Achieving Your Top Awards
Duke of Edinburgh Award: A Journey of Personal Growth
The Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award is one of the most well-known and respected youth awards in the world. It provides young people with the opportunity to develop essential life skills through four key areas:
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Volunteering: Giving back to the community and learning the value of service.
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Physical: Developing physical fitness through sports or other activities.
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Skills: Gaining new skills and knowledge in a wide range of areas.
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Expedition: Completing a challenging journey to test planning, teamwork, and resilience.
For those undertaking the Silver and Gold expeditions, the award provides the perfect opportunity to combine outdoor adventure with personal development. Participants must navigate, plan, and complete their expeditions in small teams, often in remote areas, which fosters independence, problem-solving, and teamwork. The Gold level is particularly challenging, requiring participants to complete a more extended journey and also to complete a residential project.
Chief Scout’s Diamond & Platinum Awards: The Ultimate Scouting Achievement
The Chief Scout’s Diamond & Platinum Awards are the amongst the highest award a Scout can achieve, and are a significant milestone in the Scouting journey. It recognises young people for their commitment to Scouting, their perseverance in achieving difficult tasks, and their dedication to personal growth and community service.
To earn the Chief Scout’s Gold Award, participants must complete a variety of challenges, including:
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Adventure and Outdoor Activities
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Community Service
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Leadership Opportunities
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Personal Development Projects
They are a mark of distinction and is recognised as a highly regarded achievement that young people can be proud of. The expeditions completed as part of this award are not just about navigating in the outdoors—they teach valuable life skills, such as leadership, teamwork, and resilience, which stay with participants long after the adventure is over.
Looking Back: Recent Expeditions for Top Awards
In 2024, we had the privilege of hosting several memorable and successful expeditions:
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Silver Expedition: Friday 29th March - Monday 1st April 2024
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Silver Expedition: Friday 23rd August - Monday 26th August 2024
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Gold Expedition: Thursday 28th March - Monday 1st April 2024
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Gold Expedition: Thursday 22nd August - Monday 26th August 2024
These expeditions were part of the journey towards achieving the DofE Silver and Chief Scout's Diamond & Platinum Awards, and we are proud of all the participants who worked diligently to meet the challenges. The Silver and Gold expeditions are both physically and mentally demanding, requiring participants to plan, navigate, and work as a team in the great outdoors. Our young people showed incredible resilience and teamwork, with many saying that these challenges were the highlight of their Scouting journey.
Looking Ahead: Upcoming Expeditions
As we look forward to 2025, we are excited about new opportunities to undertake expeditions as part of the Duke of Edinburgh Award and Chief Scout's Diamond & Platinum Awards. Specific dates for the 2025 expeditions will be confirmed soon, and we anticipate even more exciting challenges and adventures on the horizon!
Upcoming Expeditions:
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Silver Expedition: 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
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Gold Expedition: 2025 (dates to be confirmed)
Financial Support for Duke of Edinburgh Expeditions
We understand that the cost of participating in expeditions can be a concern for some families. To ensure that all young people can take part in these rewarding experiences, we have a dedicated fund to help with expedition costs. If you or your family need financial assistance, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Explorer Leadership team in confidence. We are committed to making these opportunities accessible to all young people, regardless of financial circumstances.
Get Involved
If you're interested in participating in the Duke of Edinburgh or Chief Scout’s Diamond & Platinum Award expeditions, or if you'd like more information on how you can support our young people on their journey, please get in touch with us. We’re excited for the upcoming challenges and look forward to seeing our young people achieve their goals while making lifelong memories! For further details, or to express interest in participating, contact Rob Gorst - District 14-25 Team Leader