His Royal Highness The Duke of Edinburgh met young people in Leicester today, where he learned about the key life and employability skills they are developing through DofE.

DofE participants from Lionheart Educational Trust, the Youth Education Project, and Homefield College, welcomed The Duke to The Cedars Academy, where they told him about the impact the DofE Award has had on them and their future career aspirations.

The Duke chatted to participants and engaged with a range of activities including childcare, fashion design, motor skills, hairdressing and DJing, that young people are doing for their DofE Awards.

The Duke also met with local education leaders and DofE participants from Leicester to discuss how a DofE programme can help set participants up for life and work beyond the classroom.

Deanna Whitfield, 19, from Leicestershire, who did her Bronze DofE Award at Homefield College said: “My DofE journey allowed me to unlock my own potential in different areas, including volunteering at a sewing craft fair and exploring my local community. Working with others built up my confidence and communication. Improving on my digital skills led to a paid summer job. Overall, I enjoyed my journey very much, I can’t wait to do my Silver Award.”

Seeing the breadth of activities on offer, The Duke, said: “That’s fantastic. Great stuff.”

Preparing young people for life and work

At a time when young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) is at a record high, today’s visit highlights how enrichment programmes like the DofE can help young people to develop essential skills that set them up for work and life.

Today’s demonstrations began with childcare skills, where, with help from baby simulator dolls, young people, showed how they have learned to wash and dress a baby and change nappies for their DofE Skills section.

The Duke was then treated to a fashion showcase from young people from the Youth Education Project, who displayed the items they have produced for their DofE Skills section, including waistcoats, dresses and soft toys. Participants showed The Duke how to repair clothes using a sewing machine as well as stitch pockets. Style experts from Next were on hand to offer feedback and advice – and later delivered a CV writing workshop with Gold DofE participants from the Lionheart Educational Trust, alongside engineering company Amey.

Adding to the fun and interactive atmosphere, young people then demonstrated their digital music production skills on DJ equipment, by creating mixes, operating drum machines and combining music tracks.

The Duke then met young people learning motor vehicle skills for their DofE Award. He spoke to participants as they took part in bike maintenance activities including fixing a chain, readjusting brakes, and pumping up tyres. Young people from YEP also displayed the award-winning miniature car they designed and built, demonstrating vehicle maintenance techniques by removing and refitting wheels and brakes.

The visit also highlighted DofE’s role in bringing together education leaders and employers to help young people prepare for the transition into work, with The Duke joining educators and industry professionals sharing careers advice and practical support with participants.

Nyah, 21, from Derby, completed her Bronze Award through the Youth Education Project (YEP). She said: “I volunteered as a Student Support Mentor with YEP, where I built relationships with young people and improved my confidence. I learned that I have natural leadership skills. My skill for DofE was learning to drive. I passed both the theory and practical tests the first time. Gaining my licence has been very helpful for independence and job applications!”

The Youth Education Project is a not-for-profit alternative education provider supporting young people aged 16 – 25 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET). Many participants have additional needs or have had disrupted educational experiences. YEP have been delivering the DofE since 2024, and in that time, 19 young people have started a DofE Award, helping them develop the skills, confidence, and qualifications needed for further education, employment, and independent living.

Kenrick White, Director and DofE leader at the Youth Education Project, said: “Embedding The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award at YEP ensures our students have the same opportunities as their peers in mainstream education. The DofE Award has fostered a profound sense of purpose among our participants – developing their communication, organisational, and technical skills. We’ve seen incredibly shy participants gain the courage to initiate conversations, lead workshops, and support their peers. Taking part in DofE has enhanced their CVs, expanded their career options, and improved their readiness for employment – while at the same time, building their confidence and foundations for their future.”

Skills with style

Following a break for lunch, The Duke met students from Homefield College, a specialist Further Education College and charity for young people who are autistic or have a learning disability.

Students gave a demonstration from ‘Spectrum Style’, the hair and beauty salon open to the public and run by Homefield College, where they showed off their cutting and styling skills on mannequin heads and wigs. Students have been able to gain employability skills through their DofE in the salon.

The visit ended on a celebratory note, as The Duke presented Ian Coward, DofE Manager at Lionheart Educational Trust with a special 70th anniversary certificate, recognising his contribution to expanding access to the DofE Award for young people across Leicester. Between April 2025 – March 2026, over 300 DofE Awards were started within the trust’s schools, with participants contributing 6,344 hours of volunteering in their communities, worth a social value of over £47,000.

The Lionheart Trust supports pupils from a broad range of socioeconomic backgrounds, including disadvantaged learners and those with English as an additional language, to take part in DofE, with a focus on inclusion and improving outcomes for all young people.

Attending the visit, Ruth Marvel OBE, CEO of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award charity, said: “Although the Award has changed over the last 70 years, our belief in young people hasn’t. At a time when many young people are facing an incredibly challenging jobs market and uncertain futures, DofE has an increasingly important role to play. Through enriching experiences, young people build confidence, resilience, teamwork, communication and problem-solving skills: essential tools to help them thrive in adult life and work. It’s brilliant to see forward-thinking organisations like Lionheart Educational Trust, Homefield College and the Youth Education Project investing in their young people in this way. And it’s fantastic to see the continued appetite amongst young people to partake in DofE to help prepare them for their futures”

Over 580,000 young people were actively doing their DofE Award in the UK in 2025-26, with far-reaching benefits for their own lives and their communities, collectively giving six million hours in volunteering.

By 2031, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award charity wants to equip two million more young people with the skills, confidence and resilience they need to transition to adulthood, focusing on expanding access to DofE through schools and colleges and reaching the least advantaged young people.