’m expecting the weekend to be challenging but fun – and it will be great not to have to carry my own tent with me!”STEVE MAIN, DofE LEADER

minded people. We recently had a Leader conference and it was good to hear from other people about how they run their groups and to make new connections. “I’ll be reminding the people I ask for donations about the impact the DofE has on participants. The DofE helps to create young people who are engaged in the world, rather than just living life on their phones and computers. It gives them a framework to get out and do stuff. It’s good for them and it’s good for the community.”

“I’m looking forward to the camaraderie and being with like-minded people.”DAN GANGAI, DofE LEADER

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DofE participants are always thinking up new ways to do their programmes, creating challenging questions for DofE Leaders to answer. Here are some of our recent questions:

Q&AMy Handbook and Expedition Guide don’t reflect the Bronze expedition changes or the new 20 Conditions. Do I need to buy a new one?

You can print a copy of the new 20 Conditions to supplement your Expedition Guide and Handbook for DofE Leaders and support the other programme information within these resources. Both books are being updated to reflect the recent Expedition section changes, along with other programme changes, and will be available to buy in DofE Essentials in autumn 2019.

In the new 20 Conditions, Condition 15 refers to a mobile phone policy. Do you have any guidance on this?

Advice on the use of mobile phones on expedition, along with sample policies, can be found in the Expedition

Expedition


Guide, Chapter 9. The expedition team, Supervisor and Assessor should agree in advance of an expedition the policy of use of mobile phones and other electronic equipment.

Can teams use dehydrated food packets or boil in the bag meals on an expedition?

As Condition 18 states, ‘Participants must plan an appropriate expedition menu, including cooking and eating a substantial hot meal on each day’. Dehydrated food packets and boil in the bag meals are suitable as a group’s substantial meal, althoughtheir use means that participants may miss many of the potential benefits and personal development opportunities associated with expedition catering and cooking.

More information on expedition food can be found in Chapter 6.5 of the Expedition Guide and on DofE.org/shopping.

What counts as ‘simple self-catering accommodation’?

If a team chooses to use indoor accommodation on their expedition, it must be basic and teams must still cook for themselves. In Bronze level terrain, groups have used Scout huts or a school/village hall. In Silver and Gold level terrain, teams have used bunkhouses, mountain huts and camping barns. As with camp sites, teams must remain as isolated as possible and not make use of facilities such as games rooms, bars or swimming pools as they are not in keeping with DofE expeditions.

Can I volunteer with a maths and English tutoring company?

No. This is covered on page 41 of The Handbook for DofE Leaders which states ‘Volunteering must not be done for a business but can be undertaken for a charity or not-for-profit organisation’. As tutoring companies are normally a business, they would not comply with the volunteering criteria.

Volunteering

Read more answers to frequentlyasked questions at DofE.org/faqs.

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VOLUNTEERING

2019 is proving to be an exciting year for everyone – and even more so for the DofE. We’ve had lots of new changes on eDofE that has taken place and much more in the pipeline. With the new Bronze Expedition Options to start off the year, Rina Maski brings you a brief description about the new changes.

Bronze expedition set upOn 30 January 2019, we went live with a change in eDofE to reflect the Bronze Expedition Options trial (see last issue). Bronze level participants are now not required to complete a practice expedition nor presentation any more, subject to the Leader’s decision, therefore these elements are no longer a part Bronze level participants’ eDofE accounts.

Practice expedition and presentation information will only be visible if participants have already completed their qualifying expedition and the section has been approved.

If a participant has completed their Bronze qualifying expedition (and received an Assessor’s Report) but has not completed a practice or presentation, then their Expedition section may now be ready for direct approval and appear in your [Directly Approve] notifications. They will only appear if they have completed their expedition since June 2017, although other participants can still be approved via their accounts.

The changes to the section aim helps to ensure that the Bronze expedition experience is a positive and attractive one. It gives most participants their first taste of an expedition and encourages them to do further adventures by completing their Silver and Gold DofE programmes.

Single sign on To make our DofE adults’ lives a little easier we introduced a ‘single sign on’ functionality. Here, adults who hold different roles in different organisations can login in using one single signing-in credential. This is to help minimise the number of usernames and passwords they have to remember.

By using single sign on, it also means that you will only receive one copy of this magazine.

How to link your accounts 1. On your eDofE account, select [My

Settings] on the left-hand menu and click [Link another account] button.

2. Enter your username and password of the account that you would like to link. Then select [Link].

3. Once it’s linked [My accounts] will appear on your top left-hand menu.

4. From [My accounts] you can toggle between different accounts you would like to use.

5. Select [Edit accounts] to change the order of your accounts, or alternatively set a [Main account]. If you select a Main account, you will be logged in as this user automatically when you sign in.

eDofE update

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New eDofE Mapping functionalitiesImport and export of .gpx filesAt the end of 2018, we introduced some small changes to the functionality of eDofE Mapping allowing you to import and export .gpx files with the route card information in one go, along with all the saved information such as the aim of the expeditions, leg descriptions, dates, times and more.

Route card- editable grid reference and leg description boxIf you edit or add the grid reference and leg description on the route card, this will update the checkpoint and description box on the map – and vice versa.

One-click save Instead of selecting the save button twice (one on the pop-up box and one on the left-hand slide), we’ve updated this into one-click save.

When you select the [save] button, a pop-up box will appear saying ‘saved’. This feature is updated on the route card, map and when exiting the map.

External reference number fieldOn the [create participant] screen,

we have added a new optional field to participants’ accounts to let them add an ERN (External Reference Number).

This will help link eDofE data to other systems that the Licensed Organisation may use to manage young person’s data. For example, in Scotland LOs may use this to enter the Scottish Candidate Number or The Scout Association might use it for their internal membership number.

The ERN number can also be viewed in the [Participant profile] and in the [Personal details] drop down section. We’re adding an ERN field to the spreadsheet download on [Participant overview] as well as the [User information] download from the [Reports] menu. This should be live by the time that you are reading this.

eDofE housekeepingWe have an ever-increasing number of adult accounts in eDofE with some users changing their role, moving to other organisations or hanging up their ‘boots’. Please therefore ensure that you review the adult accounts within your LO/centre/group regularly to make sure that only those that are still involved actively with the DofE have access to the accounts of your participants.

eDofE update


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Resources • Gadgets Competitions • Reviews Books • OpportunitiesOut there

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See a wide range of offers anddiscounts at DofEShopping.org

Good clean fun

Easy to navigate

Ask the police

Wear it with pride

Join the crowd

Community help

Do you ever wonder what the law is on a certain subject? You can find out the definitive answer on the Ask the Police website, the content of which is provided by the Police National Legal Database. Just ask a question and you can be sure to receive an authoritative answer in seconds. Also available as an app.

askthe.police.uk

Ever thought of using crowdfunding as a possible source of funds but don’t know where to start? This thorough and authoritative book is the first to look at the rapidly changing world of crowd funding from all sides. Much of the advice has been crowd-sourced, bringing tips and comments from experts in all aspects of crowd funding.

dsc.org.uk/?p=96142

DofE Approved Activity Provider, Soakster, offers a 12-week Bronze DofE Skills section digital download course for £20 (plus ingredient costs). Participants can complete this course at home, scheduling their weekly skills study around other commitments, and end up with some great gifts at the end of the course.

DofE.org/leaders/find-an-aap/soakster

This new full colour book from the National Navigation Award Scheme uses easy to follow, fun activities to introduce the basic elements of navigation to people of all ages. This book will help you deliver the basics of navigation in an enjoyable and engaging way. £15 plus p&p.

harveymaps.co.uk

The DofE regularly teams up with selected partners to offer you, the DofE network, the chance to win great prizes.

From Amazon vouchers to mini breaks, expedition kit bundles to iPhones, we’ve had loads of fantastic prizes won.

Check our website regularly for the latest competitions.

DofE.org/shopping/win

iDyslexic is a community for those living and working with dyslexia and ADHD. iDyslexic is the first social and interactive mobile app to make the connection between parents, students, teachers and caseworkers through the creation of secure classroom portals.

idyslexic.com

Issue 33: Summer 2019 29The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award does not endorse items on this page provided by third parties unless specified. Items and resources are for your information.

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adults whom they feel are detached from their personal experiences.

They are currently working to bring the project to more schools around the UK in 2019/20. Get in touch with them if you’d like to take part, or to find out more about what’s involved.

W: mentalhealth.org.uk/projects/ peer-education-project-pepE: [email protected]

heritage. It is not all about the work though; social activities are planned throughout the week including bowling, cinema, local sightseeing or even just a trip to the beach. Every morning and evening will be catered for by one of their volunteer cooks and everything the participant needs for lunch will be provided.

W: waterways.org.uk/wrgE: [email protected]

Approved Activity Providers (AAPs) are organisations, both commercial and charitable, whose sectional opportunities have been approved by the DofE as meeting our conditions and can count towards the achievement of a DofE Award. AAPs are able to provide Assessors to sign off the section.

Here’s a selection of some great opportunities currently on offer at DofE.org/aap.

Opportunities spotlight

APPROVEDACTIVITYPROVIDER

Waterway Recovery Group

Mental Health Foundation

Dimensions UK

Waterway Recovery Group’s Canal Camps are a great experience for anyone looking to complete their Gold DofE residential. Its volunteer working holidays offer a fantastic chance to learn new skills, enhance a young person’s CV and make new friends along the way.

For £70 all-inclusive, volunteers will spend a week with up to 18 other volunteers, restoring Britain’s canal

The Mental Health Foundation’s Peer Education Project is a school-based programme that aims to give young people the skills and knowledge they need to safeguard their mental health, and that of their peers.

By training older students to deliver mental health lessons to younger student, the project aims to bypass the walls many young people put up when being taught such personal topics by

Dimensions supports people with learning disabilities and autism to have a louder voice, choice and control in their lives.

Dimensions has a wide range of volunteer buddies throughout England and Wales. They match buddies with people they support who share interests. It could therefore be going shopping, a trip to the cinema or simply sharing a love of football.

Dimensions has a range of volunteering opportunities, mainly for those who are doing their Silver or Gold programmes.

Participants can volunteer and help people with learning disabilities and autism to achieve more.

W: dimensions-uk.org/get-involved/campaigns/volunteering-dimensionsE: [email protected]: 0300 303 9162

NOTE: Please remember that it is the Licensed Organisation that has the final say on the suitability of a programme in terms of health and safety requirements and the DofE can give no assurances as to the financial stability of an AAP. When booking on to an open expedition the participant/parent/guardian is responsible for evaluating the health and safety of the expedition as it is a private contract with the AAP.

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Perfect partners


The DofE and Barclays LifeSkills join forcesBarclays LifeSkills has partnered with the DofE to help even more young people develop skills for work and be the best they can be.

Both programmes aim to help young people develop a range of transferable, work-ready skills and attributes they need to get ahead – such as resilience, commitment, self-motivation and teamwork.

As a Supporting Partner of the DofE, Barclays LifeSkills will work with us to inspire, inform and engage all those involved in the DofE. This includes participants, parents, schools, volunteers and partners, and will highlight the skills and experiences that will help young people enter the world of work.

Share your storyAre you using both the DofE and LifeSkills to develop your young people? If so, we’d love to tell your story and showcase the ways the programmes complement each other, helping young people in a real and pragmatic way.

Email us at [email protected] if you would like to shout about the amazing work you are doing with your DofE participants.

Lookers and the DofE: Building success together by putting people firstDofE Partners understand the value of offering the DofE in their companies. Steve Maule, Group Head of Qualifications and Diversity at DofE Silver Partner Lookers, shares his view: At Lookers, we recognise that the quality and happiness of our staff is vital to the success of our business. That is why we are proud to offer the Gold DofE Award to our young engineering apprentices.

Completing their Gold programme demonstrates the young person has committed their personal time to developing themselves, and has developed tangible life experiences. Those experiences are valuable to us as an employer and are a key reason we actively seek candidates who have completed it – it sets them apart.

Gold DofE participants develop their communications skills during their volunteering, often in their

local communities. Leadership skills blossom during their expedition, with participants taking it in turns to step up and lead their team.

The DofE enables young people to grow, gaining skills beyond any formalised business training course.

The DofE is designed to present participants with challenges. Every challenge faced will be unique to the individual but, in every case, the person will go through a process to understand how to overcome challenge and build confidence. These are crucial skills in the modern business environment.

Varied skills are needed across the many sorts of roles that make up a company like ours – sales roles yes, but also IT, marketing, engineering, HR, administration and so on. Journeying through these experiences results in a confident, well-rounded candidate with the ability to interact with others at all levels of the business.

As an employer, we also value a diverse team – the DofE reflects this perfectly.


The DofE Challenge is back for another year, encouraging you to push out of your comfort zone to do something that’s a challenge to you, at the same time raising money to support the DofE.

Once again, we already have a huge range of challenges from those signed up, including a team taking on a tandem skydive; 12-year-old Ranouk giving up junk food for a month; and Natasha, aiming to complete 52 hikes in 52 weeks.

To find out more and register your own DofE Challenge go to DofE.org/challenge.

Issue 33: Summer 2019

Perfect partners

Will you challenge yourself in 2019?

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Like the #iwill Ambassadors Yetunde and Princess, featured in our stunning cover picture (taken by another #iwill ambassador, 14 year old Zach Haynes), you too can get involved in action to benefit your community. The DofE’s Volunteering section is a great way for young people to have their efforts recognised too.

If, like many of us, you watched David Attenborough’s documentary about plastic in the oceans with growing horror, you can do something about it. If you’re a DofE Leader, encourage your participants to consider how they could help manage the plastic waste at their school or club and at home. - Is there a windswept street corner

or dumping ground where plastic collects that they could clear up and maintain?

- Could they work with local retailers and their local council in a campaign to shoppers to manage disposal of their plastic waste?

The campaigning need not stop there. Young people can do a lot in their community and at home, especially in energising others to change habits and think differently. This might include looking after and appreciating their local green spaces, encouraging friends and family to make different shopping choices or choosing a commute with less negative impact on the environment.

Campaigning in this way can be part of a DofE Volunteering section.

We are proud to be a founding partner in #iwill and we encourage all DofE groups to find a way to get involved in the #iwill4nature campaign.

We agree with Judith White, Environment Campaign Manager at #iwill when she says “The future stewards of the environment – children and young people – should be at the heart of all we do to leave our environment in a better state

Did you know that 2019 is the Year of Green Action? As a founding member of Step up to Serve and the #iwill campaign, the DofE is keen to encourage participants to do their bit to improve the environment in which they live.

Going for green

Take a look at the #iwill4nature website for more information and ideas for what

you could be doing: iwill.org.uk/environment.

than we inherited it. The work of the #iwill campaign, its partners and its ambassadors will continue to play a vital role in achieving this”.

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*DofE Expedition section


We want to help you tell other Licensed Organisations (LOs), your local community and the rest of the UK about the fantastic work you do, through the media, online and at events.

We’ve created a communications pack, Promoting your DofE group, containing advice on how you can promote your DofE group’s activities and achievements. There’s advice regarding social media, making bespoke promotional materials and sharing your stories with us.

Promoting your DofE group can help you attract other young people to sign up for their DofE, more volunteers to help them develop their skills and achieve and engage active support from the community and those holding positions of responsibility.

For LOs, a higher profile can help secure funding to ensure that the DofE can continue to grow – giving ever more participants a high-quality experience and ensuring local DofE centres and groups get the support they need.

And, nationally, good publicity also helps our charity secure funding. It means we can work continually on developing DofE programmes. We therefore can inspire more young people and support the adult volunteers who in turn support them.

Top tipsTo give you an idea of the type of advice you can expect to find inside the pack, printed below are three hints and tips for creating positive publicity for your DofE group.

Your enthusiasm, ideas and skills help young people to achieve their full potential – creating a fun and supportive environment that’s packed full of energy.

Shout about your DofE group

To download the pack, visitDofE.org/promoting

Top tip: Organise a review session with your recent achievers to help them look back and identify what they’ve learnt. Ask them to record a quote about their experience, which can then be used on your LO’s noticeboards and shared in reports and external publicity.

Top tip: Don’t forget to add any positive press coverage to your DofE noticeboard and in your LO’s reception area and press cuttings book (or visitor booklet). You could also circulate it to all your LO staff and publish it on your website and in your LO’s e-newsletters.

Top tip: Visit the Brand Centre, where you can download and print promotional posters, leaflets and guides for participants, parents and volunteers – personalising them to your DofE group – which can be displayed on the noticeboard.

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Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA) attended predominantly by young people from diverse backgrounds, with 20% of its pupils speaking English as an additional language.

Despite knowing they would face many challenges regarding funding, obtaining kit, staffing and resources, the school became a Direct Licensed Centre.

At the start of 2016, Laura Fenney and Paul Griffiths from the DofE’s North of England office linked the school with local employer Lloyds Banking Group. Lloyds staff were keen to get involved in helping the students at MEA. They gave up their own time to offer activities in conjunction with two Lloyds Banking Group initiatives: ‘Day to make a difference’ and ‘Helping Britain Prosper’.

These initiatives aim to tackle the social and economic issues that matter to Britain by focusing on people, businesses, environment and communities. A group, led by Senior Programme Delivery Lead Steve Turner, was formed and has since worked in successful collaboration with the school.

This collaboration is an example of an organisation supporting a local school by providing support to the DofE provision within the school. They offer after school clubs covering the Skills, Physical and Volunteering sections. These include astronomy, cycling, gardening and coding clubs – and many more.

Lloyds has also provided hands-on support to help deliver the Expedition section by helping with pre-expedition training and managing check points. Some staff have taken the opportunity to upskill or gain accreditation by attending DofE provided training, such as Lowland Leader and Expedition Assessor Accreditation Scheme.

Culture clubThis relationship has ensured a solid and progressive culture of the DofE within the school.

This has allowed for plans to be put in place for growth, allowing more accessibility for young people in the area, as well as increasing their DofE offer to include Silver. This model is a good example of a working relationship and the positive impact corporate responsibility and engagement can have on young people’s lives.

Laura Fenney, Operations Officer for Greater Manchester says: “I have been proud and delighted at just how successful this project has been. The dedication of the staff from Lloyds Banking Group has ensured that young people, many of which reside in one of the largest council estates in Europe, are offered the chance to engage in such a positive experience.”

Participants from Manchester have been a part of a successful working relationship between Manchester Enterprise Academy and Lloyds Banking Group.

Working together

“We’ve found that volunteering motivates staff, builds

teamwork and encourages the development of agile,

resourceful and ‘can-do’ mindsets. It’s inspiring to see the teachers and volunteers

we work with in action. There is a fantastic shared sense of

achievement as each participant completes their programme.

It’s a privilege to contribute positively to our community and

see the positive outcomes that the DofE can bring to young

people’s lives. That’s what really counts in the end.”

STEVE TURNER, IT PROGRAMME MANAGER, LLOYDS BANKING GROUP

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