Celebrating our DofE Volunteers

Volunteers’ Week is a time to celebrate and recognise volunteers from across the UK. Our DofE Volunteers make incredible contributions to the lives of young people, from helping to run expeditions to assessing participants for their sections.

Read some of the inspiring stories from our DofE Volunteers from over the years.

A smiling young person in a wheelchair is stirring a pot with the help of a leader, they're outdoors in a grassy area with tents.

Michael

“Over the past 33 years, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been a major part of my life. I began my Bronze Award in 1993, progressed to Silver in 1994, and completed my Gold Award in 1996. My family had limited income and no transport, but with the support of my DofE Leader we found local, accessible activities that allowed me to take part fully. After sixth form, I thought my DofE journey was over. In 2000, I returned to my old school as support staff in the PE department, working alongside the same DofE Leader who had supported me years earlier.

Within my first year I began volunteering, initially organising expedition equipment and making sure students who required extra support could access what they needed. My role grew steadily. I helped with expedition paperwork, transferred records to electronic files, and later became the DofE Coordinator. Through the Award, I was invited inside Buckingham Palace to witness the granting of the Royal Charter in 2006 and celebrated the 60th anniversary in the Palace gardens in 2016. When my original mentor retired in 2009, I stepped up as the school’s DofE Manager. Seventeen years later, I remain proudly in this role, supporting new generations and making sure the Award stays accessible to all. This year, I have been invited to the 70th anniversary celebrations, where I’ve proudly nominated a colleague, an ex‑student who completed all three levels and has volunteered at the school as a DofE Leader for over 10 years.”

Kate

“DofE Bronze came to my school when I was in the 4th year, these days that’s year 10. My cooking teacher became the DofE contact and we did cooking after school for our skill. I was helping with the brownies as a guide, so that was my service and for my physical the local DofE support group was running some rock climbing trips. As a 24 year old at that point, I continued to help with the local DofE as an adult volunteer which I still do today over 30 year later. I also work for my local county council as their DofE manager for the SEND school, one of the most fulfilling parts of my career to date. In all these years the thing I have learnt is DofE make a difference to everyone in so many different ways.”

Edna

“I started volunteering with a Brownie Unit for my Service part of the award and I’m still volunteering with the same Unit 61 years later!!!”

A prison officer writes on a whiteboard in front of young offenders.

Wendy

“I was missing a lot of school due to my mum needing support and help with my severely disabled, non-verbal younger brother. The DofE at my school changed my life, I got involved with volunteers at Mencap as part of all my Awards; Prince Philip presented my Gold Award in 1969, I became a teacher and ran the Award in all of the schools I taught in, I also ran a unit from our home when it was no longer available to some. North Yorkshire gave me a job as Field Officer, a role I relished and my husband became the local Chair, our daughters are Gold Award holders too! We are still volunteering, as Assessors and Supervisors and enjoying meeting young people hoping to change lives as it altered mine.”

Owen

Kay and Owen standing next to each other and smiling.

“45 years ago in 1981 my mum Kay, then 18 years old, attended Buckingham Palace with her mum, my grandma, to collect her Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award from Prince Philip. My grandma who is now nearly 90 years of age was so proud to meet Prince Philip with my mum, in celebration of her Gold Award in its 25th year. Now in its 70th year I, at the age of 21, will be attending Buckingham Palace with my mum both wearing our Gold Duke of Edinburgh badges. I cannot express how immensely proud I will be to have her by my side. She has been an inspiration to me throughout my life and it was never in doubt that I would follow in her footsteps to complete my Gold Award.

I started my journey at 14 at my local school. My teacher who was also a DofE Assessor helped me complete my Bronze award which was complicated due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Upon leaving school, I attended college who did not take part in the DofE programme, so following research I contacted a local group which I attended in the evening and completed my Silver and Gold Awards. I have had an incredible journey completing many personal challenges and learnt so much. Through the help and inspiration of my mum and all the volunteers, despite my disabilities it has shown me that I can achieve great things. This experience has helped to make me into the person I am today and also helped me obtain my dream job as an apprentice mechanic.

I have enjoyed every single moment and made some good friends especially at the Crowle Peatland Railway where I still volunteer. I would like to say thank you to all the DofE volunteers with a special thank you to my mum.”

Do you have an inspirational volunteering story to share? Whether you’ve just started out as a DofE Volunteer or you’ve been volunteering for years, we want to hear from you! Share your DofE story.