Brand Reach and Association
The DofE works with businesses and brands who want to connect with our diverse audience of young people, parents and carers, and volunteers. We will work with you to understand your marketing objectives and interest in working with the DofE, identifying opportunities that align with your goals.
Our brand licensing model of DofE Recommended Expedition Kit generates over £600,000 per year, which directly supports young people who otherwise could not afford to do their DofE. With over 300,000 young people starting their DofE each year, more than three million website visits, and social media platforms with over 150,000 followers, there are numerous ways for you to raise your brand awareness and engage with our audiences.
We have successfully run marketing campaigns for youth recruitment, leisure and holidays, and product offers. We develop tailored campaign proposals for each partner that incorporate a range of advertising, media, and event options. We would love to work with you to make a positive impact on the next generation. Read below for more details on our marketing partnership options.
Reach our young people and volunteers
Whatever your objectives are, we can create a campaign to reach your target audience. We run marketing, research, and recruitment programmes for key clients across different industries.
Products and licensing
As the UK’s leading youth development charity, our brand is well known and well loved. We work with a small number of partners on ‘DofE recommended’ products and services which raise funds for the charity from every sale.
Discounts and offers
It’s an expensive world out there if you are a teenager, and we want to help them save money where they can. Offer a discount or special buy to our audiences to drive new customers to your products, services or events.
Themed campaigns
Young people aged 14-24 have a range of interests and needs during and after their DofE. Our themed campaigns feature multiple partners and offer the opportunity for businesses to reach a larger audience in a cost-effective, non-exclusive way.
We hold a unique partnership with JD Outdoor which has over 215 stores across the UK, JD Outdoor is comprised of brands such as GO Outdoors, Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors, Tiso, Fishing Republic and Naylors. All these retailers accept the DofE Card, which offers DofE participants, Leaders and volunteers – plus parents of participants – a discounted rate of between 10-15%, in-store and online, on the purchase of expedition kit and more. Last year, this partnership saved DofE participants and volunteers over £1.5 million through the DofE Card, with JD Outdoor also donating to the DofE with every purchase.
At JD Outdoor, our purpose is to inspire and equip everyone for life outdoors which aligns perfectly with the great opportunities the DofE provides young people to gain skills for life. The amazing work that the young people do, not only in developing themselves with new skills but with giving back to the community through volunteering, is inspirational and it is a great privilege to play just a small part in their journey to obtaining a Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE award.
A key area of focus for the DofE, supporting young people who may not have had the opportunity to take part before, is one we especially look forward to supporting and collaborating on in the future.
– Marie Stewart – Partnerships Manager at JD Outdoor, (part of the JD Sports Group)
IBM, the global tech leader, has a strategy to upskill 30 million people worldwide by 2030 and has developed an online platform, SkillsBuild, to “bring free learning to anyone, anywhere, so that every person, no matter their circumstances, can prepare for a career they’ll love.”
IBM SkillsBuild offers business and personal development programmes, alongside tech tasters, which are free to access and enable individuals to achieve recognised accreditations. The DofE has partnered with IBM to offer all DofE participants and centres free access to their online portal of courses that can be used to complete the DofE Skills section for the Bronze, Silver, or Gold Award. There are hundreds of courses, and young people can earn recognised qualifications to add to their CV and help prepare them for work.
