Southend United Community & Educational Trust

Duke of Edinburgh

The collaboration will see a number of Football League Clubs working closely with the DofE to provide the opportunity for young people to take part in a series of physical and social activities to get them fit, grow in confidence, develop their passions and to bring communities closer together.

What is the DofE?

A DofE programme is a real adventure from beginning to end. It doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by.

You can do programmes at three levels, Bronze, Silver or Gold, which lead to a Duke of Edinburgh's Award. You achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold).

You'll find yourself helping people or the community, getting fitter, developing skills, going on an expedition and taking part in a residential activity (Gold only). But here's the best bit - you get to choose what you do! Your programme can be full of activities and projects that get you buzzing. And along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life. 

Bronze Award

A Bronze DofE programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You need be at least 14 years old to start a Bronze programme and you must do a minimum of 3 months activity for each of the Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections, and plan, train for and do a 2 day (1 night) Expedition. You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.

Silver Award

The next step up from Bronze... you need to be at least 15 to start doing your Silver DofE programme. A Silver DofE programme has 4 sections, Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition. You need to do at least 6 months Volunteering and a minimum of 6 months on either Physical or Skills and 3 months on the other. It’s up to you which one you do for longer.

The Expedition section involves planning, training for and doing a 3 day (2 night) expedition. If you start the Silver without doing Bronze first you’ll have to do an extra6 months volunteering or doing whichever of the Physical or Skills sections you have spent more time on. Though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to set your aims for the sections.

Gold Award

Once you hit 16 you can do your Gold DofE programme. You’ll spend 12 months on your Volunteering section. For Physical and Skills you must spend 12 months on one and six months on the other - you decide which way round you do it. The big difference at Gold, is you'll also do a Residential section - staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don't know. It's great fun and a real chance to do something different!

If you’ve jumped straight into your Gold DofE programme you’ll need to do a further six months either volunteering or whichever one of your physical or skills activities you spent the most time on.
You achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold).

These sections 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 The length of time you have to spend on each section depends on the level of programme you're doing.

Futures Community College

Southend United Community and Educational Trust are also delighted to be working in partnership with Futures College on delivering the DofE programme and we are pleased to announce that 9 students have completed their Bronze Award within the 1st year of the Football League Trust and DofE partnership. These students are now due to start their Silver Awards in January 2010 joined by another group of Year 10 students who will start their Bronze Award.