As young people face up to today’s challenges, we know the DofE has never been more needed.

In line with our strategy, Youth Without Limits, we are committed to ensuring that the DofE is open to all young people and that our participants reflect the most diverse generation of young people ever.

To break down barriers to participation, we’re re-launching the Resilience Fund and combining this with our Support for Current Licensed Organisation funding.

With the generous support of our donors – the updated Resilience Fund will provide DofE Participation Places, Participant Bursaries, DofE Licence fee support, External training for DofE Leaders, LO Delivery support and sectional equipment for participants.

Resilience Fund Guide

Who does this fund support?

This Fund supports marginalised young people to do their DofE for whom one or more of the below applies:

Those who have additional needs
Those who are deemed ‘at risk’*
Those who receive Free School Meals (FSM)
Those who are eligible for Pupil Premium (PP), Pupil Equity Funding or the 16- 19 Bursary
Young people at risk of exclusion from education
Those who are looked after or in care
Young people who are responsible for caring for someone else
Parents under the age of 18
Young people whose first language is not English, Welsh or Gaelic
Asylum seekers
Refugees
Young people in custody
Other – please discuss with your Operations Officer

* By ‘At risk’ we mean any young person who may be vulnerable due to, for example, their age, mental health, disability, illness, gender, race, religion, or belief sexual orientation, economic status or who may be unable to protect themselves from abuse.

What does this fund support?

Participant places

Bronze, Silver and Gold participants.

Participant bursaries

Up to £125 of support for eligible young people*

License Fee support

25% of the DofE License Fee for 2024/25

Sectional equipment

Up to £2,000
Maximum expedition section support of £1,250*
Volunteering/Physical and Skills sections have a maximum of £250*
Funding excludes VAT

External Adult Training for DofE Leaders

Up to £500
Up to 50% of the total cost for adult DofE Leaders to undertake appropriate expedition related training*

LO Delivery support

up to £250*
See fund guidance for eligibility.

*Eligibility criteria/items can be found in the guidance document.

All costs should exclude VAT unless the Licensed Organisation self-declares on the grant application form that they are unable to reclaim VAT. Then they should only include VAT for items which are eligible for VAT reclaim.

Key dates

Funding window 1

Applications open week commencing 20 May 2024 and close 19 July 2024.

Funding window 2

Applications open week commencing 19 August 2024 and close 29 November 2024.

Funding window 3

Applications open week commencing 6 January 2024 and close 28 February 2025.

Application process

Step 1: Contact your DofE Operations Officer to find out more.

Step 2: If eligible, complete the DofE’s Grant Application Form with the support of your Operations Officer.

Step 3: Submit your application form, including reading and confirming you agree to the DofE’s Terms and Conditions.

Step 4: Your application will be reviewed, and you will receive an email from your Operations Officer confirming whether it has been successful or not.

Step 5: If successful, use your grant in line with the agreement, making sure you keep copies of all receipts/invoices.

Step 6: Complete an interim and final report by the dates stated on your application form.

Reporting requirements

Successful DofE Licensed Organisations will be required to complete an interim and final report by the dates stated on their application form detailing how their grant has supported young people from marginalised backgrounds to do their DofE and the impact this has had.