DofE programmes help young people develop into fully rounded and responsible individuals. Participants will see new talents and skills develop and emotional maturity blossom whilst also building their fitness and initiative.
There are so many rewards for young people who do DofE programmes and achieve an Award. Its balanced programme of activities develops the whole person – mind, body and soul, in an environment of social interaction and team working.
Furthermore, as doing their DofE involves developing a personal programme of challenging activities, participants enjoy unique experiences and rewards. However, having spoken with Award holders there is general agreement that participation develops:
- Self-belief
- Self-confidence
- A sense of identity
- Independence of thought and action
- Respect and understanding of people from different backgrounds, cultures and walks of life
- A sense of responsibility
- An awareness of their potential
- New talents and abilities
- An understanding of strengths and weaknesses
- The ability to plan and use time effectively
- The ability to learn from and give to others in the community
- New relationships
- Skills including problem solving, presentation and communication
- The ability to lead and work as part of a team.
The impact
A recent survey of Gold Award holders discovered that :
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85% reported increased self-confidence
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83% had greater team-working skills
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79% felt they had better leadership ability
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78% believed their decision-making was much improved.
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Nearly two out of three respondents said that having an Award had helped them gain their current job.
It’s hardly surprising then that Award holders are highly valued by both employers and educational establishments!
But it’s not just the individual that benefits. DofE participants’ voluntary work is worth over £13.5m to local communities across the UK each year. What’s more, 61% of Gold Award holders continue with volunteering work after they have completed their programmes.