DofE activities and awards

Carry out a programme of activities, record your progress and receive your DofE Award

To complete your award, you will carry out a personal programme of activities in the following sections:

Activities for each DofE section take a minimum of one hour a week over a set period of time. You can fit your activities around academic study, hobbies and your social life.

All activities must be completed by your 25th birthday.

Activity timelines

Bronze Award

Section Timeline
Volunteering 3 months
Physical 3 months
Skills 3 months
Expedition 2 days/1 night

In addition, you must complete 3 additional months in volunteering, physical or skills.

Silver Award

Section Timeline
Volunteering 6 months
Physical and skills One section for 6 months and the other for 3 months
Expedition 3 days/2 nights

If you didn't complete your Bronze Award, you must undertake a further 6 months in either volunteering or the longer section of physical/skills.

Gold Award

Section Timeline
Volunteering 12 months
Physical and skills One section for 12 months and the other for 6 months
Expedition 4 days/3 nights
Residential 5 days/4 nights

If you didn't complete a Silver Award, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

Recording progress

You will upload evidence of your activities to the eDofE online portal. The evidence counts towards approval of your Award.

About eDofE

Gold Residential

If you are taking your Gold Award, you will undertake a shared residential activity away from home for 5 days.

Upcoming residential activities

Open expeditions

A programme of open expeditions for those unable to complete their expeditions section with their school or DofE Centre.

Upcoming open expeditions

Receiving your DofE Award

Bronze and Silver Awards

Once you have completed your programme of activities, and your Award has been approved, Hampshire County Council will send you:

  • a letter congratulating you on your Award
  • a badge
  • an invitation to an annual presentation evening held in your district

If you are unable to attend the presentation evening, contact dofe@hants.gov.uk to request your certificate be sent to you.

Gold Award

Before you can complete your Gold Award, you will be asked to complete some extra details in eDofE. Once you have supplied these details, you will receive an invitation to the DofE Gold Award presentation at St James' Palace.

Hampshire County Council also runs an annual Gold Award presentation during the summer in Winchester. You will receive your invitation to attend this Award presentation once your Gold Award has been completed.