Even though they take up a fair amount of everyone's time, expeditions aren't the only part of the DofE...
For a flavour of how the DofE is expanding young people's horizons and giving them skills for life and work, take a look at our recently published Annual Review.
On, now, with this month's roundup of information and opportunities...
We’ve now got a great stable of 16 short videos to help adults and participants use eDofE more effectively. You can view these from the DofE’s YouTube page.
The videos we've added in the past few days cover the following:
eDofE 7: Award Approvals & Verification (For Award Verifiers);
Updated Gold Award Notification form for London Presentations
We have released an updated GA8 (Gold Notification) form, which should be used for all future Gold Award Notifications for London Presentations.
Please note: if a participant has completed/submitted their Gold Award through eDofE after 19 April 2012, they do not need to submit a paper Gold Award Notification form. If any participant/leader is unsure if a GA8 form is needed, please contact your Regional/Country Office who can advise if it is required.
There is now space for more information on Residential section activities. Hopefully this will allow people to better explain any residentials and give DofE Award Verifiers more information than before.
The expedition areas have been updated to reflect current expedition guidelines.
The information about receiving an invitation to a Gold Award Presentation has been updated. If someone declines a GAP date they will no longer be invited to the next presentation, but to the next presentation that their Licenced Organisation is attending, which can be up to six months later.
GA7 forms will still be accepted, but please do encourage any LO or centre using GA7 forms and to update to using GA8 forms, which are available here.
Our collection of helpful answers to frequently asked questions is growing steadily on the DofE website.
The questions are grouped by topic and section, with a general programmes questions area too.
These are designed to help DofE Leaders and participants to make informed programme choices at the start of their DofE adventure to both inspire them and avoid disappointment when they submit their eDofE record for approval.
If you are ever interested in working for the DofE, remember to keep an eye on our jobs page.
New jobs are posted on there for roles in any of the DofE's Regional/Country Offices, plus the Head Office in Windsor and the Fundraising Office in London. We also post any opportunities for DofE roles available in Licenced Organisations. If you have alocal DofE job opportunity to post please send it to magazine@DofE.org.
We always announce any new job opportunities on our Facebook and Twitter feeds, so be sure to like/follow us!
As you will be aware, we recently changed our mailing list system for the DofE magazine and this newsletter.
As the mailing lists are now taken from eDofE, if you need to amend the postal address, simply go to your profile in eDofE and change the details.
At present, if you have two separate roles in eDofE, you will get two posted copies of the magazine. We are working on a 'single sign-in' system which will eliminate this, but until then, please pass any spare copies on to any interested parties.
For enquiries about embroidered/personalised garments and products go here, or call 0131 555 6940.
NEW to our shop this month we have DofE drinks bottles, helping you quench your thirst for adventure!
Our recently added DofE mug has been flying off the shelves. With buzzwords to inspire you throughout the day’s hot chocolates and coffees, grab yours here for just £4.
Eddie the DofE Teddy has also surprised us by his eagerness to get out and about... snap up your loveable DofE mascot here and let him be your forever friend!
Coming soon...
We've got some fantastic new products coming soon.
Look out for a great new DofE bag for life designs and DofE ties...
We'll announce their availability on the website and on Facebook/Twitter, and then tell you more about them in the next DofE News.
Personalised items... Have you seen our new products that are ideal for personal use or for gifts for Assessors, Leaders, supporters and helpful parents?
We've got a wide range of colourful DofE leisure clothing that you can now get personalised with your own name or your group's name. We even have a hoody that you can add your country’s flag onto!
There's also a wide selection of accessories, such as knitted hats, Inka hats, tablet/reporter bags and ripper wallets. Check out the full range here.
If you have any interesting ideas or comments on any of our DofE range do let us know, simply email us or fill out the feedback form on our website.
The Solar Schools project is putting clean energy in classrooms all over the country. Schools set a fundraising target for their very own solar roof, then everyone chips in to help make it happen.
It's a chance for pupils, parents, local businesses, former students and everyone else to do something good for their school, their community, and the whole world.
Ever wanted to run a marathon? Well, now's your opportunity as we have 20 guaranteed places in this year's Great North Run on Sunday 15 September 2013.
Currently the most popular half marathon in the world, the event takes place from Newcastle to South Shields, guaranteeing a carnival atmosphere for runners making their way along the 13.1 miles.
If you are over 18 and would like to join the team all we are asking is for you to raise £150 for the charity. All of the money raised will go to help young people with additional needs do their DofE programme.
As part of our team you will receive a DofE runner's t-shirt.
The DofE Programmes Pack is a bright, visual resource that helps Leaders to support & inspire their participants to choose activities which they are interested in and will enjoy - helping to create a better DofE experience for everyone.
Crammed with cards featuring a huge range of possible activities that young people can do for their DofE, this pack is proving highly popular with Leaders hoping to encourage their participants to 'think outside the box' when it comes to choosing their activities for each section.
There's also a mousemat, bouncy DofE ball and handy sectional info sheets.
The Marketplace is where you will find some great deals for you or your family. Some of these offers may help support participants through their DofE experience e.g. driving lessons or music instruments/sheet music.
By buying goods and services from our Marketplace partners:
You get a really great deal.
The DofE Charity gets a royalty, to help keep Participation Place fees down.
Mapyx Tracking Solutions
Mapyx Tracking Solutions, one of our Marketplace partners, has produced a great new video.
Check it out here.
Coming soon...
For Leaders, we will be having a 3-21 day Minibus driving insurance product which has been negotiated with Unity – the Scouts Insurance service provider.
We will soon also have a Learner Driver Insurance offer to save mum and dad's no claims bonus and reduce excess levels on claims.
We will also be having a great tie up with Fairsharemusic.com for single and album music downloads.
Due to the very low uptake of the IPADIO telephone system for recording evidence we have decided to remove this option from eDofE.
From the end of April it will not be possible to use the IPADIO number to record evidence into eDofE.
Any IPADIO evidence already in eDofE will remain and can be accessed in the usual way.
The system has not been widely used and therefore is not a good use of the Charity's resources.
We now have other functionality in place to support participants with individual needs who are unable fully to access eDofE.
We will be adding a news item into eDofE and communicating this via news letters and on our website over the next few days.
We will also be removing the information on using IPADIO from eDofE, our website and Welcome Packs etc. as soon as it is practical to do so.
As we all know, assessor reports can be added to eDofE directly via the DofE website, or added and flagged as the Assessor's Report by the participant or Leader in any of the current evidence formats (picture, video, text, word document etc.).
This is explained in the training video on adding evidence (eDofE 10) on the DofE YouTube channel.
• 40 years experience running DofE expeditions
• Satellite GPS trackers with each group for added safety
• The best instructors in the UK - Minimum Summer ML
A team focussed on delivering YOUR participants EXCEPTIONAL expeditions.
That's it for this month, other than to point you towards an excellent write-up of our Gold Award Presentations by Bridgewater High School. Check it out here.
Personalised items...
