ISSUE 33: SUMMER 2019 The magazine for DofE Leaders
Going for green
Playing your part in improving the environment through the #iwill campaign
New 20 conditions for View from the farm the Expedition section A sheep farmer from Following the Bronze level Lancashire tells us expedition changes that about the balance between were implemented last year, earning a living off the land we’ve updated the 20 he farms and making it Conditions. accessible for walkers. 2 DofE Magazine ISSUE 33: SUMMER 2019 The magazine for DofE Leaders
you make it Our Mission Email newsletter To inspire, guide and support young people Read the latest news and information from the in their self-development and recognise their DofE Head Office through our email newsletter, UK DofE Offices achievements. sent to Leaders registered on eDofE. View it at: DofE HEAD OFFICE: DofEnews.org/DofE_News.html. Published by Gulliver House, Madeira Walk WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU T: 01753 The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Gulliver House, 727400 E: [email protected] DofE.org Madeira Walk, WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU. The DofE Magazine T: 01753 727400 E: [email protected] The DofE Magazine is aimed at DofE Leaders at SCOTLAND: all levels and Licensed Organisations. Items (not Rosebery House, 9 Haymarket Terrace, EDINBURGH EH12 5EZ Editorial Office photographs) in the magazine may be reproduced T: 0131 343 0920 E: [email protected] DofE.org/scotland Gulliver House, Madeira Walk, WINDSOR, free of charge, with acknowledgement to its Berkshire SL4 1EU [email protected] WALES: source. Whereas every reasonable precaution is First Floor, Plas Y Ffynnon, Cambrian Way, BRECON, Powys LD3 7HP Distribution [email protected] taken prior to accepting advertisements in the T: 01874 623086 E: [email protected] DofE.org/wales Editor/Designer Dave Wood DofE magazine, in respect of the suitability of the advertisers and their abilities to provide the NORTHERN IRELAND: Unit 4 Lower Ground Floor, Forestgrove Business Park, Newtownbreda Advertising sales goods and services they advertise, The Duke of Road, BELFAST BT8 6AW Mark Brown, Fellows Media Ltd, The Gallery, Edinburgh’s Award cannot and will not accept T: 0289 069 9100 E: [email protected] DofE.org/nireland Manor Farm, Southam, Nr Cheltenham, responsibility for the failure of advertisers to fulfil Gloucestershire GL52 3PB T: 01242 259249 E: their obligations to their customers as a result of ENGLAND: [email protected] an advertisement appearing in this magazine. Central England: First Floor Offices, Arthur House, Submitting articles 21 Mere Green Road, Four Oaks, Sutton Coldfield B75 5BS The Editor welcomes contributions on subjects We have a limit on the amount of adverts we T: 0121 308 9470 E: [email protected] DofE.org/central related to the DofE, especially good quality colour carry in this magazine. We hope you can support photographs, articles, letters, news stories etc. for our advertisers as this income enables us to London: possible publication. Please note that we cannot print and distribute the magazine to you free of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, London Regional Office, 11 Belgrave guarantee publication of any submitted items. For Road, LONDON SW1V 1RB charge. any image submitted to the DofE Magazine it is T: 0207 630 9092 E: [email protected] DofE.org/london the entrant’s responsibility to ensure that all the relevant and necessary permissions for the use of CHANGE OF ADDRESS? North of England: the images they submit are obtained from people The magazine mailing list is taken directly from Knotty Ash Centre, 251 East Prescot Road, LIVERPOOL L14 5NA featured in a photograph. Therefore any person your profile on eDofE. If you change your address, T: 0151 228 2533 E: [email protected] DofE.org/northofengland featured in a picture must give their permission, please amend your own details within eDofE. and written consent must be obtained from the South East: parents/carers/guardians of any child under Gulliver House, Madeira Walk, WINDSOR, Berkshire SL4 1EU If you have more than one role and receive more the age of 16. The DofE would also reserve the T: 01753 727450 E: [email protected] DofE.org/southeast right to publicly display and publish any image than one magazine, please pass it on to someone South West: submitted to this magazine in promotional, PR and who may like to read it. If you are no longer operational materials, printed, digital and online. involved in the DofE, please arrange for your Unit 12A, Church Farm Business Park, CORSTON, Somerset BA2 9AP, T: 01225 874 354 E: [email protected] DofE.org/southwest Our photography and privacy policies are available account to be archived. on DofE.org/privacy. Whilst every care will be The Award Scheme Ltd (ASL): taken, the DofE Magazine cannot and will not be Unit 18-19, Stewartfield, Newhaven Road, EDINBURGH, EH6 5RQ., held responsible for any material which is lost, T: T: 0131 553 5280 E: [email protected] mislaid or damaged. Proud to be
Participants should check with their Licensed The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award: Organisation to ensure that an opportunity they wish Award House, 7-11 St Matthew Street, LONDON SW1P 2JT to pursue, advertised in these pages, will count for T: 020 7222 4242 E: [email protected] intaward.org their DofE programme. In the UK
Issue 33: Summer 2019 3 4 DofE MagazineAPPROVED ACTIVITY PROVIDER Cover photo: #iwill Ambassadors Yetunde (16) and Princess (17). Pic by Zach Haynes (14), Contents #iwill Ambassador.
Have you got the #DofEDifference? See how doing a 6 DofE programme can make a difference.
Money well spent An update on how the money raised 8 in our Diamond Anniversary year is being spent.
We need your help! Tell us how participation in the DofE 11 helps young people with additional needs. 6 DofE schools can show the way The DofE's CEO Peter 12 Westgarth is grateful for your feedback. 15 DofE update The latest news from DofE Head Office. The DofE in action News of DofE activities and 16 achievements from around the UK.
20 Conditions updated Details of the recent changes to 18 the 20 Conditions of the Expedition section.
12 View from the farm A sheep farmer tells us of the 20 balance between farming and making land accessible.
Ready for an Adventure Your chance to join us this year 22 for an amazing Adventure.
DofE Q&A Our latest collection of answers to frequently 25 asked questions.
eDofE update All the recent developments within the 26 ever-changing world of eDofE.
20 Out there Resources, opportunities and more to help 29 you in your DofE work.
Opportunities spotlight Highlighting some great 31 opportunities for your participants.
Perfect partners News from some of the DofE’s 34 partners, who help participants succeed.
Will you challenge yourself in 2019? The DofE 34 35 Challenge is back for another year. Going for green The DofE is keen to encourage 39 participants to help improve their local environment.
Shout about your DofE group Discover our great new 41 communications pack.
@DofE #DofE theDofE @DofEuk theDofEuk 41 The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a Registered Charity No. 1072490, and in Scotland No: SC038254, and a Royal Charter Corporation No. RC000806.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 5 Have you got the #DofEDifference?
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 both inside and outside of the classroom, makes a volunteers – the amazing people who give up their DofE school different to others. time to support young people with their DofE. Kate Sherwin from Blatchington Mill School in To put it simply, we wouldn’t be able to do what Brighton and Hove said: “As a relatively new we do, if it wasn’t for you. That’s why we launched teacher, taking on DofE in my second year of our #DofEDifference campaign. teaching has helped me learn a variety of skills which I would never have acquired had I just been Making a real difference in the classroom. At the end of 2018, we asked all adult volunteers “Things like dealing with finance, organising who are teachers/head teachers to tell us about the trips and going through procedures has certainly benefits they gain from running the DofE. helped me to develop skills that I can now apply to my job.” Almost half believe that it has given them opportunities for professional development, such The survey also highlighted that 80% of students as leadership skills and management experience. value and respect teachers for the time they spend supporting them with their DofE, while Some 66% of teachers said that the positive 65% appreciate that their DofE Leader is invested relationship they now have with their students, in their personal development.
6 DofE Magazine 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
imagine how much of a difference she’s made, to Giving you recognition both the college and the young people she’s given As part of the #DofEDifference campaign, up her time for. 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 Are you looking to recruit amazing adult volunteer at their school or centre more volunteers? who always goes above and beyond. As you know, volunteering to support young We were blown away by all of the entries, but people do their DofE isn’t all about hiking there could only be one winner (judged by and camping – there are many different roles the number of likes their video received). Our available, with time commitments being from as winning entry came from Greenhead College in little as just an hour or so a month. Huddersfield – receiving £1,000 worth of camping equipment, courtesy of Vango. So, to help you emphasise this and all the benefits when recruiting more DofE volunteers Participants at Greenhead College told us about for your school or centre, download our range Barbara, who has been running the DofE at the of tools – including a video, promotional school for almost 30 years. During that time, she’s leaflet, email template and social media posts worked with thousands of students. We can only – at DofE.org/DofEDifference.
To watch Greenhead College’s video, visit DofE.org/DofEdifference-competition
Issue 33: Summer 2019 7 FUNDING Money well spent
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.
Woodlands School in Luton participants to get to their chosen DofE is a large SEN secondary school and activities, school, work placements and sixth form. They have used Diamond interviews. funding to support the school in building a community café. The café Sustrans will also be offering, to some opened in February and is already older participants, the opportunity to being used by students for the Skills become cycle-ability instructors, in section of their Bronze, Silver and Gold order to volunteer with future intakes. programmes. We are also hopeful that some of the young people may also opt for a cycling Students are using the café to develop Bronze expedition in the 2019 season. life skills, complete new qualifications and gain work experience. The café is not only supporting DofE delivery but The Hans Price Academy is is also a vital community asset for local located in a neighbourhood that is residents. amongst the 10% most deprived in the UK.
South Ayrshire Council, in They are planning to use Diamond partnership Sustrans (a charity focused fund money to create an eco-friendly, on making it easier for everyone to sustainable allotment and garden walk and cycle) is promoting ‘future space in an allocated area within the commuters’, a programme of works to school. This will give DofE participants encourage sustainable transportation. the opportunity to complete their They have offered the opportunity of Volunteering and Skills sections within training 54 young people a term from their local environment through extra- three schools in South Ayrshire to curricular school activities. develop their skills in cycling and bike maintenance skills. Their current participants have found it really challenging to identify suitable The project is being tri-funded and volunteering opportunities so they supported by Sustrans, South Ayrshire hope that this will overcome those barriers. If you have a project that you think Council and the Diamond fund. The Diamond fund money will be will make a difference to young providing them with recovered cycles, The grant will be used to buy tools, people’s lives speak with your (in partnership with Police Scotland and protective clothing and topsoil. These Operations Officer about your idea recovered lost/stolen bikes) that they are needed to create the eco-garden and possible Diamond funding. can maintain and use to learn improved that can be used by their DofE students cycling skills. The plan is to enable as well as the rest of the school.
8 DofE Magazine This, in turn, will help to increase Humphry Davy School has a participation by offering Bronze to bungalow on the school premises all of Year 9, instead of the present that houses their small animal care arrangement of it being offered as one of room which includes many pets. a number of options that pupils choose. This assists the teaching of life skills to some of their students who have been using this for their Skills and Victoria School and Specialist Volunteering sections when they Art College has used a Diamond assist with the day-to-day care of the fund grant to purchase and set up animals and in the creation a ‘how to’ a bespoke, portable market stall. guide. On this, participants sell products that are made in school through the They wanted to expand this initiative to Skills section and enterprise work include setting up and managing bird in their community as part of their and squirrel feeders. volunteering and fundraising work. The school also has a small area Since October the participants have of land in the grounds that is used to been using the market stall to display run the allotment club. Here, students some of the items of footwear they can learn skills or volunteer to assist have collected from running a UNICEF in the growing of crops and flowers. ‘shoeshare’ initiative in school, after they contacted families and parents to With the Diamond fund grant they are donate old shoes. They will eventually going to use these crops/herbs/edible take them to a local Clarks store flowers in a pop-up kitchen and sell to to be distributed to disadvantaged the nearby college kitchen. youngsters around the world. The money gained helps make this The participants will eventually use a viable and sustainable part of Participants and staff from the market stall to take their enterprise school life, used in lessons as well Woodlands School pictured projects into the local community and as to enrich their offer to other celebrating the opening of their part of their volunteering activities. students. community café.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 9 10 DofE Magazine We need your help! How does participation in the DofE help young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities* (SEND)?
We know that the DofE has a huge Please circulate the relevant link to impact on young people with special young people, staff and parents and Hope’s story educational needs and disabilities, but encourage them to complete the short we’ve never measured this. We need questionnaire. your help with some exciting research we will be undertaking in the autumn We know that many of the young which is being made possible thanks to people will need your support to support from MariaMarina Foundation. complete the questionnaire. We would therefore be grateful if you could The aim of this research is to find out schedule some time now to do this more about how the DofE helps this with them in the autumn term. Hard group of young people while at school copies of the questionnaire will also and once they have left. be available if these are easier for Hope has Asperger’s Syndrome, and participants. has struggled with periods of severe Are you a DofE Leader or depression. She worked hard to Clear guidance will be provided in the achieve her Bronze, Silver and Gold Manager working with autumn and will be included with the DofE Awards. young people with SEND? links to the surveys. Should you need any additional help, please do speak to In September/October we will be “My Asperger’s means I don’t think the your Operations Officer. calling on you to help us complete four same way most people do, and I don’t short surveys. These will be aimed at: always understand what they mean. As -- DofE Leaders and Managers Why is this research so I grew up, this made me very shy, as I who are working with SEND important? was always worried about how people young people including Award would react to me. Verifiers and members of the Alongside providing valuable evidence regarding the impact of the DofE on senior leadership team within “Doing my DofE was something I young people with SEND this will SEND schools. really wanted, as it seemed exciting, also provide information to help us -- Young people with SEND doing even though it took me well out of my understand if we can give more support their DofE. comfort zone. -- Young people with SEND who to SEND schools. The results of the research will be published in early achieved an Award but who have “There are so many good memories 2020. Thank you! since left school. – particularly of the expeditions, and -- Parents of young people with the residential we did on a Thames SEND doing their DofE. How many young people sailing barge. We met gale force winds with SEND are currently in the Thames Estuary and the North We need your help to make doing their DofE? Sea. What the DofE taught me was, no this research a success matter how frightening things seem, An incredible 11,438 young people you can always get through them.” We need these surveys to be with SEND did their DofE in 2018 – completed by as many individuals an increase of 36% on the previous Hope designs and makes jewellery from as many different organisations year. This includes young people in and plans to train as a DofE working with SEND young people from mainstream schools who have a volunteer Leader. around the UK as possible. Links to self-declared disability as well as the surveys will be sent out in those taking part from the 676 SEND September via the DofE News DofE centres across the UK. *Additional Support Needs in Scotland/ e-mail and other outlets. Additional Learning Needs in Wales.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 11 DEVELOPMENT DofE schools can show the way!
Just as this edition of the DofE Magazine The Trustees have appointed David Oates, was going to press it was announced that Finance Director (pictured), to the role of Peter Westgarth would retire from his role as Acting Chief Executive whilst they undertake Chief Executive at the end of June. the recruitment for Peter’s successor.
12 DofE DofE Magazine Magazine Peter Westgarth Chief Executive, DofE DofE schools can show
I am sure that, like me, you were delighted to hear that The Chief the way! 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.
Amanda expressed concern that the Wye has just completed its first year and she also sees the benefit of this inspection framework restricted a as a Directly Licensed Centre (DLC) when going to university where she school’s ability to offer “things that and has its second cohort of year will cook for herself instead of having we know help to build young people’s nine students doing their Bronze to buy expensive and potentially resilience and confidence – such as programmes. As you can see in the unhealthy ready meals. cadet forces, DofE Awards, sports, picture (below left), our Operations drama or debating teams”. Officer, Ed Gaskin, was on hand to “Mr Hinds was really interested in the brief the Secretary of State and work the DofE is doing in Margate We hope that the new Ofsted support the teams. and other coastal towns where levels inspection framework will aim to of disadvantaged young people are recognise and value the broader Ed Reported, “In temperatures of high. He was keen to learn of the huge curriculum that enables activities such -20C, Mr Hinds was introduced to two growth in numbers of enrolments this as those that make up a young person’s groups of DofE participants from the year from 2,000 to 2,700 across my DofE programme. first cohort which enrolled last March. portfolio and the benefit this is having The first group was able to explain the to those most at risk.” No sooner had I sent off our response intricacies of planning a route using to the Ofsted consultation than up pops their orienteering and map reading The DofE is a great way for schools to the Secretary of State for Education, skills. They were able to explain the demonstrate how they are developing Damian Hinds, to set out his vision for duration, distance and aims of their great character and resilience in young developing character and resilience in expedition and went into some detail people. But, these days, just having the young people and also referencing DofE. as to the planning and training for their DofE plaque in the reception area isn’t practice and qualifier. Mr Hinds was enough of a differentiator. The vast This followed hard on the heels of his suitably impressed with the level of majority of UK secondary schools now visit to Wye School which is a new Free detail involved. run DofE programmes. School in Kent and part of the United Learning Trust (ULT). Some of you may “The second group, now year 10, What will impress is the extent to remember that the ULT’s research into treated Mr Hinds to a hearty breakfast which the DofE culture is integrated employer attitudes found that DofE of sausage and egg roll. This was into school culture and made available was top of employers’ list of extra- welcome after such an early start to all young people and supported by curricular achievement they look for in travelling from Westminster. Mr the whole school. applications. Hinds was intrigued as to the cooking skills, the use of the Trangia. He was That’s what will make a real difference. 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. theDofE
A student by the name of Zara was @DofE #DofE keen to explain that she has chosen cooking for her Skills section activity. @DofEUK This set her up nicely for the expedition
Issue 33: Summer 2019 13 ADVERTISEMENT FEATURE
Smarter teams 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…
Did you add your school What do the DofE participants logo and get the clothing and volunteers think about their personalised? DofE Clothing? Jo says, “Having The Langley Academy All four teachers said the students loved logo on our DofE hoodies means it is them, with Patrick saying his students an official school hoodie and students were queuing up to get them. They also can wear them during PE lessons and had great feedback from staff: “I see on sports days. We also have names on them wearing them regularly around Jo, Tash and Chad from the back to help the volunteers learn the school – and even out of school – as the The Langley Academy. students’ names.” garments are thick and warm. These were the official premium hoodie, they “We ordered personalised t-shirts are thick and of excellent quality. Why did you order for each participant as part of their I also ordered one of the technical DofE Clothing? enrolment package, to help create a t-shirts and I really like it.” ends Joe. sense of team identity and spirit,” “I ordered them as I think it adds value says Tom. to our provision – it’s a small gesture that goes a long way. DofE Clothing Colours and personalisation can be rewards the staff for volunteering and varied. “Our staff all had the same makes them feel part of the team. It colour with just their names on them. motivates the kids who wear it with However, we let the students choose pride, and promotes the DofE when their own colours, styles – and even people see 80 kids from our school in group names.” said Joe. their DofE t-shirts.” said Patrick Tasker, Manor CE Academy had over 200 DofE DofE Leader at Manor CE Academy, participants, so they opted for t-shirts York. but with no personalisation for their Joe in his hoodie with his son at Dancing Tom Hancock, DofE Administrator at students, to save staff time and cost. Ledge, Dorset. 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 A Bronze group from Ralph Allen School at the end of a wet expedition training day. often do hoodies for residentials outside of DofE, so I decided to gauge interest. See the full DofE Clothing range at clothing.DofE.org All participants and volunteers paid for and call 020 8569 2250 or email their hoodies, although volunteers were [email protected] for a group order quote. partially subsidised as a thank you.”
14 DofE Magazine update
Sectional certificates breakfast, main and dessert pouches, Please download an addendum sheet including vegetarian options, with for each book to ensure your copies are The sectional certificates have more planned for 2019. Wayfayrer is up to date: . been updated with a new design, to DofE.org/addenda stocked by the DofE Recommended Kit complement the Bronze, Silver and suppliers in store and online. For more Gold Award certificates. These are details see DofE.org/shopping/food. DofE Card available from DofE Essentials via Your personal DofE Card can give eDofE. They are not mandatory but you great savings – and not just on many Leaders find them useful to Keeping participants safe expedition kit. Good news – your provide recognition and motivation Help parents/carers/guardians to adult DofE Card will now save you for those who take longer to complete understand their responsibility to an even better 20% in Blacks, Millets their programmes than others. safeguard their children doing DofE and Ultimate Outdoors (previously activities outside of your centre. 15%). The participant discount has Leader’s checklist also increased to 15%. The 15% off GO Share this link – DofE.org/safeguarding Outdoors’ Discount Card price and 20% Have you seen our Leader’s – and consider how you could get discount at Tiso still apply. Use in store Checklist? This useful sheet helps the message across, for example, a and online. you decide whether the young mention on your welcome letter or on people in your group have chosen your website. See for full a programme activity which DofE.org/shopping/card details. meets DofE criteria: DofE.org/ leaderchecklist. Book updates Following the recent changes to the Bronze level Expedition section, some Food for thought of the guidance in current editions of The DofE has a new expedition food the Expedition Guide and the licensee– Wayfayrer Expedition Food. Handbook for DofE Leaders requires Wayfayrer provides a range of updating.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 15 NEWS OF DofE ACTIVITIES AROUND THE UK The DofE in action
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.
Fully inclusive expedition earlier this year. Its first group enjoyed their training experience The Royal Association for Deaf People and looked forward to completing the celebrated its first DofE practice qualifying expedition with confidence.
Get your skates on...
Rachel Rogers and Dave Humphreys Animal magic from Llanfyllin High School, Powys, have been experimenting with a Last autumn, Chester Zoo helped DofE low impact transport approach to participants from Upton High School get around when supervising DofE complete their Volunteering section. expeditions. They use rechargeable The students were trained as visitor electric skateboards fitted with all- engagement volunteers and gave their terrain tyres to visit groups in remote time on Saturdays and Sundays to locations. With a top speed of over engage with zoo visitors. They then 30mph, the skateboards have a range created a range of videos and materials of 20 miles between charges and can to help the zoo’s various campaigns. tackle the steepest forestry tracks.
16 DofE Magazine 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 Training the trainers marriage of TRH Harry and Megan. 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.
On the right track Apprentices from GWR are offered the chance to do their Gold DofE. Digging deep to help They have grasped the opportunity enthusiastically, celebrating 23 Gold DofE participants from Edinburgh Awards since they started offering the helped tidy up local beauty spot DofE to apprentices. Starbank Park recently. Their work was part of a drive to restore this beautiful community park to its former glory.
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 Perfect planning community, especially on social media, DofE students from Crown Hills for their excellent work. Community College, Leicester, are pictured above doing research for their Pictured below is the largest gathering of Leading by example Parkrun event. They planned to raise DofE Leaders in Greater Manchester and Ashford School in Kent has become funds and awareness for SightboxUK as Cheshire on one weekend. They took part part of their Volunteering section. in one DES course and two Lowland Leader the first in the South East to offer DofE training courses earlier this year. 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.
Send your stories and pictures to [email protected]
Issue 33: Summer 2019 17 EXPEDITIONS 20 Conditions updated 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.
This includes changing the This new condition draws attention conditions to reflect that (at to our current guidance on mobile Bronze level only) there is no phone usage on expeditions (Chapter longer a requirement for a practice nine in the Expedition Guide) and expedition or presentation; the aims to ensure that participants can ability for one individual to assess enjoy the self-reliance and isolation and supervise a team and raising an expedition offers away from social awareness of the option to use media and instant communication. appropriate indoor accommodation. Teams adhering to the Countryside/ Updating the 20 Conditions gave Scottish Outdoor Access/Highway/ us the opportunity to review them Watersports Code(s) as appropriate, more widely and address the most and behaving responsibly with common quality issues that arise on respect for their team members, expeditions each year. Leaders, the public and animals. Feedback on the 20 Conditions over These two new Conditions draw the past few years was considered, attention to our current guidance alongside comments from a recent on participant behaviour and the survey to all Leaders and Expedition DofE’s Environmental Impact Policy. Assessors. As a result, several other Every year we receive a number of changes have been made to the 20 complaints from members of the Conditions, to ensure they remain public and landowners about some of relevant. the teams that cause disruption in the All participants completing their area. These new conditions enable DofE programmes should have a Assessors to defer an expedition if consistent, top quality experience. a team repeatedly and deliberately They should benefit from all the flouts the agreed codes of behaviour. learning outcomes we know the Expedition section provides. Teams must possess the necessary physical fitness, first aid and expedition skills required to The changes complete their expedition safely. The wider changes that have been This new condition aims to provide made to improve the quality of DofE clarity on the competency of expeditions across all levels are: expedition teams. If they are not able to complete their expedition Groups adhering to the mobile safely due to a lack of knowledge or phone policy as agreed between skills then the Assessor can defer the their Supervisor and Assessor. expedition.
18 DofE Magazine 20 Conditions updated
The Condition on accommodation Highlighting guidance In the meantime, please use a copy has been extended to include of the new Conditions to supplement the possibility of using simple Any Conditions that have been your programme materials. created are not new programme rules self-catering accommodation We hope that these revised but, instead, highlight the DofE’s (e.g. camping barns and Conditions will continue to help current guidance. The guidance to bunkhouses). participants, with the support of their support these new Conditions can be Leaders and Supervisors, plan their This better reflects the existing found in the DofE’s Expedition Guide, expedition. guidance of both the DofE and the and you can also visit our website or International Award (which has speak to your Regional/Country DofE They will also understand more easily always allowed the use of simple Office for more information. the requirements they need to fulfil indoor accommodation), without the to complete their Expedition section, We will be updating all our need for variation requests. whilst ensuring they undertake a fun programme resources (including the and valuable learning experience. The Conditions have also been Expedition Guide and Handbook for re-ordered so that they are grouped DofE Leaders) and training materials together in the order in which they to reflect the new 20 Conditions, Download the new-look sheet at might be applied (planning, training along with other programme DofE.org/20conditions and during the expedition). changes, over the next few months.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 19 View from the farm
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
20 DofE Magazine View from the farm 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.
As a sheep farmer, my main priority way which are used during the year There’s a real challenge in terms is producing safe, traceable and by DofE participants. In predominantly of allowing people access to the affordable food for the nation. But upland areas there are vast stretches countryside and maintaining a the importance of looking after the of open access land, providing the profitable farm business. On the farm, environment, being a custodian of the public with a unique opportunity to we use large machinery so we have countryside, cannot be overlooked. experience the farmed environment. diverted our paths to go around the After all, us farmers are the original farmyard so that members of the friends of the earth. It is important that farmers continue public, including DofE participants, are to play a pivotal role in making the safe. We’ve put signs up which indicate I count myself very lucky. Each day I landscape accessible. where the paths are to help walkers wake up with this great picturesque stick to the route. canvas on my doorstep in such a lovely But providing this access comes part of the country. One million people with its own challenges, with There will be thousands of young people live within half an hour of the farm littering, crop damage and livestock setting out over the coming months on here in the Ribble Valley and I spend worrying some of the more high- DofE expeditions and I wish them all much of my time maintaining the 11km profile issues we deal with. well. I hope they will take a moment of footpaths on the land. This helps or two to remember the landscape the public explore the great outdoors. Littering is costly and time-consuming they are enjoying and the efforts that Engaging with the public and helping to remove and is dangerous to wildlife farmers and the farming industry goes them learn more about the countryside and livestock. to in order to maintain access to the and food production is something I care countryside we all enjoy today. about passionately. Crop damage can be avoided by ensuring that one sticks to the path Copy and give participants the Farmers throughout the UK host and and, in order to keep livestock happy, following as a useful reminder of their maintain a vast network of rights of treat them with respect. responsibilities in the countryside.
or follow instructions on signs. to wildlife and farm animals – so Don’t be a code breaker When in a group, make sure the take your litter home with you. It is important that everyone takes last person knows how to leave Dropping litter and dumping pride in, and responsibility for, our the gates. rubbish are criminal offences. countryside. A simple first step is -- Leave machinery and farm -- Fires can be as devastating to to follow the Countryside, Outdoor animals alone – don’t interfere wildlife and habitats as they are Access or Leave No Trace codes while with animals even if you think to people and property – so be out enjoying our amazing landscapes. they’re in distress. Try to alert the careful with naked flames at any farmer instead. time of the year. Whilst out and about on your DofE -- Use gates, stiles or gaps in field practice and qualifying expeditions boundaries if you can – climbing Remain on the footpaths or ensure that you: over walls, hedges and fences can bridalways damage them and increase the -- Walking through crops can Leave gates and property as you risk of farm animals escaping. damage them and that costs the find them and follow paths farm money. Also, by remaining -- A farmer will normally close gates Leave no trace of your visit and on the path means that there to keep farm animals in but may take your litter home is less opportunity to stray into sometimes leave them open so -- Litter and leftover food doesn’t where animals or machinery animals can reach food and water. just spoil the beauty of the are likely to be and there keep Leave gates as you find them countryside, it can be dangerous everyone safer.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 21 Title sponsor
Ready for an Adventure
This year’s DofE Adventure Steve Main, Somerset “The people who’ve given me support takes place in the South Downs, are the ones who know me. They know Steve started volunteering with the how excited I am when I talk to them A weekend of hiking and DofE three years ago, in response to a about the DofE and how it benefits camping open to anyone over call for volunteers from his daughter’s young people. the age of 18, this is a uniquely school. DofE fundraising event. It “Doing the DofE Adventure and raising enables you to challenge He was hooked from the first walk, money will help enable more young yourself, have fun, meet like- bringing back memories of walking as people to do their DofE. I’m expecting minded people and raise money a young adult on Dartmoor. He’s been a the weekend to be challenging but to help ensure more young Leader for the last two years. fun – and it will be great not to have to people transform their lives carry my own tent with me! Less than a month since registering through the DofE. for the DofE Adventure, Steve has “I’m looking forward to meeting others already smashed his DofE Adventure who may also be Leaders to share ‘war With tents, warm showers, marquee, fundraising target. He puts it down to stories’ and find out how they offer the live music, bar provided for everyone the enthusiasm that comes through DofE in their area of the country.” at Base Camp, plus the option to pre- when he talks to friends and family pay for plentiful hot meals and packed about the DofE: lunches, you’ll hike 30km (one day) Emma Thomas, or 50km (two days), self-navigating or following a signposted route. You Cambridgeshire don’t have to carry your gear with you Emma took part in the DofE Adventure – though you can if you fancy an extra 2018 and can’t wait to do it again. challenge! “I took part by myself last year but The Adventure is once again made I met people there and walked with possible thanks to Title Sponsor St. them. It was hard – I come from flat James’s Place Wealth Management. Cambridgeshire, so the hills we faced were a challenge. I was in the last group We caught up with some of the DofE to cross the line and it was such an Leaders already registered to find out accomplishment. It was great fun and more about them and why they’re nice to meet people from outside too, taking part. 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 I’m expecting the DofE Adventure to be challenging but fun. And Leader Award at the moment, so I’m “I’m looking forward to sharing ‘war stories’ with other Leaders!” already out training! As long as I’m not STEVE MAIN, DofE LEADER last across the line this year I’ll be happy.”
22 DofE Magazine DofE ADVENTURE
Ready for an Crossing the finish line is such I’m expecting the weekend to I’m looking forward to the “an accomplishment.” “be challenging but fun – and “camaraderie and being with EMMA THOMAS, DofE LEADER it will be great not to have to like-minded people.” carry my own tent with me!” DAN GANGAI, DofE LEADER Adventure STEVE MAIN, DofE LEADER
Dan Gangai, Hampshire “I signed up for the DofE Adventure after minded people. We recently had a our open centre Co-ordinator sent a Leader conference and it was good Dan moved to the UK from America message to all the Leaders encouraging to hear from other people about how ten years ago. Growing up with family us to take part. I’m excited at the idea of they run their groups and to make new camping trips he was pleased to a two-day walk since usually we are just connections. discover the opportunities the DofE following after the young people as we offered his sons and himself to get train them. I don’t get to do long walks “I’ll be reminding the people I ask for outdoors again. very often, so this is a great opportunity donations about the impact the DofE to cover some ground rather than has on participants. The DofE helps to When one son took on his Bronze meandering around the New Forest. My create young people who are engaged programme, he started volunteering as team will be self-navigating – getting in the world, rather than just living life a Leader. Dan had been looking for a lost and then figuring out where you are on their phones and computers. It gives similar programme for his two sons to is part of the fun! them a framework to get out and do join in the States, so was delighted to stuff. It’s good for them and it’s good for have come across the DofE soon after “I’m also looking forward to the the community.” moving. camaraderie and being with like-
READER DISCOUNT: SAVE 25%
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.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 23 24 DofE Magazine DofEQ&A 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:
Guide, Chapter 9. The expedition team, Expedition Supervisor and Assessor should agree in advance of an expedition the policy My Handbook and Expedition Guide of use of mobile phones and other don’t reflect the Bronze expedition electronic equipment. changes or the new 20 Conditions. Do I need to buy a new one? Can teams use dehydrated food You can print a copy of the new packets or boil in the bag meals on an 20 Conditions to supplement your expedition? Expedition Guide and Handbook for What counts as ‘simple self-catering DofE Leaders and support the other As Condition 18 states, ‘Participants accommodation’? programme information within these must plan an appropriate expedition resources. Both books are being menu, including cooking and eating If a team chooses to use indoor updated to reflect the recent Expedition a substantial hot meal on each day’. accommodation on their expedition, section changes, along with other Dehydrated food packets and boil it must be basic and teams must still programme changes, and will be in the bag meals are suitable as a cook for themselves. In Bronze level available to buy in DofE Essentials in group’s substantial meal, although terrain, groups have used Scout huts autumn 2019. their use means that participants or a school/village hall. In Silver and may miss many of the potential Gold level terrain, teams have used benefits and personal development bunkhouses, mountain huts and In the new 20 Conditions, Condition 15 opportunities associated with camping barns. As with camp sites, refers to a mobile phone policy. Do you expedition catering and cooking. teams must remain as isolated as have any guidance on this? possible and not make use of facilities More information on expedition food such as games rooms, bars or swimming Advice on the use of mobile phones can be found in Chapter 6.5 of the pools as they are not in keeping with on expedition, along with sample Expedition Guide and on DofE.org/ DofE expeditions. policies, can be found in the Expedition shopping. Volunteering
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.
Read more answers to frequently asked questions at DofE.org/faqs.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 2525 VOLUNTEERING eDofE update
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 up Single sign on On 30 January 2019, we went live with To make our DofE adults’ lives a little a change in eDofE to reflect the Bronze easier we introduced a ‘single sign on’ Expedition Options trial (see last issue). functionality. Here, adults who hold Bronze level participants are now not different roles in different organisations required to complete a practice expedition can login in using one single signing-in nor presentation any more, subject to credential. This is to help minimise the the Leader’s decision, therefore these number of usernames and passwords they elements are no longer a part Bronze level have to remember. participants’ eDofE accounts. By using single sign on, it also means Practice expedition and presentation that you will only receive one copy of this information will only be visible if magazine. participants have already completed their qualifying expedition and the section has How to link your accounts been approved. 1. On your eDofE account, select [My Settings] on the left-hand menu and If a participant has completed their Bronze click [Link another account] button. qualifying expedition (and received an Assessor’s Report) but has not completed 2. Enter your username and password a practice or presentation, then their of the account that you would like to Expedition section may now be ready link. Then select [Link]. for direct approval and appear in your [Directly Approve] notifications. They will 3. Once it’s linked [My accounts] will only appear if they have completed their appear on your top left-hand menu. expedition since June 2017, although other participants can still be approved via their 4. From [My accounts] you can toggle accounts. between different accounts you would like to use. The changes to the section aim helps to ensure that the Bronze expedition 5. Select [Edit accounts] to change experience is a positive and attractive one. the order of your accounts, or It gives most participants their first taste alternatively set a [Main account]. If of an expedition and encourages them to you select a Main account, you will be do further adventures by completing their logged in as this user automatically Silver and Gold DofE programmes. when you sign in.
26 DofE Magazine eDofE update
New eDofE Mapping we have added a new optional field to participants’ accounts to let them add an functionalities ERN (External Reference Number).
Import and export of .gpx files This will help link eDofE data to other At the end of 2018, we introduced some systems that the Licensed Organisation small changes to the functionality of may use to manage young person’s data. eDofE Mapping allowing you to import For example, in Scotland LOs may use this and export .gpx files with the route card to enter the Scottish Candidate Number information in one go, along with all the or The Scout Association might use it for saved information such as the aim of the their internal membership number. expeditions, leg descriptions, dates, times and more. The ERN number can also be viewed in the [Participant profile] and in the [Personal Route card- editable grid reference details] drop down section. We’re adding and leg description box an ERN field to the spreadsheet download If you edit or add the grid reference and on [Participant overview] as well as the leg description on the route card, this will [User information] download from the update the checkpoint and description box [Reports] menu. This should be live by the on the map – and vice versa. time that you are reading this.
One-click save Instead of selecting the save button twice (one on the pop-up box and one on the eDofE housekeeping left-hand slide), we’ve updated this into We have an ever-increasing number of one-click save. adult accounts in eDofE with some users changing their role, moving to other When you select the [save] button, a pop- organisations or hanging up their ‘boots’. up box will appear saying ‘saved’. This Please therefore ensure that you review feature is updated on the route card, map the adult accounts within your LO/centre/ and when exiting the map. group regularly to make sure that only those that are still involved actively with External reference number field the DofE have access to the accounts of On the [create participant] screen, your participants.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 27 28 DofE Magazine Resources • Gadgets Competitions • Reviews Out there Books • Opportunities
1 Wear it with pride 3 Easy to navigate
The DofE regularly teams up with This new full colour book from the selected partners to offer you, the National Navigation Award Scheme DofE network, the chance to win uses easy to follow, fun activities great prizes. to introduce the basic elements of navigation to people of all ages. From Amazon vouchers to mini This book will help you deliver the breaks, expedition kit bundles basics of navigation in an enjoyable to iPhones, we’ve had loads of and engaging way. £15 plus p&p. fantastic prizes won. harveymaps.co.uk Check our website regularly for the 2 Good clean fun latest competitions. DofE Approved Activity Provider, DofE.org/shopping/win 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
6 Community help
iDyslexic is a community for those living and working with dyslexia 4 Ask the police and ADHD. iDyslexic is the first social and interactive mobile app Do you ever wonder what the law is to make the connection between on a certain subject? You can find parents, students, teachers and out the definitive answer on the caseworkers through the creation Ask the Police website, the content of secure classroom portals. of which is provided by the Police National Legal Database. Just ask idyslexic.com a question and you can be sure to 5 receive an authoritative answer in 4 Join the crowd seconds. Also available as an app. Ever thought of using crowdfunding as a possible askthe.police.uk 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. See a wide range of offers and dsc.org.uk/?p=96142 discounts at DofEShopping.org
The 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. Issue 33: Summer 2019 29 30 DofE Magazine Opportunities spotlight
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.
APPROVED ACTIVITY Here’s a selection of some great opportunities currently on offer at DofE.org/aap. PROVIDER
Waterway Recovery Group
Waterway Recovery Group’s Canal heritage. It is not all about the work Camps are a great experience for though; social activities are planned anyone looking to complete their Gold throughout the week including DofE residential. Its volunteer working bowling, cinema, local sightseeing or holidays offer a fantastic chance to even just a trip to the beach. Every learn new skills, enhance a young morning and evening will be catered person’s CV and make new friends for by one of their volunteer cooks and along the way. everything the participant needs for lunch will be provided. For £70 all-inclusive, volunteers will spend a week with up to 18 other W: waterways.org.uk/wrg volunteers, restoring Britain’s canal E: [email protected]
Mental Health Foundation
The Mental Health Foundation’s Peer adults whom they feel are detached Education Project is a school-based from their personal experiences. programme that aims to give young people the skills and knowledge they They are currently working to bring need to safeguard their mental health, the project to more schools around the and that of their peers. UK in 2019/20. Get in touch with them if you’d like to take part, or to find out By training older students to deliver more about what’s involved. mental health lessons to younger student, the project aims to bypass the W: mentalhealth.org.uk/projects/ walls many young people put up when peer-education-project-pep being taught such personal topics by E: [email protected]
Dimensions UK
Dimensions supports people with Dimensions has a range of volunteering learning disabilities and autism to have opportunities, mainly for those who are a louder voice, choice and control in doing their Silver or Gold programmes. their lives. Participants can volunteer and help Dimensions has a wide range of people with learning disabilities and volunteer buddies throughout England autism to achieve more. and Wales. They match buddies with people they support who share W: dimensions-uk.org/get-involved/ interests. It could therefore be going campaigns/volunteering-dimensions shopping, a trip to the cinema or simply E: [email protected] sharing a love of football. T: 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.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 31 32 DofE Magazine Issue 33: Summer 2019 33 Perfect partners
34 DofE Magazine The DofE and Barclays LifeSkills join forces Barclays 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, Lookers and the DofE: local communities. Leadership skills work-ready skills and attributes they Building success together blossom during their expedition, with need to get ahead – such as resilience, participants taking it in turns to step up Perfect commitment, self-motivation and by putting people first and lead their team. teamwork. DofE Partners understand the The DofE enables young people As a Supporting Partner of the DofE, value of offering the DofE in their to grow, gaining skills beyond any Barclays LifeSkills will work with us to companies. Steve Maule, Group Head formalised business training course. inspire, inform and engage all those of Qualifications and Diversity at DofE The DofE is designed to present involved in the DofE. This includes Silver Partner Lookers, shares his view: participants with challenges. Every participants, parents, schools, At Lookers, we recognise that the challenge faced will be unique to volunteers and partners, and will quality and happiness of our staff is the individual but, in every case, the highlight the skills and experiences that vital to the success of our business. person will go through a process to will help young people enter the world That is why we are proud to offer understand how to overcome challenge partners of work. the Gold DofE Award to our young and build confidence. These are engineering apprentices. crucial skills in the modern business Share your story Completing their Gold programme environment. Are you using both the DofE and demonstrates the young person Varied skills are needed across the LifeSkills to develop your young has committed their personal time many sorts of roles that make up a people? If so, we’d love to tell your to developing themselves, and has company like ours – sales roles yes, but story and showcase the ways the developed tangible life experiences. also IT, marketing, engineering, HR, programmes complement each other, Those experiences are valuable to us administration and so on. Journeying helping young people in a real and as an employer and are a key reason through these experiences results in a pragmatic way. we actively seek candidates who have confident, well-rounded candidate with Email us at [email protected] completed it – it sets them apart. the ability to interact with others at all if you would like to shout about the Gold DofE participants develop levels of the business. amazing work you are doing with your their communications skills during As an employer, we also value a diverse DofE participants. their volunteering, often in their team – the DofE reflects this perfectly. Will you challenge yourself in 2019?
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 35 36 DofE Magazine Issue 33: Summer 2019 37 38 DofE Magazine Going for green 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.
Like the #iwill Ambassadors Yetunde Campaigning in this way can be part than we inherited it. The work of the and Princess, featured in our stunning of a DofE Volunteering section. #iwill campaign, its partners and its cover picture (taken by another #iwill ambassadors will continue to play a vital ambassador, 14 year old Zach Haynes), We are proud to be a founding partner role in achieving this”. you too can get involved in action to in #iwill and we encourage all DofE benefit your community. The DofE’s groups to find a way to get involved in Volunteering section is a great way the #iwill4nature campaign. for young people to have their efforts recognised too. We agree with Judith White, Take a look at the Environment Campaign Manager #iwill4nature website for more If, like many of us, you watched David at #iwill when she says “The future information and ideas for what Attenborough’s documentary about stewards of the environment – plastic in the oceans with growing children and young people – should you could be doing: horror, you can do something about it. be at the heart of all we do to leave iwill.org.uk/environment. If you’re a DofE Leader, encourage your our environment in a better state 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.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 39 *
*DofE Expedition section
40 DofE Magazine Shout about 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.
We want to help you tell other For LOs, a higher profile can help Licensed Organisations (LOs), your secure funding to ensure that the local community and the rest of the DofE can continue to grow – giving UK about the fantastic work you do, ever more participants a high-quality through the media, online and at experience and ensuring local DofE events. centres and groups get the support they need. We’ve created a communications pack, Promoting your DofE group, containing And, nationally, good publicity also advice on how you can promote helps our charity secure funding. your DofE group’s activities and It means we can work continually achievements. There’s advice regarding on developing DofE programmes. social media, making bespoke We therefore can inspire more promotional materials and sharing your young people and support the adult stories with us. volunteers who in turn support them.
Promoting your DofE group can help you attract other young people to sign Top tips up for their DofE, more volunteers To give you an idea of the type of to help them develop their skills and advice you can expect to find inside the achieve and engage active support pack, printed below are three hints and To download the pack, visit from the community and those holding tips for creating positive publicity for DofE.org/promoting positions of responsibility. your DofE group.
Top tip: Organise a review Top tip: Don’t forget to add any Top tip: Visit the Brand Centre, session with your recent positive press coverage to your where you can download achievers to help them look DofE noticeboard and in your and print promotional back and identify what they’ve LO’s reception area and press posters, leaflets and guides learnt. Ask them to record a cuttings book (or visitor booklet). for participants, parents and quote about their experience, You could also circulate it to all volunteers – personalising which can then be used on your your LO staff and publish it on them to your DofE group – LO’s noticeboards and shared in your website and in your LO’s which can be displayed on the reports and external publicity. e-newsletters. noticeboard.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 41 42 DofE Magazine Working together Participants from Manchester have been a part of a successful working relationship between Manchester Enterprise Academy and Lloyds Banking Group.
Manchester Enterprise Academy (MEA) Culture club attended predominantly by young people from diverse backgrounds, with This relationship has ensured a solid and We’ve found that volunteering progressive culture of the DofE within 20% of its pupils speaking English as an motivates staff, builds additional language. the school. “ teamwork and encourages Despite knowing they would face many This has allowed for plans to be put the development of agile, challenges regarding funding, obtaining in place for growth, allowing more kit, staffing and resources, the school accessibility for young people in the resourceful and ‘can-do’ became a Direct Licensed Centre. area, as well as increasing their DofE mindsets. It’s inspiring to see offer to include Silver. This model is a the teachers and volunteers At the start of 2016, Laura Fenney and good example of a working relationship we work with in action. There Paul Griffiths from the DofE’s North of and the positive impact corporate England office linked the school with responsibility and engagement can have is a fantastic shared sense of local employer Lloyds Banking Group. on young people’s lives. achievement as each participant Lloyds staff were keen to get involved completes their programme. in helping the students at MEA. They Laura Fenney, Operations Officer gave up their own time to offer activities for Greater Manchester says: “I have It’s a privilege to contribute in conjunction with two Lloyds Banking been proud and delighted at just how positively to our community and Group initiatives: ‘Day to make a successful this project has been. The see the positive outcomes that difference’ and ‘Helping Britain Prosper’. dedication of the staff from Lloyds the DofE can bring to young Banking Group has ensured that young people’s lives. That’s what really These initiatives aim to tackle the people, many of which reside in one of social and economic issues that the largest council estates in Europe, are counts in the end.” matter to Britain by focusing on offered the chance to engage in such a STEVE TURNER, people, businesses, environment and positive experience.” IT PROGRAMME MANAGER, LLOYDS BANKING GROUP 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.
Issue 33: Summer 2019 43 44 DofE Magazine