The DofE Young Leaders programme is an opportunity for participants to step up and take the lead. Young Leaders take on responsibility to support, guide and mentor DofE participants.
This programme puts young people at the heart of DofE activities where they can develop leadership skills and make a difference.
Find out how to support Young Leaders or set up the programme at your centre.
Our checklist takes you through the Young Leaders programme from start to finish.
What Young Leaders do
A Young Leader is a participant who takes on extra responsibility to support DofE at their centre alongside adult Leaders. They get online training from the DofE to carry out their role.
Young Leaders support other participants to access and achieve their DofE. This can be through helping with eDofE, leading assemblies or creating expedition videos. This is a role that can fit around your centre’s needs and own interests.
The tasks Young Leaders do will depend on what training they do. Adult Leaders can support Young Leaders to choose modules that are appropriate for their centre.
Being a Young Leader boosts young people’s skills and CV, and can count towards the Volunteering section if timescales are met.
Some of the most common tasks Young Leaders take on are:
- Supporting participants with eDofE
- Answering questions from participants
- Delivering training sessions on navigation, kit etc.
- Promoting DofE and increasing sign-ups
- Supporting expeditions and skills
- Organising equipment
- Helping at events like launch assemblies and parent information evenings
- Supporting Programme planning sessions
- Maintaining the centre’s DofE noticeboard, website or social media
- Supporting participants to reflect on their achievements
- Arranging celebration events for those getting Awards and Certificates
- Communicating between participants and Leaders
This list is not exhaustive; Young Leaders’ tasks can be many and varied.
How to become a Young Leader
To become a Young Leader, your centre must nominate you and you must have finished at least one DofE section at any level.
Anyone can become a Young Leader. You do not need to be a natural leader or have lots of experience. If you’re keen to learn, develop new skills and help others get the most out of their DofE, this could be the role for you.
Benefits of the Young Leader programme
In their exit interview, we ask Young Leaders to describe their experience in one word. These are some of them:
- Motivating
- Inspiring
- Rewarding
- Enjoyable
- Learning
- Memorable
- Self-development
- Growth
- Problem solving
- Adaptability
- Perseverance
- Empowering
Young Leaders consistently highlight confidence growth, leadership development, improved communication skills and teamwork.
One of them told us the programme “increased my confidence and taught me how to be a leader”, and another said it “helped me develop my confidence and leadership skills”.
Information for parents and carers
For your young person to become a Young Leader, we need parental permission if they are under 18 (16 in Scotland). Until we have this permission, they cannot start their programme.
You will get an email from the DofE with an electronic form to fill out.
As part of their programme, they will attend two online sessions with other Young Leaders and DofE staff. For more information, read our online safeguarding advice.
