We are honoured by the generosity of our supporters and donors, without whom we could not continue to run the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE). Thank you for considering us at this time.

The DofE was launched 65 years ago by HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, inspired by his former Headmaster, Kurt Hahn. Since then, over 3.1 million young people have achieved an Award in the UK, and the programme operates in over 130 countries and territories around the world.

Millions of lives have been changed by the DofE since its inception in 1956. Each of those 3.1 million young people undertook a Volunteering section, giving back to their communities and supporting others. Following the passing of The Duke in April 2021, we received thousands of messages from Award holders and their families, sharing the impact doing their DofE has had on their lives.

Whether you are an Award holder, have been inspired by an Award holder, or simply want to help millions more young people  access a life-changing DofE programme in the future, we are incredibly grateful that you are considering a gift in your will to support our work.

In our recently launched Youth without Limits video, young people, ambassadors, advisors, assessors and our CEO talk about what an Award programme means to so many young people.

There are currently over 7.5 million young people aged 14-25 in the UK. Our ambition is to reach further into those communities where opportunities are fewer, to give young people the self-belief and confidence to join our Award programme. We know our Leaders can give them all the support and encouragement they need to achieve, and develop their self-esteem and confidence too.

By reaching out further, we can continue transforming the lives of many more young people for many generations to come.

Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you have questions, by emailing [email protected], or calling us on  +44 207 798 2880.

How you can help

You can help us continue the legacy of the HRH Duke of Edinburgh through a gift in your Will. Every legacy gift to DofE will carry forward his vision that has shaped and will continue to influence so many young lives.

If you are considering such a gift, thank you. Any gift you leave to DofE will help transform the lives of young people. It really is simple to do, but to us it is the forward thinking commitment to young people that touches our hearts.

Today, the DofE, which HRH The Duke of Edinburgh once described as the “do-it-yourself growing up kit” are respected world-wide as encouraging values which shape lives forever – teamwork; community spirit, physical activity and skill development. It has stood the test of time and is respected by universities, colleges, leaders and employers for the ‘out of the classroom’ development which helps young people grow alongside and beyond their academic life.

How to include the DofE in your will

Your solicitor or Will writer will need our charity name and registered charity number.

• Our charity name: The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
• The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is a registered charity in England and Wales (1072490) and Scotland (SC038254)

They will ask what type of gift you would like to make.

Your Gift – what is best for you

Generally, your solicitor will suggest:

  • A cash sum – which can be any amount you choose
  • A percentage of your estate, which can be any percentage from 1% – 100%

If you don’t know what might suit your circumstances in the future, a small percentage of your estate as a gift to The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award still ensures family and friends are your top priority as your inheritors.

Your solicitor or Will writer can advise you and answer any questions you may have about your options.

Are there any tax benefits?

Inheritance tax is complicated and we cannot give legal advice; your solicitor or Will writer will be able to give you specific legal advice.

If your estate is subject to inheritance tax then it is likely that there will be a tax saving of £400 for every £1000 you leave us, although this may change at any time.

Do you have to tell us your intentions?

There is no requirement to tell us, but if you choose to we would love the opportunity to say a very heartfelt thank you.

This is a very personal decision, and we encourage you to do what feels right for you.

If you would like your gift used for a specific purpose

Please contact us to make sure we can fulfil your wish if you would like your gift used for a specific purpose. We cannot predict the most urgent use of future gifts in Wills, but we promise to use all gifts wisely.

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