The Silver DofE Award

Continue your DofE experience with the Silver Award. Demanding a slightly longer commitment on the award sections, and adding a further day and night venturing on expedition!

Open to all backgrounds, cultures, and abilities, DofE can be a game-changer - raising your self-esteem, aspirations and opening doors to employment!

Start your DofE award at any point in the year and make connections and friends outside of your school. There's no restriction as to when or where you can join.

What age can I start?

You can register for the Silver Award if you are currently in the academic year that you turn 15 years old (Year 10). You can start your Silver Award at any point between the ages of 15 and 24 years old.

What's involved?

Volunteering in the community for 6 months
Working towards a physical goal for 3 months*
Working towards a skills-based goal for 6 months*
Venturing on a 3-day/2-night expedition

* Choose to commit to either the physical or skills section for 6 months and the other for 3 months.

You can go direct to Silver and miss out the Bronze award. If this is the case, you will need to commit to another 6 months' work in either the volunteering section or the longer of the physical or skills sections.

For further information about what to expect, read DofE's summary of all the sections.

Silver DofE Timescale

How are the sections approved and evidenced?

Select the timescales on eDofE for your Volunteering, Physical, and Skills sections. Don't worry if you're not sure, you can always go back and edit these dates later. Watch this eDofE training video.
Submit the activity you’d like to do for each section. Please check the activity is permitted for each section. For section ideas, visit: Ideas for Activities - DofE.
Your DofE Leader will review the activity you've submitted. Once they have approved, you're ready to get started.
At the end of the section, you will need to ask your identified assessor to write a short assessor report evidencing your work towards your chosen goal. This can be completed using the relevant page from your welcome book or completed online: Assessor’s Report - DofE.
Your DofE leader will review, approve, and sign-off sections.

How much is it?

Registration for the Silver Award is £98 payable upon registering for the award. This registration fee includes:

eDofE account creation
DofE physical welcome pack
eDofE support and advice - join our monthly support calls or email us anytime
Leader approving evidence and approving/querying sections
Award verification
Badge and certificate processing
Training sessions - taking place at either a youth centre or virtually. View our programme dates and what's involved.

The expedition section, which includes a training day, practice, and qualifying expedition, costs £385 (totalling 7 days). This is payable at the point of expedition booking or can be paid in three instalments.

Our qualified and experienced DofE leaders support participants through their entire DofE journey, from start to finish. They prepare participants for the expedition plus provide one-to-one support with eDofE and give guidance on section activities throughout the entire award journey.

Expedition Snapshot - What to Expect

Training day – 1 full day
Practice Expedition - 3 days/2 nights
Qualifying Expedition - 3 days/2 nights

As part of an expedition team (between 4 and 7 young people), you’ll plan and complete two fun and challenging expeditions. You'll navigate and hike in the countryside, camp under the stars, cook in the outdoors, and be self-sufficient. The practice and qualifying expeditions take place between April and October each year.

In the lead-up to and throughout the qualifying expedition, participants are assessed against DofE's Expedition Requirements. Read more about expedition requirements.

View our expedition dates.

When do I get started?

You can register and start your DofE journey at any point in the year. You can get started with the physical, volunteering, and skill sections when you receive your eDofE account and welcome pack. If you want to get set-up on eDofE ahead of your first training session, watch this eDofE training video. There are lots of recommended videos to watch, so do take a look at the full training list.

Get in touch

Our friendly DofE Award Team would love to hear from you: DofE@essex.gov.uk.