Become a 2026-27 Youth Ambassador

With only 30 spaces on the programme each year, we have an application process which contains both written questions and a video upload to help us find out more about your DofE journey and motivation for applying for the role. The Youth Engagement staff team are supported by Youth Ambassador staff champions to review and shortlist the applications once the application window closes at 5pm on Monday 18 May. Those who have been shortlisted will be invited to attend a 30-minute online interview.

It is important that Youth Ambassadors represent all young people taking part in the DofE across the UK. We will ensure representation from England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales, as well as people from a range of backgrounds, religions, cultures, identities, abilities and perspectives. Successful applicants will be passionate about the DofE, willing to share their experiences, and work with others to make positive change. The Youth Ambassadors will be a mix of Bronze, Silver and Gold Award holders.

Successful applicants will be sent a Programme Welcome Pack which contains more details about the programme. There will also be a Programme Consent Form to complete and return before the Online Welcome Session on Thursday 2 July 6.30pm – 8pm. Following the Welcome Session, Youth Ambassadors will receive an invite to the Slack Channel, with instructions on how to join. This will be followed by the In-person Body Talk Public Speaking Training on Friday 10 July 10am – 4pm. Youth Ambassadors will also be asked to complete a pre-programme survey, so the Youth Engagement staff team can provide tailored guidance and support. Over the summer, everyone will be invited to book their 1-2-1 call to discuss more about the role and to talk through their DofE experiences, which will form the website bios.

There will also be invites to online monthly skills building workshops, to support with the role.

The UK Youth Ambassador Programme is a 12-month commitment with weekly programme updates shared on our dedicated Slack channel. The time commitment varies each month depending on involvement with events, workshops, focus groups or content creation.

We hold monthly online skills building workshops and focus groups that typically run during the evenings for 90-minutes (usually on a Wednesday or Thursday) which we hope will minimise the impact on studies / work / social life.

There may be additional time commitments for any creative projects or events but there is no expectation to engage in or attend all of these. An in-person event could be a full day commitment, or just a couple of hours depending on the request and location. These details are shared in advance on an event-by-event basis through the Slack weekly update, where Youth Ambassadors can opt-in / register their interest to attend.

We would suggest allocating around 6-8 hours per month to be able to make the most of the Youth Ambassador programme.

There are several in-person events which all UK Youth Ambassadors will be invited to attend. These include the Gold Award Celebrations, Youth Without Limits Live, Body Talk training and Teambuilding days.

Often, the event requests which the Youth Engagement staff team receive only require a small number of Youth Ambassadors. If these are UK wide or international events, we usually share the opportunity with everyone to determine availability and interest in attending. If the event involves working with a specific team such as External Affairs, consideration is given as to which Youth Ambassadors have a particular interest, passion or expertise in that area. If the request is for a regional event, local Youth Ambassadors will be given first refusal.

The Youth Engagement staff team aim to ensure equal opportunities throughout the programme, and all Youth Ambassadors will be given the opportunity to attend a minimum of five in-person events.

Once a Youth Ambassador is confirmed to attend an in-person event, a calendar event invite will follow, containing any relevant information. There will also be an online briefing call with the team running the event, to discuss the role, share any additional information and to meet the designated DofE point of contact who will support on the day / evening of the event.

The Youth Engagement staff team will support with event prep such as script writing (depending on the event role) and book transport and accommodation (if required) in advance. Often food and refreshments are provided. However, any additional expenses will be confirmed in advance on an event-by-event basis.

The team can also write to schools / colleges / universities / employers to request permission for absence if an event overlaps with study or work and additional support can be provided for Youth Ambassadors who request it.

The Youth Engagement staff team are committed to ensuring the programme is fully accessible, ensuring Youth Ambassadors represent all young people undertaking their DofE journey. The UK Youth Engagement Project Manager (Ash) and Project Officer (Phoebe) will be your designated points of contact and will be on hand to support throughout. Any Youth Ambassador with additional needs will be invited to attend a pre-programme call to co-create a support plan and a ‘manual of me’, to help the team provide tailored support where required.

To get the most out of the programme, we encourage Ambassadors to get involved with as many opportunities as possible. Both the Welcome Session and Body Talk training are a requirement as part of the role however all other sessions are availability dependant. We recognise everyone has commitments outside of the programme, so will be able to opt-in based on availability. If unable to attend an event/workshop/focus group, please let us know.

We will work to ensure Youth Ambassadors can make the most out of the programme, whilst effectively managing their time. If a young person is not engaging with the programme, we do have the right to withdraw their place.

Previous public speaking experience is not required. Sharing your DofE story is one aspect of the role, but there is no expectation for every Youth Ambassador to stand on a stage and present in front of an audience. We are looking for young people who are passionate about the DofE, and there are numerous opportunities to make a difference behind the scenes as well. We will provide training to build confidence and experience when it comes to public speaking, and whilst there may be several opportunities to speak in front of a large audience, there are no expectations for everyone to do this.