duke of edinburgh award- help!

proffLucy · 10 October 2016 at 11:26AM

My DD wants to do DoE through school, they run the scheme and the date to get application forms in is This friday (its a 1 page A4 form)

Problem is, Im away with work from Thursday ands she is staying at her dads (who wont give her any help with the form) so I have to quickly support her in getting it completed by Wednesday.

I did DoE (Bronze level) years ago and enjoyed it but I havent a clue how it works nowadays! for example there are new rules about volunteering etc. we have searched online and there dont seem to be many oppertunities for volunteering for 14 year olds.

Does anyone have any experience/advice they can offer, particularly around the volunteering section.

Thanks

Jojo_the_Tightfisted · 10 October 2016 at 11:57AM

Email the member of staff co-ordinating the scheme for advice.

broughy · 10 October 2016 at 12:00PM

I used to be a leader in a Guide Unit, and we had several young leaders who came to help us to fulfil the requirements for DofE and ended up staying with us once they'd "done their time" so to speak. Doesn't have to be Guides, could be any youth organisation - Scouts, Boys/Girls Brigade. Most units will be very glad of the extra help!

DigForVictory · 10 October 2016 at 12:18PM

+1 for Scouts. Where we'd be without our Young Leaders, (not all of whom are doing it for the Dof E,) I shudder to think.

athensgeorgia · 10 October 2016 at 12:48PM

When DD2 did her bronze she only needed 6 hours of volunteering. She did a full day's bag packing in the local supermarket with her school. They had to learn a new skill too. DD learnt how to knit. I think partly because her school had an after school knitting club.

When DD2 did Silver she volunteered with Rainbows. She's just started her Gold and ha continued with it.

DD1 has just started her D of E with college. She didn't take part with school as she was worried we couldn't afford it. She's now signed up with college but starting at Silver. She already volunteers with Brownies as we have close ties with the guiders but her D of E tutor has said this will count for her volunteering and to keep it up.

susancs · 10 October 2016 at 12:52PM

Nether of my daughters wanted to do the DOE award, but a number of their friends did and they did the same things as my girls did in school to get the DOE. As they attended a faith school there was always an emphasis on giving back to the community. They also had a leper village in India they supported as their main charity so there was fundraising events they helped with such as orgainising cake sales, making flyers for fundraising dances, quizes etc. Some of them went to the Homestart offices to get details of families who may be in need (no names just gender and ages of children and gender of parent/s/main carer) and arranged for each class to bring in gifts for a hamper at Christmas. This continued in follwoing years. Another group went to sing carols at an old peoples home. Some of the children decided to clean the stream and pond that was in the school grounds, others did litter patrol. Another group decided to put on a talent competition and charge for entry during lunchtime. I have heard of others orgaining a shoe box appeal, collecting items that went to the local food bank. I am sure the school will have lots of sugguestions. One of my DDs was good at science and used to help the science teacher with the year 7 lunchtime club.

olgadapolga · 10 October 2016 at 1:03PM

My daughter raised money for her cadet unit, as well as a Kenyan orphanage that her college supports. She did this by collecting clothes, and selling them again (at the college and selling the rest to the local recycling people). She also went around asking local businesses to donate to the cadets unit - it all counted as volunteering.

Local charity shops often want volunteers, as do local libraries. If you contact your local library as well, they have lists of organisations who want volunteers. There are certainly opportunities for 14yo and up where I live.

Or just type "volunteering (your town)" into google.

Good luck. My daughter enjoyed all the aspects of her DofE apart from the camping expedition, which she hated but I think that was more to do with the unpleasant people she had to go with. Hopefully your daughter will end up with a like-minded group for that.

MallyGirl · 10 October 2016 at 2:27PM

my DD was insistent on her volunteering being animal related and it has been a nightmare getting anything like this for an under 16. She had to do 12 hours - 3 months of 1 hour a week) for bronze and has just started silver so it is going to be hassle again. For bronze we did dog walking for the Cinnamon trust but I had to accompany her every time which I do not want to do again - I have my own dogs to walk!

Cheeseface · 10 October 2016 at 4:53PM

My child did peer support in their own school, mentoring the new year 7s.

building_with_lego · 10 October 2016 at 5:57PM

olgadapolga wrote: »

...

Good luck. My daughter enjoyed all the aspects of her DofE apart from the camping expedition, which she hated ....

:rotfl::rotfl: That was the one bit I really wanted to do when school told us about the Award. I ended up getting to go on the Silver expedition to make up the numbers for a friend, and had an amazing time.

Gloomendoom · 10 October 2016 at 6:06PM

I did my volunteer service with the RNLI, bronze to gold.

duke of edinburgh award- help!

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