To achieve your Gold Award, you need to complete an extra section – the Residential.  This involves spending 5 days and 4 nights away from home on a shared activity with people you’ve never met before.
 
It’s a big, exciting and very fulfilling experience.  It may be that you want to build on a talent you’ve developed in another section, learn something completely new on an intensive course or do something to help others.  From learning to snowboard in Scotland to helping at a children’s camp, from working with the National Trust to helping on an urban recycling project, or from learning French in Paris to sailing a tall ship, there are loads of exciting possibilities to find the activity that’s just right for you.
 
“Before I went to India on my residential, I was told by a few people that it would be a life-changing experience.  At the time I didn’t believe them, but now I have returned, my perspectives on everyday life have been changed.  Our experiences at the Goodwill Village especially allowed me to grow as a person, gaining confidence and experiencing new sensations that very few people ever get to experience.” Hannah, DofE participant.
 
Once you’ve found a residential you want to do and the person running it, or another adult there, has agreed to be your Assessor you need to get your Operating Authority's approval through your DofE Leader. Once you’ve got the green light, you can make all your arrangements.   Don’t forget to remind them when you get there that you want your time with them to count towards your Gold DofE programme and meet with your Assessor!

Want to check that your planned activity will count?  Download our Residential Section Session planning sheets here. These are guidance sheets aimed primarily at DofE Leaders – advising on residential activities and top 5 considerations to check.