Taking part in a DofE journey will give you skills, confidence, and something to talk about when you apply for college, university or a job. Beyond your academic achievements, universities want to see evidence of “soft skills” that you have developed through extra-curricular activities, such as communication, commitment, leadership and teamwork. Your DofE Award is a fantastic way to demonstrate and evidence these skills in practice.

You’ll also make a difference to other people’s lives and your community, become fitter and healthier, make new friends and have memories to last you a lifetime. Our participants also tell us that doing their DofE supports their self-belief and resilience, can boost their mental health and wellbeing, and can help them face and overcome personal challenges.

There are three levels of programme you can do which, when you’ve successfully completed them, lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. The main differences between them are the minimum length of time it takes to complete them, how challenging it is and the minimum age you can start.

At Brigshaw students start the Bronze award in Year 10. They complete training sessions after school before completing a team building and campcraft overnighter in school followed by a day walk around Embsay reservoir to practice their navigation skills. They then move on to a practice expedition and an assessed expedition in the Yorkshire Dales.

The Silver award expeditions are completed in Year 11 after the exam season with Year 12 students completing their Gold award expeditions at the same time.