The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
THE AWARD THAT EQUIPS YOUNG CHILDREN FOR LIFE
VOLUNTEERING | PHYSICAL SKILLS | EXPEDITION | RESIDENTIAL
Introduction
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is just one of the services provided by Support Services for Education (SSE) Outdoors team, a traded unit within Somerset Council.
We as an organisation offer a wide variety of services and training to all education providers such as schools, academies, further education colleges and universities.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is a real adventure from beginning to end. This voluntary non-competitive programme is full of practical, cultural, and adventurous activities which all support the personal and social development of young people aged between 13 (Yr 9) to 25.
The DofE is nationally and internationally recognised by employees and universities as the best development programme young people can complete.
The programme helps young people develop their skills, knowledge and character and is offered at three progressive levels - Bronze, Silver and Gold, with each building on from the one before. There are four key sections of the DofE programme. These are Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition, with the addition of a residential at Gold.
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Our Service Offering
We are the operating authority for the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Somerset and have the licence to deliver the DofE across the county on behalf of the award scheme. We are a team of four - an Operations Manager and three Operations Officers, that work with over 64 different centres across Somerset –schools, colleges, SEN providers, PRU’s and youth clubs.
We provide hands-on support, advice, and guidance to enable schools, colleges, and community organisations to provide DofE programmes to their students.
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award team also provide regular training sessions to support new groups, new leaders and to keep skills and knowledge all up to date.
Our DofE team also keep in regular contact with DofE leaders to help them provide the best possible experience for young people and to verify all completed programmes.
The team also help support disadvantaged children to complete their D nding if required.
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Our Packages
Centre Support
The DofE team work directly with all the different Somerset centres who have a licence agreement between themselves and Somerset County Council regarding delivery of the award, to ensure that the award standards and integrity are upheld.
Each centre is allocated their own designated operations manager, who is there to support and ensure that a close partnership and working relationship is formed at each centre. The operations manager will also support all the centres and help with queries as and when required.
Three times a year a leaders meeting is held, to help centres network with each other and stay up to date with the award across the county.
Alongside this, newsletters are sent out every term , sharing useful tips and hints plus any important changes to the award scheme are
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Remote Support
The DofE team also work directly with young people who choose not to access the award though a centre, whether they are home schooled, or just want to access the award in a different way to peers. The operation officers work directly with these young people and help guide them through the award from start to finish.
Alternative DofE Programmes
The DofE team have created Alternative programmes, delivering the award to young people who are Risk of Neet or Neet - not in employment education or training. We run these with various providers around the county, linking them to DofE centres and giving young people the chance to do a Day release programme to achieve an award, ready to help them with a job / college application in the future. To find out more, please email DofE@somerset.gov.uk
How Much do our Packages Cost?
Prices vary dependent upon whether you are a centre or individual they also are different dependent on the progressive level and the packages you require.
So for more information on prices please contact a member of the DofE team either by emailing DofE@somerset.gov.uk or calling 01278 741270.
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Approved Activity Provider (AAP)
Residentials
SSE Outdoors is an Approved Activity Provider (AAP), meaning that they can deliver residentials for the Gold award. We run three per year from adventurous activity weeks to helping support the Bath and West Show. All residentials and more information regarding these can be found on our SSE Outdoors website: Click here for more information.
Expeditions
SSE Outdoors are also an Approved Activity Provider (AAP) for expeditions also, meaning that they can deliver expeditions to centres within the county or out of county. To find out more, please email DofE@somerset. gov.uk where we can work with you to create a bespoke package for your expedition needs.
Equipment Hire
The DofE team also has access to the DofE store, providing our centres the ability to hire equipment for any expedition. There is a form available for a DofE centre to hire personal gear such as rucksacks and sleeping bags – or group kit like tents and trangias.
All equipment is available to rent at very reasonable prices saving a lot of cost and long term storage issues. To find out more, please email DofE@somerset.gov.uk
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Why Choose Us?
The DofE Award is the largest youth award programme, over 6 million young people have started an award in the UK alone. In Somerset we sign up around 2,700 new starters every year. The award is open to ALL young people aged 13 (year 9) up to their 25th birthday.
Our Somerset team is committed and passionate about the award and have a can-do attitude. There is a Somerset Bursary Fund available to ensure that all disadvantaged young people can access the award.
There are NO limits nor restrictions ensuring ALL young people in Somerset are given the opportunity to take part.
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Don’t just take our word for it, here is what some of our customers have said:
“I really enjoyed my DofE experience as it gave me a chance to try something new and interact with people I don’t usually talk to.”
“The DofE is a fantastic opportunity for our students to access. They will be leaving school with an internationally recognised qualification that they can write on their CV, which could help them into employment.”
“An opportunity to see students develop their personal and social skills, whilst challenge themselves and achieve at something outside of the academic curriculum.”
“We deliver DofE because we believe that it gives students the opportunity to give something back to their communities, it allows them to gain a wider recognition for this work and gives a sense of purpose.”
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Key Contact Details:
Carol Authers, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Operations Manager
Email: DofE@somerset.gov.uk
Tel: 01278 741270
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If you would like to discuss any of our services in more detail, then please do not hesitate to email us.
