HomeRun DofEDelivering DofEGrant Funding

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Grant funding

We want to open up DofE to all young people aged 14-24 across the UK — no matter their background. Our grants help make sure DofE is accessible and inclusive. We’re committed to making sure DofE participants reflect this diverse generation of young people. Our grants helps make sure the DofE is delivering against our organisational strategy Youth Without Limits.

Our first significant grant came from the support of the Diamond Appeal. This was also in part match-funded by the #iwill movement. During the Covid-19 pandemic and into the cost-of-living crisis, we continued to provide crucial support to LOs thanks to our generous donors. Grants made sure young people could keep benefitting from improved wellbeing, enhanced skills, greater community ties and increased physical activity at a challenging time.

The DofE’s positive impact on young people is more vital than ever. Through our grants and with the support of our incredible donors, we’re increasing opportunity and access. Our funding helps organisations to start offering DofE to the young people they work with, allows young people from marginalised backgrounds to take part and removes barriers to participation.

Available funding

There are two types of funding available for Licensed Organisations (LOs). Opportunity is for existing LOs, and Access is for new LOs:

Opportunity

Existing LOs can apply for Opportunity funding to support marginalised young people to do their DofE.

Open Opportunity funding:
The Resilience Fund

Access

New LOs can apply for Access funding to support with delivery of DofE programmes. Access funding provides financial start-up packages.

Our impact

Research supported by social impact experts, State of Life (SOL) shows the positive impact DofE participation in mainstream schools has on young people’s lives – thanks to a funding package from the Department for Education (DfE) and the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS). The £7 million partnership provided grants to support costs associated with delivering the DofE such as participation places and equipment.

As part of this, 462 mainstream schools across England were supported to deliver DofE programmes between 2021-2025, helping more than 35,000 young people build skills and capabilities they need to successfully navigate adult life.

Read the report.

Access funding has provided fundamental support for DofE Leader Emily to deliver programmes. Watch Emily’s story:

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"The fund has helped to ensure young people classed as ‘hard to reach’, ‘hard to place’ and those with complex social, emotional and mental health needs - also have the opportunity to access a programme that helps build their confidence, improves their independent living skills and raises awareness about their local environment."

DofE Manager

Youth Education Project

"The Access Without Limits community funding has been an integral part of this journey for us."

Rusna Begum

CEO and Founder of Kid Care 4 U

“Gaining funding to support us to purchase accessible equipment has been life changing for many of our young people.”

Shivaun

Headteacher at Sherbourne Fields School