Gold Award celebration events:
Northern Ireland
Gold Award celebration events offer a variety of activities for attendees within Hillsborough Castle Gardens, Northern Ireland while young people celebrate their outstanding achievements.
Speeches from the Terrace will reflect on everything the young people have achieved and encourage them as they embark on their next chapter are central to the event.
There will also be a satellite stage in the garden where guests can hear from inspirational public figures about their personal journeys and ask them questions. The stage will run throughout the event, but pause during the Terrace speeches. Attendees will find out who the speakers are on the day.
A band will be playing throughout the event, and there are multiple spots to capture unique photographs, including a giant deckchair, large #DofE letters and selfie props. There will also be garden games for those who wish to play.
All attendees are invited to visit the tea tent during their time in Hillsborough Castle Gardens for a cup of coffee/tea and a cake.
On arrival, guests will be handed a souvenir programme for the event, which includes more information about the activities taking place.
Guests will also have been sent a map of the gardens in advance with their admit cards with details of some of the key areas of interest to visit.
Gold Award holders will have been posted their certificate in advance of the event, and these won’t be presented on the day.
Event information
Security arrangements at Gold Award celebration events are strict but shouldn’t interfere with your enjoyment of the event.
To gain entry to the event, you will need to bring the following items for both you and your guests:
- Admittance card
- One of the following forms of ID, which MUST be photographic:
- Valid passport
- Valid photo driving licence
- Valid EU Identity Card
- MOD 90 Card
- Firearms certificate
Please note that the police will have the final decision on the admission of guests.
If you or your guest do not currently have an approved form of photographic ID, please do make arrangements to obtain this prior to the event. If you are going to be unable to meet the ID requirements, please contact HillsboroughCastle@DofE.org as soon as possible to discuss this with the team. No responsibility can be accepted by the DofE should you not meet the ID requirements and be denied entry.
The DofE charity is committed to making sure that every Gold Award holder can attend and enjoy a celebration event if they wish, accompanied by guests of their choice.
Attendees are welcome to bring their wheelchair, however, please note that the pathways are gravel. Wheelchairs are not available to borrow on site.
We’ll have a quiet space gazebo available on the day which will be located slightly away from the main activity in the garden.
Seats will be available throughout the garden for guests.
Historic Royal Palaces will have an onsite shuttle available on the day for guests.
If you have any accessibility requirements or additional needs, please email the Gold Award events team on HillsboroughCastle@DofE.org when accepting your place so that we can make the necessary arrangements to support your attendance.
Attendees will stand while the event takes place. Seating will be available throughout the garden for those who need it, but this primarily a standing event. Please let a member of staff now if you need to sit down and there is no chair available.
Due to security at Hillsborough Castle, attendees will only be permitted to bring in a small personal bag no bigger than an A4 sheet of paper. Attendees will also be subject to a search on entry. Unfortunately, you will be denied entry if you bring large bags or luggage.
Please note that there are no cloakrooms to leave coats or bags, so you will need to keep anything you bring on your person for the entire event.
As a special celebration in Hillsborough Castle Garden, there will be a smart dress code – e.g., a suit, jacket and tie, dress or a smart alternative. Hats are optional but aren’t required. National dress is welcome.
As you’ll be standing on grass for the event, we would advise wearing appropriate footwear. Trainers should not be worn unless required for accessibility reasons.
Uniformed organisations are encouraged to wear their uniforms. For official military uniforms, the Royal Navy should wear No 1C Undress, the Army should wear No 2 Dress and the Royal Air Force should wear No 1HD Dress. Gloves, leather and medals should not be worn.
Those wishing to change into a uniform should email HilllsboroughCastle@DofE.org and necessary changing facilities will be arranged. Please note this facility is only available for military uniform where changing facilities are required for security reasons.
Attendees should check the weather forecast in advance of attending and bring appropriate attire, including an umbrella and raincoat, or sun cream and hat if necessary. Please note that there is limited cover in the garden and the event will go ahead in wet weather.
This year we are delighted that you’re permitted to have two personal guests accompanying you to the event, who must be over the age of 16. You can check the details for your first guest on your eDofE account and update these if required.
If you wish to bring a second guest you must complete the Microsoft Form that is emailed to you.
All guests must be registered four weeks prior to the event – we’re unable to make changes to guests or add second guests within four weeks of the event. We’re unable to accommodate requests for more than two guests per Gold Award holder.
Please follow the brown tourist signs on the A1 Southbound carriageway to the sign-posted car park entrance.
Please note that access to the car park is not available via Royal Hillsborough Village.
Parking will be available on site for all guests. Further information and instructions will be provided with your formal invitation.
We’re unable to confirm receipt of individual responses as they arrive. However, we’ll send a confirmation email to you within two weeks of receiving your reply. If you don’t receive a confirmation email within two weeks, please get in touch with us by emailing HillsboroughCastle@DofE.org as your response may not have reached us.
You can check the status of your invitation at any point on the “Gold Award celebration event” page of your eDofE account.
Your admittance cards will be posted to you approximately three weeks before the event. These will be posted for you and your guests to the address registered on the ‘Gold Award celebration event’ page of your eDofE account.
Due to security restrictions, it’s essential that the first and last name that we have on file exactly match the photographic ID that you’ll be bringing to the event. Shortened names shouldn’t be used. Middle names are not required.
You’ll receive an admittance card for both you and your guests. If any of the details are incorrect on your admittance card or do not match your ID (first and last names must match, middle names are not required), please contact the Gold Award events team immediately by emailing HillsboroughCastle@DofE.org.
For security reasons, you may be asked to return the admittance cards to be reissued. Admittance cards aren’t transferable under any circumstances.
Attendees are welcome to take their own photographs in Hillsborough Castle Gardens using small cameras and camera phones, but please don’t bring large cameras or table computers.
All guests will be invited to visit the tea tent for a cup of tea/coffee and a cake as part of the event. Guests should not bring a picnic, but if they feel that they will require a light snack (cereal bar, fruit or similar) to make it through the event, they are welcome to bring this.
Gold Award holders are not arranged in groups as part of the official event proceedings, so if you would like to meet anyone from your organisation or group during the event, you should agree this with them in advance. Guests will all be given the same entrance times.
Young people can accept their place at a Gold Award celebration up to four weeks before the event is scheduled to take place. Guests can also not be updated within four weeks of the event.
You can change your guest until four weeks prior to the event. Please update the guest details section of your ‘Gold Award celebration event’ tab on eDofE, making sure that their details exactly match the ID they will be bringing on the day.
You cannot change your guest within four weeks of the event.
