The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award

This #FridayRoundup we’re sharing some recent MP visits, where young people have showcased the impact of DofE and what it means to them🙌 Georgia Gould MP visited Westminster Academy, where young people shared how volunteering is building their confidence. Louie French MP visited Cleeve Meadow School, touring the student-run café ‘Juliets’, where many are completing their volunteering sections. Angela Rayner MP visited Droylsden Academy to chat about enrichment, with students putting their tent-building and nutritional planning skills to the test ⛺ MP’s presented schools with their Social Value certificates for the contribution their young people have made to local communities through volunteering. Well done to all the young people for this achievement! We’re working closely with MPs to make sure young people’s voices are at the centre of decision-making. #WorldReady

Things our @DofE students expected on expedition: 🥾 Walking 🗺️ Navigation 🌧️ British weather Things they didn’t expect: 📸 𝗕𝘂𝗺𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗼 @ollymurs 𝗱𝘂𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗵𝗶𝘀 '𝗜𝗻𝘁𝗼 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗸𝗻𝗼𝘄𝗻' 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗿 𝗔𝗶𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲!

Hay fever on Expedition? It's no joke🌿 If you’re heading out on your DofE expedition during peak pollen season, itching eyes and nose sniffling can be a real challenge, with a bit of planning ahead you can make managing it easier. Swipe for tips on how to keep hay fever under wraps 👆

@southgateHD5 @MarsdenmoorNT @nationaltrust @peakdistrict @Team_BMC Well done Chestnut Class!

Incredible determination and resilience as pupils from Chestnut Class hike all the way up Wessenden Valley earlier this week. As part of a @DofE Taster Day. ⛰️🥾☀️ #NeverStopExploring #Hiking #Inspire #Achievement #WellDone @MarsdenmoorNT @nationaltrust @peakdistrict @Team_BMC

A speedy #FridayRoundUp 🏃‍♀️ Youth Ambassador Maisie ran the Bath Half alongside her mum on Sunday – we couldn't think of a better way to spend Mother's Day 😍 From starting her running journey with Couch to 5K, Maisie has developed a love for running and is now part of a weekly run club and has signed up to multiple running events. Maisie shows us that no matter where you start your running journey, there's so much you can achieve 👏 Through their fundraising efforts, including a bake sale and hamper raffle, this amazing duo raised almost £1K for DofE and this money will give go towards giving more young people access to an Award 💪 A huge well done to you both 💜

Our goal is simple: youth voice should shape the decisions that shape their lives 🙌 Last week in Cork, DofE Youth Ambassadors Anais and Jake took part in the UK–Ireland Youth Forum, where young people met directly with Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Taoiseach Micheál Martin which included a roundtable with youth forum members. ​​ Our Youth Voices Report called for youth voice to be part of the decisions that impact young people, so it's great to see this in action with Heads of Government.

Great to see @UKYouth shining a spotlight on the importance of trusted relationships, belonging and preventative support for young people. Youth work and enrichment plays a vital role in supporting young people’s mental health and wellbeing and creating spaces where young people feel heard, supported and able to thrive. Thanks to UK Youth and the many organisations involved for continuing to champion youth voice and positive outcomes for young people across the sector. Read the report here: ukyouth.org/2026/03/anothe…

@FatimahPat87938 Hi Fatimah, thanks for getting in touch! You can reach us via our contact us form here: bit.ly/3BOOh2Z

@DofE hello I wanted to ask a few questions how can I contact you?

Brilliant to see such a successful cohort at Anfield with @LFCFoundation celebrating receiving their @DofE awards! My team were inspired to hear from Matthew, Levi & DofE graduates on how life-changing the programme has been. Huge thanks to all the staff for their support✨👏

The white paper published today reflects many of the priorities DofE has championed in the enrichment space. We look forward to working with Government to turn these ambitions into real opportunities for all young people.

It's promising to see the @MoJGovUK plans for a modern youth justice system showing a clear commitment to strengthening support for children and young people. With more young people facing risks such as exploitation and other harms, it is vital that services are equipped to provide effective prevention and early intervention. The DofE offers structured, positive activities that help young people build confidence, stability and ambition, and can complement the work of those supporting children who may be vulnerable or at risk.

A masterpiece of a week for our #FridayRoundUp Young people @artclassesgroup have been taking part in art for their DofE Skill have been making fantastic progress. They’ve demonstrated commitment, creativity, and a real willingness to learn. The sessions have been focused, positive, and full of development 🎨 Here’s what they’ve been getting stuck into... • Landscape painting • Expressive portrait work • Careful observation and tonal drawing • Floral studies • Bold brushstrokes and colour blocking • Architectural painting Leaders will know just how valuable it is when young people find a Skill they enjoy 👏 It’s been inspiring to see the quality of work they’re producing. A brilliant example of young people thriving in their DofE Skills section. 💜

✨ It’s Safer Internet Day! ✨ “Wait… Safer Internet Day? What’s that about?” “How is it celebrated?” From educational activities to events and campaigns, SID is all about making the internet a safer place. Learn more 👉 better-internet-for-kids.europa.eu/en/saferintern… #SaferInternetDay #SID2026 #BIK

Rising and shining into the weekend with our #FridayRoundUp 🌅 @LaRetraiteSW12 completed their Expedition training in Dorking and Lewes, showing real determination, from teamwork on their walk to confidently cooking together at camp 🏕️ Meanwhile, @adventures_out supported teams in Morocco as they acclimatised, climbed 99 zigzags to 3,500m, and summited Mount Toubkal at sunrise 🌄 Thank you to the leaders who make these experiences possible and well done to all of the young people 👏

@TsuiAllen Great story! Well done!

When so many teenagers are much maligned, here's a fabulous story. Sincerely hope they are officially recognised for sharing their very clear expertise in such a demonstrable way. Assuming they still attend school should certainly receive @DofE Gold Award.

Navigating our way through this week’s #FridayRoundUp 🧭 @TruroSchool made the most of the nice weather in Dartmoor on their Silver DofE training walk, developing strong navigation skills, including bearings, route planning, and “the 4 D’s: direction, distance, duration, and description”. Sett Valley Explorers completed a Bronze Qualifying Expedition with excellent teamwork and determination, alongside a successful Silver Practice Expedition showing resilience and real DofE spirit. Amazing progress 💪

Great to see new government guidance setting out the importance of putting youth voice at the heart of policymaking, from shaping ideas to evaluating impact. It is fantastic to see @DCMS leading the way on cross-government approaches to involving young people in shaping and informing policy, furthering the welcome commitments in the National Youth Strategy. In our 2024 Youth Voices research, young people called for structured and meaningful involvement in policymaking, and this guidance marks a welcome step forward for youth participation. Young people deserve to be heard and we urge all government departments to follow @DCMS lead and take tangible action towards co-design. gov.uk/government/pub…

Happy #FridayRoundUp ✨ Huge congratulations to the @ArdAcademy ‘Golden Girls’. @DofENAC have been celebrating their successful Gold Qualifying Expedition in the Arran mountains. Tackling long days, chilly nights, and challenging terrain, they demonstrated outstanding resilience, teamwork, and determination, exactly what the Gold Award is all about ⛰️ Here’s what DofE North Ayrshire had to say: “Activities and adventures beyond the classroom aren’t just extras; they’re essential. They help young people develop a broader range of skills and experiences, showcasing their diverse talents and preparing them for life beyond college. Every achievement shows that everyone has the power to grow and give back.” We couldn’t agree more 💯 It’s also been a busy and rewarding season at Derwen College, where young people have been putting incredible effort into their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards. From developing new skills to making a meaningful impact through volunteering, they’ve been building confidence, independence, and strong connections within their DofE Centre.

@frommetoyou01 Amazing 💜

Hunter is writing for us for his Silver @DofE award & has written about his (super cute & very photogenic) dog Potter 🐶and cat Bean🐱. Potter's photo alone is bound to bring a smile to the recipient 😍. For info about writing for @DofE please get in touch frommetoyouletters.co.uk/contact

@adventures_out @DofEScotland Looks like so much fun! Have a great time!

Kicking off the 70th Anniversary of The DofE 🎉 The First Expedition of the year is a chilly January Silver Practice, Participants Navigated, Camped, and came together as new skillful Teams 🥾⛺️🗺🧭 #DofE @DofE @DofEScotland