Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Romsey Baptist Church run a Duke of Edinburgh’s “Open Award Centre” at the church. Training takes place on Monday nights at 7:30pm, depending on the needs of the current teams in training. The Award Group leaders can be contacted via email at theaward@romsey-baptist.org.uk or via Rev Iain Stephenson on 01794 500517. The Centre trains participants for Bronze and Silver levels of the Award and can arrange Gold level training via the local Award field officers.

This page has three zones with current information for our participants, our parents and our leaders. Please click on these links for information and resources downloads for our Award Group.

What is a Duke of Edinburgh Programme?

A DofE programme is a real adventure from beginning to end. Anyone can take part, it doesn’t matter who you are or where you’re from. You just need to be aged between 14 and 24 and realise there’s more to life than sitting on a sofa watching life pass you by. You achieve an Award by completing a personal programme of activities in four sections (five if you're going for Gold). Your programme can be full of activities and projects that get you buzzing. And along the way you’ll pick up experiences, friends and talents that will stay with you for the rest of your life. It also looks very good on your CV… to find out more online: www.dofe.org

How does the Award work?

There are three levels of programme you can do which, when you've successfully completed lead to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. We do not, however, run Gold at Romsey Baptist Church but can refer you to somewhere that does. There are four sections for each level and for each one; the young people choose exactly what they want to do.

These sections are:

Volunteering - helping someone, your community or the environment
Physical - becoming fitter through sport, dance or fitness activities
Skills - developing existing talents or trying something new
Expedition - planning, training for and completing an adventurous journey
Residential (Gold only) - staying and working away from home as part of a team

The length of time you have to spend on each section depends on the level of programme you're doing.

What does the Award cost?

A Record Book, which you need to complete the Award, costs £11.50 (2009/10), the costs of the service, skills and physical recreation sections depend on what you do whilst the expedition section costs are kept as low as possible helped by the use of volunteers and loan equipment. No-one will be excluded if this cost is an issue for an individual.

Putting it all in perspective

The value of the DofE to employers

The United Learning Trust (ULT) recently published the results of a major survey, undertaken by them in association with Ratcliffe Hall Ltd, focusing on the methods major employers used for selection of new employees. It was primarily about graduate recruitment and asked for the employers’ views on the attributes that were most attractive in candidates.

To see the entire document click here.

Current Programme

The centre currently has teams completing Bronze and Silver programmes. Details of these programmes can be obtained from the Award Group leaders directly or via email at theaward@romsey-baptist.org.uk.

Recruitment

We are not currently anticipating starting any new Silver teams before Autumn 2009 or any new Bronze teams before Autumn 2010 but any enquiries or expressions of interest can be submitted to us by email at theaward@romsey-baptist.org.uk or via Rev Iain Stephenson on 01794 500517

Local contact details:

theaward@romsey-baptist.org.uk

Parents' Zone

Participants' Zone

Leaders' Zone

Guiding Principles

Registration

Award registration form

Award guide for parents in Hampshire

Activity Documentation

Consent and Medical Form (standard for all events)

Hampshire Award Insurance Synopsis