How to do your DofE on a budget

With the cost of living rising, doing your DofE on a budget can be a huge help. We’ve got lots of suggestions on what activities you can do to keep your DofE as low-cost as possible.

These examples are meant as inspiration and are not endorsed by the DofE. You need to agree any activity with your DofE Leader before getting started to make sure you can set an appropriate goal and do the activity for the required timescales.

DofE on a budget tips

• Remember to use your DofE Card to get at least 10% off kit.
• There could be funding available for you, ask your Leader to contact their Operations Officer.
• Ask your Leader if the previous year’s cohort have any kit or equipment they’d be happy to share or lend to younger groups.
• Use our Opportunity Finder to look for free or low-cost opportunities.

Volunteering

• Explore online activities like Zooniverse, Kissing it Better, Post Pals and Missing Maps.
• Try mentoring younger years at school and start a club for mentor partners.
• Ask to volunteer in your local library or school library.
• Get into litter picking or local recycling. Take appropriate care with handling rubbish! Get some ideas at Kids Against Plastic or Surfers Against Sewage.
• Support animal welfare by getting involved with Whale and Dolphin Conservation, the RSPCA or the British Trust for Ornithology.

Who can be my Assessor? This can be your form tutor, DofE Leader or anyone involved in the organisation you volunteer with.

Physical

• Try online activities like Joe Wicks, a yoga course or the NHS couch to 5k.
• Get walking or running. You can use an app or online map site to show your routes, inclines, speed and distance.
• The use of your school gym might be free for students, ask a PE teacher.
• Try bodyweight exercises. Get creative by using tinned foods as weights!

Who can be my Assessor? This can be a PE teacher or someone who is over 18 with some knowledge of the activity. They can help track your fitness progress and encourage you over the weeks. Assessors cannot be a family member.

Skills

• Learn a language online. You can try different tools like Duolingo, Learn Welsh or British Sign Language.
• Begin creative writing and write a novel or book of short stories. You can upload the word count on a writing website like Wattpad, or try a free writing course.
• Explore resources from the Open University, such as a free money management course.
• Get into reading by setting a ‘books per month’ challenge or write book reviews.
• Start a research project, you could learn to code!
• Design your own blog: take photos on your phone and turn them into a photography blog.
• Take over cooking at home. Use online recipes or ask a parent to teach you. Document your progress with photos to show an Assessor or have a neighbour check in on your cooking.
• Learn more about politics, either national or local.
• Research other countries and cultures.
• Find more inspiration in our Find a low-cost Skills activity blog.

Who can be my Assessor? They can be a relevant teacher, someone who is over 18 or an adult with some knowledge of the activity. Their role is to help track your learning progress and encourage you over the weeks. Assessors cannot be a family member.

Expedition

• Ask your Leader if there’s a kit store you can borrow from. Or ask if they can link you up with any other groups who could lend you kit, like a local Open Centre or County Operating Authority.
• Buy snacks in bulk and take advantage of supermarket deals. You could split the cost with other members of your group.
• Explore your local charity shops for generic items such as fleece tops, hats and leggings. Check the quality before buying!
• Dip into the sales, last season’s boots will be a lot cheaper.
• What’s in your or your family’s wardrobe? It’s not a fashion show and comfort is key!
• Ask around, most people have a few plastic plates or cutlery you can borrow.

Residential

• You will need to spend some money, but you do have until your 25th birthday to complete this section. You could join a charitable, volunteering or religious group, as long as it meets all the Residential requirements.