The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award volunteers given Royal thanks this International Volunteer Day

The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) is celebrating its thousands of amazing supporters who give their time and expertise so young people can have the life-changing experience of doing their DofE. 

Volunteers up and down the UK are key to making the DofE possible, giving hundreds of thousands of young people from every area and background the chance to have fun and develop skills, resilience and lifelong self-belief.  

And this International Volunteer Day (5 December), 50 volunteers across the UK are receiving a letter of thanks from HRH The Earl of Wessex and a commemorative coin to celebrate the life and legacy of the DofE’s founder, HRH The Duke of Edinburgh – generously donated by The Royal Mint.   

The DofE’s CEO Ruth Marvel said: “If young people are the heart of our organisation, volunteers are the lungs, breathing life into our programmes, changing the lives of young people so that they build confidence and resilience for whatever life might have in store.   

“At a time when so many young people are facing unprecedented challenges, the work of volunteers is even more important in helping our adults of tomorrow regain a sense of control for their futures today. Thank you to each and every volunteer who has helped us support so many young people, even in the most challenging of times.” 

The 50 coin recipients have gone above and beyond and were selected to reflect some of the different roles, successes and activities on behalf of more than 45,000 DofE volunteers. Many have given decades to supporting young people, while others have bent over backwards to make sure they can continue their DofE despite personal challenges or the effects of the pandemic.