Complete Your Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award with The Sunnywood Project
The Gold DofE Award is a life-changing experience available to young people aged 16+.
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Any young person can do their DofE – regardless of ability, gender, or background. Achieving an Award isn’t a competition or about being first - It’s all about setting personal challenges and pushing personal boundaries.
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You can register an interest at the bottom of the page and the DofE delivery team will keep you up to date with any groups or programmes that are set up in the future.
What's Involved?
There are five sections to complete at Gold Level. To complete these, you will choose activities which will involve helping the community/environment, becoming fitter, developing new skills, whilst training for and completing a Practice Expedition and your Qualifying Expedition - And completing the fifth section, the Residential.
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It's Your Award - It's Your Choice!
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You’ll have the full support and guidance of your DofE Leader as you choose which activities to complete alongside contact sessions with your DofE Group to meet other young people, make new friends, and generally have fun!
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Timeframes
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You can start your award as soon as you have turned 16 - You have until your 25th birthday to fully complete the Award. If you've already done your Silver DofE, you'll complete your sections over the following timeframes:
Volunteering
12
months
Physical
12 or 6
months
Skills
12 or 6
months
Residential
5 days
4 nights
Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home
Expedition
4 days
3 nights
Physical and skills sections: You'll complete one section for 12 months and the other for 6 months.
You will also need to attend a Practice Expedition of at least 2 days and 2 nights.
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Both the DofE and The Sunnywood Project endeavour to keep costs as low as possible. At the moment, participation places, including the Welcome Pack, cost £35 from the DofE for the Gold Award.
Including this cost, completing the Gold Award through The Sunnywood Project will be £195 from October 2024.
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This includes:
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The Participation Place and Welcome Pack from the DofE
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DofE Card entitling you to discounts at a range of retailers, online and in-store
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Contact sessions with your DofE Leader
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Expedition Training or Refresher sessions
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Facilitation of the Gold Practice and Qualifier Expeditions, including use of shared gear and kit such as tents, stoves, maps, and compasses
The Sunnywood Project is passionate about empowering young people. If you have any concerns about the costs involved in pursuing your DofE Award, please reach out for a conversation with our team.
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Haven't done your Silver Award?
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Don't let that stop you! All it means is you'll have a further 6 months to do in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills section.
You can go straight to Gold or you may wish to do Silver first - Click or tap here to find out more about that level.