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about DofE

It hasn’t been the easiest few years for young people. From the ongoing aftermath of the pandemic to the anxieties of the cost-of-living crisis, the future doesn’t always feel certain.

But, in nearly seven decades of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), we’ve learnt one thing: never doubt what young people can do. Time and time again, we’ve seen that when young people are given the chance to prove to themselves what they’re capable of, there’s no limit to what they can achieve.

We’re here to celebrate and champion every young person. To provide a safe environment of support and challenge that grows as they do.

Whatever their ability, interest or background, DofE offers young people the chance to strive for achievement, overcome obstacles, and set their minds to a personal challenge. Because when you prove to yourself that you’re ready for anything, nothing can hold you back. Our Founder HRH Prince Philip once said: “There is more in you than you might think.” And, here at the DofE, we help you realise that.

Welcome to the DofE. Welcome to Youth Without Limits.

What we do

DofE is open to any young person aged 14-24. Each young person builds their own DofE programmes – picking their own activities and choosing which cause to volunteer for – in order to achieve a Bronze, Silver or Gold DofE Award. The DofE is run in schools, youth clubs, hospitals, fostering agencies, prisons, sports clubs and more, all over the UK and internationally.

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Who we are

From our DofE UK Youth Ambassadors to Trustees, our people are key to keeping the DofE innovative and accessible to all.

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Our Impact

Every year, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) inspires hundreds of thousands of young people to develop skills, resilience and self-belief. Through DofE, they take on their own challenges, follow their passions, make a difference to their communities and discover talents they never knew they had.

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Our story

HRH Prince Philip, The Duke of Edinburgh, first considered the idea of a national programme to support young people’s development in 1954 at the request of his inspiring former headmaster, Kurt Hahn.

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A large group of people, including children and adults, are gathered outdoors on a sunny day. In the foreground, an older gentleman in a suit is smiling and interacting with a group of children who are sitting and lying on the grass, laughing and looking up at him. The background shows a busy scene with many people, some setting up tents and others engaged in various activities, giving the impression of a lively event or festival.

Work for us

As a charity, we aim to offer a workplace that develops people personally and professionally, supporting them to build their skills, broaden their experience, and progress in their careers. We actively promote workforce wellbeing and encourage staff to bring their whole, authentic selves to work.

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about DofE

What we do

Who we are

Our Impact

Our story

Work for us

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