DofE - Bronze
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at QEHS – Bronze Award
At QEHS, the Bronze DofE award is launched to students in the summer term of Year 8, with students able to start their activities from mid-August.
To achieve the Bronze award, students complete four sections: Volunteering, Physical, Skills and a two-day Expedition.
Volunteering Section
Volunteering is about giving time to do something meaningful, motivated by making a difference rather than making money.
Participants should look for impactful opportunities around them – this can be in person or online. Meaningful volunteering is different for everyone. There are many people and organisations that are willing to provide participants with opportunities for volunteering. An opportunity could be found within your community, at social enterprises, charities, not-for-profit organisations and Volunteering Approved Activity Providers.
Young people can also volunteer for social action causes, campaigns and within their Licensed Organisation (e.g., their school or youth group). Some commercial organisations can be considered, providing they can demonstrate that they offer volunteering opportunities in line with our outcomes and not as a financial benefit to themselves.
Physical Section
For your physical activity you need to choose any sport, dance or fitness activity – in short, anything that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity. For example, playing a sport regularly and showing personal improvement would count. However, learning to be a coach in the same sport would be a Skills section activity, whilst being a volunteer coach counts for the Volunteering section.
Skills Section
For your skills activity you need to choose an activity that will allow you to prove you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in your chosen skill. It should not be a physical activity, for example horse riding, as this counts towards your Physical section, however, you could choose to learn about caring for horses.
Expedition Section
For your Expedition section, you will need to plan, train for and complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant expedition with an agreed aim. You must do the correct training for your level and mode of travel. Your expedition must be completed by your own physical efforts with minimal external intervention and without motorised assistance. Your route should also be a continuous journey.
At QEHS we complete the Bronze Expedition in Clumber Park in May of Year 9. The expedition involves 2 days of walking with 1 night of camping.
