Why enrichment was the focus of this year’s party conferences

Party conference season 2025 was a busy one for The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. This year, we attended the Labour, Conservative, Liberal Democrat, Reform and Green party conferences.

Our DofE UK Youth Ambassadors helped amplify our key message: all young people should have access to enrichment. We’re calling for this through the Enrichment Guarantee.

The Enrichment Guarantee is a practical proposal to tackle some of the challenges young people are up against.

Some are missing out on chances to build the skills that matter, like teamwork, confidence and resilience. Some find school exam-heavy, leaving little space for creativity, sport or hands-on experiences. With mental health concerns rising, many young people are struggling without enough support.

This guarantee will empower young people and give them access to enrichment.

80 hours of enrichment for all young people

The DofE influenced debates, took part in panels and asked questions at events to make our case heard.

As our Impact Report shows the value of enrichment is over £4,000 per person, we know this makes a difference for young people.

Our Youth Ambassadors also delivered powerful reflections on their own DofE journeys in panel discussions and conversations with their MPs.

Haniyah: Growing up internationally, politics has kept me grounded to my British nationality. The conference is a unique opportunity to immerse myself in the political space to share how youth programmes like the DofE empower young people by giving them a voice in shaping the future.

Collaborating with organisations like UK Youth, AQA and the Education Policy Institute, we heard about the importance of enrichment. This relevance spans a variety of sectors including examinations, outdoor learning and youth work.

Evie’s experience of enrichment

Youth Ambassador Evie reflected on her experience at the Conservative Party conference. She highlighted the importance of enrichment and youth voice as a disabled young person.

Evie said: “I saw the DofE programme as a chance to show the world that I’m not just a girl in a wheelchair, but someone who can achieve anything in life that they set out to do.

“The world has a way of defining people that are different, and this dictates how they are viewed in society.

“I want to change these perceptions and make people look past the disability and focus on the individual developing a more inclusive society.”

Evie’s powerful story is testament of the impact of enrichment for all young people.

The DofE wants to continue putting young people at the heart of discussions to campaign for an Enrichment Guarantee. Especially with the imminent announcement of the National Youth Strategy, Schools White Paper and Curriculum Assessment review.

You can support our call for an Enrichment Guarantee by signing our petition.