‘If you see a barrier, build a bridge’: Hannah’s tips for DofE Managers

Since taking part in the DofE Young Leaders pilot programme in 2021-22, Hannah’s stayed involved with the charity. After completing the programme, she was a Youth Ambassador in 2023-24 while being a DofE Instructor. In 2024, she became a DofE Assistant Manager.

1. Tell us about your role

I’m a DofE Assistant Manager in the Enrich Learning Trust supporting the running of DofE programmes across schools in Norfolk. Time commitments vary month to month, depending on whether it’s expedition season, school holidays etc. but my role is varied. Some months heavily focus on admin, like  managing eDofE, planning training sessions and award promotion. During the summer months I run training days and can lead and assess groups on anything up to 10 expeditions a year across all award levels.

Beyond the logistics, I’m passionate about improving accessibility. I’ve created resources that break down the barriers for our students, including bespoke section and expedition guides, and 10 self-led volunteering programmes. These were made to support our Bronze participants who may struggle to find or attend traditional volunteering roles. I also run a volunteering programme for DofE participants to support people living in hygiene poverty in Norwich. Here they can see directly the impact they can have on their local community.

2. How did you prepare for your role as a DofE Manager?

I did the online DofE Manager training module, which tied together everything I’d learned during my Young Leader and Assessor training. It gave me the ‘big picture’ view of how to run a safe and successful programme.

Beyond the formal modules, our DofE team do regular training, including Outdoor First Aid and dedicated CPD weekends in places like Snowdonia. These trips are essential for practicing micro-navigation and leadership skills, but they also give us a chance to reccy routes so we can better support our students when they get boots on the ground.

Being a part of the Youth Ambassador programme gave me a much clearer understanding of the internal operations of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the organisation’s structure which has helped me in my role as Assistant Manager. Instead of just seeing the Award as a series of levels to complete, I now understand the ‘why’ behind the policies and the broader mission of the charity.

3. Why did you become a DofE Manager?

I’d like to say that I was always going to be a DofE Leader from the minute my Silver expedition Assessor said: “If you looked up the word ‘organised’ in the dictionary, you’d probably find a photo of Hannah. Her rucksack could have been used for a DofE instructional video on packing kit.” But in all honesty I became a DofE Leader and Assistant Manager almost by accident.

Truthfully, I didn’t enjoy my Bronze and Silver Awards. I only carried on to Gold out of sheer stubbornness and a lot of encouragement from my DofE Manager and the incredible team of volunteers who supported the running of my Award. It was these Gold expeditions that helped me finally fall in love with the DofE and the encouragement I got from all the adults involved in the DofE that encouraged me to take it further.

I have seen first-hand how the DofE can shape lives, it helps young people find confidence, purpose, and community and I know the DofE Manager and Leaders made that possible for me, so I was keen to make it possible for others. To be the person to support others who don’t quite belong yet and help them realise that the Award can teach them far more than traditional education ever could.

My time as an Ambassador also taught me advocacy skills: how to speak confidently to parents, students, teachers and stakeholders about why the DofE matters. It turned me from a ‘quiet’ participant into a leader who can champion the Award.

4. What’s your favourite part of being a DofE Manager?

I always look forward to the expeditions, even though this was the section I dreaded during my own DofE! It’s something I’ve learnt to love. I love seeing the students, many in a different environment to what they’re used to, learn what they are capable of.

To see them grow throughout their DofE programme is incredibly rewarding. I’m very privileged to see many of them progress through the levels from unsure adventurers at Bronze to confident young adults as they cross the finish line at Gold.

We also have the most amazing team of volunteers that I’m lucky to be a part of. Whether we’re wild camping on a beach on the Isle of Arran or trudging through a muddy field in the rain in Suffolk, the shared sense of adventure (and a good sense of humour!) makes every expedition enjoyable.

One of the most important things I took away from my time as Youth Ambassador was the power of youth voice and how different the award can look for so many different people, yet the rewards (confidence, belonging, purpose) connect all Award holders.

5. What advice would you give to a new DofE Manager?

Remember that at the heart of it, DofE is about community. It isn’t just an award or a system. It is our community of volunteers made up of school staff, parents and local volunteers that makes our DofE what it is. Building those relationships allows you to put the logistics to one side and focus on the young people.

Don’t be afraid to innovate. If you see a barrier, build a bridge. Whether it’s designing self-led volunteering guides or creating your own community projects, you have the power to adapt the Award to fit your participants’ lives.

DofE only works if it’s relevant to the people doing it, so I always try to encourage our participants to make their DofE programme their own. They should choose things that are relevant and enjoyable to them, as well as things that push them out of their comfort zone.

The DofE Manager’s Toolkit explains what’s expected of delivery teams, and the key responsibilities involved in managing a safe and rewarding experience for young people.