Continuing your DofE

Yes, if you decide to change activity (and have had approval from your Leader) then you just need to complete the new activity for the remaining time. For example, if your Volunteering section is 6 months, and you had already been volunteering for 4 months, you will only need to do the new activity for 2 months.

Remember you will need to get the Assessor from your previous activity to write a report to confirm what you did and how long you did it for. You can either add this as evidence in your eDofE account, or ask them to submit this report through the online assessor portal.

You may have an email address or contact number you can use to call or send a text, or you could use the messaging function on eDofE. Remember to use the app or log on to your eDofE account to check if you have any messages.

If you cannot contact your section Assessor using these methods, you could ask your DofE Leader if they would be happy to write an Assessor’s Report on their behalf. Your DofE Leader will need to see evidence of your sectional activity, such as activity logs, screenshots, photos or diary entries.

Remember, only continue with any physical activity you are doing for your DofE if you are feeling fit and healthy.

If your regular activity isn’t on at the moment, there are lots of ways you can continue maintaining relevant strength and fitness. Whilst mass gatherings must be avoided, you could consider walking or running in your local area – or even doing a workout (or practising your sport) in your garden or local park. Apps like Strava or Google Fit can help you monitor your activities and provide evidence for your Assessor.

There are also lots of fitness sessions and classes that can be followed online (on YouTube) and done within your home; from pilates to learning dance routines, bootcamps to HIIT workouts. You can record a list of the ones you do and keep a record of your hours using the Physical section activity log.

Remember to seek approval from your DofE Leader before you start.

This will depend on the activity you are doing for your Volunteering section. Remember to ask your Assessor if there is anything you can do to support the organisation you’re volunteering for whilst you are at home; this may be helping with social media campaigns, working on their website, designing flyers or materials or writing reports or documents. Although it may not be what you usually do, there are lots of ways charities and organisations might still benefit from your support even if you’re at home.

If you can’t continue your activity, then remember you can either take a break, or change activity (see above). You may also decide to change activity if you are able to volunteer to help your local community at this challenging time, or want to volunteer to help a family member. But don’t forget to seek approval from your DofE Leader first.

My neighbour is self-isolating, how can I help them for my Volunteering section?

If you’re unable to continue your regular volunteering activity during this time, then helping others in your community can count towards your Volunteering section. This may include picking up shopping or urgent supplies for a neighbour who is vulnerable and self-isolating (guidance on how to do this safely can be found here and here), donating items that are requested by local organisations, or participating in any other local campaigns to ensure others are well looked after.

Remember to get approval from your Leader first, and to keep a log of the activities you do using the Volunteering section activity log, and always follow the latest NHS guidance.

You will also need to consider who your Assessor will be; it could be the neighbour you are helping, another volunteer, your DofE Leader or a family friend who has an understanding of what you are doing.

If you’re unable to continue with your volunteering activity, or are looking to start your section, there are a number of charities who provide volunteering opportunities that can be done from home. A number of these are delivered by our Approved Activity Providers, such as mapping for Missing Maps, doing a social action project with Leonard Cheshire, becoming an Energy Envoy or taking part in a fundraising programme for BHF. There are many others too, but always check with your DofE Leader before your start. You can find more activity ideas to do from home here.

You can also volunteer to help family members whilst you’re at home; read more about what’s involved in our blog here. 

Again, don’t forget to get your Leader’s approval before you change activities.

Although we encourage all participants to do their activities weekly, it may be that if your activity has been cancelled or changed due to the coronavirus outbreak, it is more beneficial to do an activity for one day (4-6 hours) per month. Although this is more common for Silver and Gold levels, it is also accepted at Bronze, and you should ask your DofE Leader and get their approval if this is something you’d like to do.

As your Leader has suggested, you can choose to do your section activities less regularly, but for a longer period – so instead of doing an hour each week, you could think about doing two hours every other week if that fits better with your chosen activity.  

If you choose to do this, the total hours you spend doing the activity must be at least the same (you may choose to do more hours of course!).  Also, remember that the activity must still be spread across the number of months you’ve chosen to spend on that section.  

For example, if you are doing your Volunteering section for six months at Silver level starting in April 2020, you must do a minimum of a day each month (at least four to six hours) until your earliest completion date – which in this case would be October 2020. 

Your Leader will be able to give you more guidance on this topic.  

If your regular session for your Skills section isn’t running at the moment, speak to your DofE Leader or Assessor to find out what you can do at home. This may include extra practising (if you are playing an instrument, doing a performing art, doing games/recreational activity) or further research and project work.

There are lots of activities for the Skills section that can be done from home, from cooking or playing an instrument, to learning a new language or drawing / painting. You can see a list of programme ideas here for more inspiration.

You will need to get your Leader’s approval before starting, and may want to speak to them about finding an appropriate Assessor for the section; it could be another volunteer that helps run your DofE group, or a family friend who has an interest in your activity. You will need to agree ways to communicate with them remotely, whether that’s emailing, using eDofE or sending evidence of your activity as you progress.

A number of Approved Activity Providers also now run remote learning courses that will fulfil the required timescales, and will provide you with an Assessor.

The organisation you have booked your residential with will be able to advise you on whether it can be postponed, and any refund arrangements. Although it’s really disappointing to have your residential cancelled, you have until your 25^th birthday to complete your DofE. Therefore, you will hopefully have plenty of time to rearrange your trip, or find another one in the future.

If you’re nearly 25, make sure you speak to your Leader about an age extension, which will be granted by your DofE Regional or Country Office in these circumstances.

Speak to your DofE Leader or Supervisor, as details will depend on your circumstances and expedition arrangements.

Your DofE group may postpone your expedition until later on in the year, or if you are soon to be leaving the organisation you are doing your DofE with, you could also consider joining an Open Expedition in the future, which will enable you to complete the section. Remember that you have until you are 25 to complete your DofE, so even if you will have left your organisation you will be able to join a new group and complete an expedition up until that time.

You can change the timescales of each section of your programme – just follow the instructions on our eDofE help page here.

If you are moving onto college or university, some are already licensed to deliver the DofE – so please contact your DofE Regional/Country Office who will be able to advise.

If your college / university does not currently deliver DofE – or if you are not moving onto college or university – there may be an open centre you can join or your school may be willing to continue to support you with your DofE.

If you’re doing your Gold DofE and don’t have a local DofE group nearby, you can also consider doing your Gold DofE online and independently through DofE Direct.

Remember that you can keep working towards your Volunteering, Physical and Skills sections – and receive your Certificate of Achievement – whilst you are waiting to complete your Expedition and / or Residential sections.