National Apprenticeship Week takes place from 6-10 February.

The Week is all about raising the profile of apprenticeships amongst employers, individuals, teachers, parents and the media. Everyone with an interest in apprenticeships across the country is encouraged to get involved in the week. This could range from running and promoting your own National Apprenticeship Week themed event/activity, or by visiting one of the many events that will be taking place in your area during the week.

Find out more at www.apprenticeships.org.uk

Many companies linked with the DofE are keen supporters of apprenticeships, such as Amey. Read more about them here.

The Big Lunch is a very simple idea from the Eden Project. The aim is to get as many people as possible across the whole of the UK to have lunch with their neighbours in a simple act of community, friendship and fun.

Participants and DofE groups may like to take on theplanning and organisation of a Big Lunch as part of the Volunteering section activities.

A Big Lunch can be anything from a few neighbours getting together in the garden or on the street, to a full blown street party with food, music and decoration that quite literally stops the traffic.

find out more at www.thebiglunch.com

eDofE is undergoing some significant changes in the middle of April.

After last year's launch of new participant and Leader screens we are now preparing the same upgrade for those people supporting centres and groups.

This means everyone will be on the same platform and DofE Managers will have the benefit of a range of new features including:

• Online ability to transfer participants and Leaders locally without a change request.
• Refreshed Participation Place functionality and reporting.
• A new range of permissions to tailor functionality to individual needs.
• An upgraded Award approval process

We are planning to give DofE Managers a test database towards the end of March so they can review the changes in advance of 'go live'.

To make that test efficient we need their help to do some maintenance before the end of March. Can DofE Managers please review and update the following:

• Approve any outstanding Awards or resolve any queries.
• Ask Leaders to approve alerts over 8 weeks old.
• Ensure Participation Place queries are resolved.
• Check you have people available in your office to undertake the pre-'go live' testing.

Thank you!

Don't forget that all DofE Leaders are able to claim a whopping 20% discount across all items in store or online. Participants can get a 15% discount.

They've got over 60 stores and a brilliant online shop - find out more and apply for your card here! Remember, too that Cotswold have a fabulous price promise, meaning you can't buy cheaper! See here for details.

Participants have got until 31 January to enter the Cotswold Prize Draw - they must click on theprize draw link within eDofE to enter.