The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at Coombe Girls’ School
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Mission (taken from www.theaward.org.uk)
OUR AIM: One day any young person aged between 14 and 25 who wants to do the Award will be able to do so...
OUR VISION: For The Duke of Edinburgh's Award to be universally recognised and widely adopted as the best programme for the personal development of young people.
OUR MISSION: The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is committed to providing for young people an enjoyable, challenging and rewarding programme of personal development, which is of the highest quality and the widest reach.
Our goal is to strengthen the Award by continuing to broaden and extend its reach to the many communities that comprise contemporary United Kingdom.
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a registered charity and relies on the generous support of volunteers, Operating Authorities and businesses to meet its commitment to help all young people realise their full potential.
The Ten Key Principles of The Duke of Edinburgh's Award:
1.Non-Competitive: The Award is a personal challenge and not a competition against others. Each participant's programme is tailor-made to reflect the individual starting point, abilities and interests.
2.Available to All: With a commitment to equal opportunities, the Award Programme is available to all young people who choose to take up its challenge.
3.Voluntary: Young people make a free choice to enter the programme and commit their own time to undertake the activities.
4.Flexible: Young people design their own programme, which can be geared to their choice and personal circumstances and also to local provision. They may enter for whichever level of Award best suits them, and may take as long as they wish to complete an Award.
5.Balanced: By choosing activities in each of four different Sections (five at Gold), participants undertake a balanced and wide ranging programme.
6.Progressive: At each level, the Award Programme demands more time and an increasing degree of commitment and responsibility from the participant.
7.Achievement Focused: Before starting an activity, young people are encouraged to set their own goals. If they aim for those goals and show improvement, they will achieve their Award.
8.Marathon, not a Sprint: The Award demands persistence and commitment and cannot be completed in a short burst of enthusiasm. Participants may want to continue with activities beyond the minimum time requirements set out for each level of the Award.
9.Personal Development: The Award is a programme of personal and social development. The value to young people is dependent on personal commitment, the learning process and the quality of the experience.
10.Enjoyable: Young people and helpers should find participation enjoyable and satisfying.
The Award is divided up into three levels:
1. BRONZE
2. SILVER
3. GOLD
We generally open the Bronze level up to Year 10 pupils, the Silver to Year 11 and 12 pupils and the Gold to Year 13 pupils.
How long will it take me to get the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?
You have until your 25th birthday to complete any of the Awards but it takes at least 6 months at Bronze, 12 months at Silver and 18 months at Gold for Direct Entrants.
TIMESCALES:There should be a regular commitment averaging at least an hour a week.
Bronze Award (14+ Years)
Service Skills Physical Recreation Expeditions
3 Months 3 Months 3 Months Plan prepare and undertake a 2 day, 1 night venture
All participants must undertake a further 3 months in either the Service, Skills or Physical Recreation Section.
Silver Award (15+ Years)
Service Skills Physical Recreation Expeditions
6 Months One Section for 6 months and the other Section for 3 months Plan prepare and undertake a 3 day, 2 night venture
Participants who do not hold their Bronze Award must undertake a further 6 months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills / Physcial Recreation Section.
Gold Award (16+ Years)
Service Skills Physical Recreation Expeditions Residential Section
12 Months One Section for 12months and the other Section for 6 months Plan prepare and undertake a 4 day, 3night venture Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights
Participants who do not hold their Silver Award must undertake a further 6 months in either the Service or the longer of the Skills / Physcial Recreation Section.
What are the different sections?
Service
Aim of the Service Section
To encourage service to individuals and to the community.
The Principles
This Section is based on the belief that members of a community have a responsibility to each other and voluntary help is needed.
Young people should identify the voluntary service required to gain some knowledge of the needs of those whom they are assisting and then receive briefing and training in the skills required to give that service. The value of participation in the Service Section comes from training, giving practical service and appreciating the needs of the community.
Benefits to Young People
Although the specific benefits depend on the choice of activity, the Service Section should provide opportunities to:
• make a personal contribution by dedicating free time to giving service to the community
• appreciate the needs of others and contribute to their well-being by working with and for people with whom young people would not normally come into contact
• trust and be trusted
• understand personal strengths and weaknesses by reviewing their performance in briefing and training sessions
• increase self-esteem by receiving positive feedback and learning to appreciate the value of making a personal contribution
• overcome prejudice and fears through building new relationships and developing an empathy with others
• generate positive action in the community by identifying and undertaking worthwhile service projects which benefit the local or wider community or the environment
• accept responsibility through a personal commitment to an individual, organisation, group or community
Requirements
Participants are required to train for and give service to others. Consideration should first be given to the proposed form of practical service to be followed and then to the training required so that the service can be undertaken with competence and insight.
Depending on the form of service chosen, this training could range from an outline briefing session to a specialised training course or qualification.
The time requirements for this Section are set out elsewhere on the site. There is flexibility as to how the hours are spent within the total time span, as long as there is regular involvement throughout, averaging at least an hour a week
For forms of service requiring a training course or qualification, the minimum time requirements include the time spent in training and the time spent in practical service.
Skills
Aim of the Skills Section
To encourage the discovery and development of practical and social skills and personal interests.
The Principles
This Section should encourage young people to pursue activities within a wide range of practical, cultural and social environments. The Skills Section offers young people a wide choice depending upon their personal preferences, abilities and the opportunities available. The skill may be an existing interest or something entirely new.
Benefits to Young People
Although the specific benefits to young people depend on the choice made, the Skills Section should provide opportunities to:
• develop practical and social skills by working alongside enthusiastic individuals who share their skills and knowledge
• meet new people
• organise and manage time
• discover how to research information through communication with the instructor or mentor, using the internet, libraries and other resources, making appropriate contacts in the community and identifying other sources of help and guidance
• set and respond to a challenge by developing an existing interest or trying something new
• work with others to build relationships, gain benefit from their knowledge, appreciate their skills and to share a mutual interest
• enjoy sharing an activity with adults and peers
• discover new talents
Requirements
Participants should follow an activity and show progression and sustained interest over a period of time, leading to a deeper knowledge of the subject and the attainment of an increased degree of skill.
The time requirements for this Section are set out elsewhere on this site.
Physical Recreation
Aim of the Physical Recreation Section
To encourage participation and improvement in physical activity.
The Principles
This Section offers a wide range of programmes in the belief that:
• involvement in some form of enjoyable physical activity is essential for physical well-being
• a lasting sense of achievement and satisfaction is derived from meeting
• a physical challenge
• sports are enjoyable in themselves and can lead to the establishment of a lasting active lifestyle
• young people should have the opportunity to make a choice, then discuss and agree a personal programme of participation and achievement
Benefits to Young People
The Physical Recreation Section should provide opportunities to:
• enjoy keeping fit by choosing an activity which is in itself enjoyable, and which leads to the establishment of a lasting, active lifestyle
• improve fitness by taking part in a physical activity on a regular basis
• discover new abilities
• raise self-esteem through improvement of performance and reaching the minimum requirements
• extend personal goals by involvement and sustained interest
• set and respond to a challenge by extending physical fitness and performance
• experience a sense of achievement from meeting a physical challenge
Requirements
Assessed participation in an activity and achievement of individual progress.
• achievement should be measured by regular participation and improvement in personal performance over the minimum period of months
• each participant should discuss and agree their programme with their instructor or assessor, including the content and appropriate goals. A means of measuring performance and/or progress could be the attainment of a national governing body award or standard
• participation should be undertaken in accordance with any national governing body safety requirements and, where possible, through clubs or organisations approved by the relevant governing body
The time requirements for this Section are set out elsewhere on this site.
Expeditions
Aim of the Expeditions Section
To encourage a spirit of adventure and discovery by preparing for and carrying out an adventurous journey as part of a Team.
The Principles
All Qualifying Ventures involve preparing for, planning and undertaking an unaccompanied, self-reliant journey with an agreed Aim. Ventures must be completed by the Participants' own physical efforts with minimal external intervention.
It is more in keeping with the Principles of this Section for Participants to choose an environment and form of travel where they can venture with relatively remote supervision rather than undertake a journey which, for safety reasons, requires more direct supervision. At each level of the Award a progressively more challenging venture should be planned and undertaken.
Qualifying Ventures involve:
• enterprise and imagination in concept
• forethought, careful attention to detail and organisational ability in preparation
• preparatory training, both theoretical and practical, including practice journeys, leading to the ability to journey safely in the chosen environment
• shared responsibility for the venture, leadership from within the Team, self-reliance and co-operation amongst those taking part
• determination in implementation
• a review and presentation related to the Aim of the Qualifying Venture and the Aim of the Expeditions Section
Benefits to Young People
The Expeditions Section is primarily concerned with the development of the individual and teamwork, although the challenges are expressed in terms of physical demands, by exploring the environment and by travelling for a number of hours.
The Expeditions Section provides opportunities to:
• plan and execute a journey - requiring attention to detail and organisational ability
• demonstrate enterprise and imagination - by the Team organising their own venture
• work as a member of a team - all ventures must be a team effort
• respond to a challenge - either planned or unforeseen
• develop self-reliance - by carrying out an unaccompanied journey
• develop leadership skills - members of the Team should have opportunities to take a leading role during different aspects of the venture
• recognise the needs and strengths of others - by involving Team members in mutually supporting each other to ensure the success of the venture
• make decisions and accept the consequences - by the Team making real decisions affecting their well-being
• reflect on personal performance - through reviewing progress during training and at the end of the Qualifying Venture
• enjoy and appreciate the environment - by developing an awareness of the areas visited and issues affecting the environment
Requirements
• All Qualifying Ventures should have a clearly defined Aim which should be developed during training and preparation
• Participants must be trained in the skills required to undertake their planned venture
• Participants must undertake sufficient practice journeys to ensure that they are able to travel and explore safely and independently in their chosen environment
• The Team should consist of between four and seven young people (see page below for more info)
• Ventures involve joint planning and preparation by all members of the Team
• The journey may take place on land - by foot, cycle, horse, etc. or on water - by canoe, sail, rowing, boat etc. without motorised assistance
• On completion, Participants review the journey and give an account or presentation related to the Aim of the Qualifying Venture and reflecting the Aim of the Expeditions Section
• All ventures must be supervised, and Qualifying Ventures assessed, by suitable adults
• All relevant Operating Authority health and safety requirements must be met
Timescales for Qualifying Ventures:
LEVEL DURATION MINIMUM HOURS OF planned ACTIVITY each DAY
BRONZE 2 days and 1 night At least 6 hours during the daytime
SILVER 3 days and 2 nights At least 7 hours during the daytime
GOLD 4 days and 3 nights At least 8 hours during the daytime
• time associated with overnight accommodation and catering is additional to the minimum daytime hours of planned activity
• the Team should plan how they propose to spend the daytime hours which should be a combination of journeying and exploring
• at least half of the minimum daytime hours should be spent journeying with appropriate rest breaks
• the speed of journeying, the distance travelled and the time spent exploring should be determined by the Team. This should be based on their experience during practice journeys in a similar environment
• teams may choose to use most of their planned hours in journeying with appropriate breaks, but must still make observations and recordings for their review and presentation
• such Teams undertaking foot ventures normally achieve total distances of Bronze: between 24 km and 32 km (15 to 20 miles), Silver: 48km and 59 km (30 to 37 miles) and Gold: between 80km and 96km (50 to 60 miles)
• advice for other modes of travel is given in the Expedition Guide and Programmes File
Journeying and Exploring should be based on:
• prior research and preparation to decide where and when the exploratory work can take place
• themes which are focussed enough to be achievable in the time available
• ideas chosen by and matched to the capabilities and interests of the Participants
• first hand observations to enable the Participants to make discoveries which are new to them
• the recording of information based on actual observations
• the presentation of findings once the journey and its review have been completed
Residential Project (Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award only)
Aim of the Residential Project
To broaden young people's experiences through involvement with others in a residential setting.
The Principles
To introduce young people to some form of purposeful enterprise in the company of others who are not known to them.
Benefits to Young People
The Residential Project should give young people the opportunity to:
• meet new people
• experience an unfamiliar environment
• build new relationships and show concern for others
• work as part of a team towards shared goals
• accept responsibility for self and others
• develop communication skills
• show initiative
• enjoy living and working with others
Requirements
To undertake a shared activity or specific course in a residential setting away from home and in an unfamiliar environment.
Participants will normally require briefing or training prior to or during the residential period so that they are able to contribute fully and derive full benefit from the experience.
Links
GENERAL AWARD LINKS
www.theaward.org.uk the main DoE website
EXPEDITIONS
http://www.millets.co.uk/millets.storefront/default.aspx for expedition equipment
http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/ for expedition equipment
http://www.bbc.co.uk/weather/ to check the weather before an expeditio
http://www.avontyrrell.org.uk/ for expedition campsite information – Avon Tyrrell campsite
http://www.forest-holidays.com/RVEebdcef9a30d94bc582f87a82e6e78f90,,.aspx for expedition campsite information – Ocknell and
Longbeech Campsite
http://www.boidierhurst.org.uk/ for expedition campsite information – Boidier Hurst Scout Campsite
http://www.glswscouts.org.uk/campsites/search?q=R&n=1 for expedition campsite information – Ranmore Scout Campsite
SERVICE
http://www.bhf.org.uk/ British Heart Foundation
http://www.oxfam.org.uk Oxfam
SKILLS
Try to develop a skill that you already have. Why not google one of your interests to see what you can find.
PHYSICAL RECREATION
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/leisure/recreation_and_leisure/leisure_centres/malden_centre.htm The Malden Centre
http://www.kingston.gov.uk/browse/leisure/recreation_and_leisure/leisure_centres/kingfisher.htm The Kingfisher Centre
http://www.sportengland.org/ The sports council – Sport England
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