Welcome to Hornchurch District’s Duke of Edinburgh’s (DofE) Award Scheme
There are three levels of the DofE programme: Bronze, Silver and Gold.
To achieve your Award, you must set goals and work towards them in the following sections; Volunteering, Skill, Physical, Expedition and in addition for Gold level only, Residential.
Bronze
For ages 14+*
It will usually take you at least 6 month to complete your Bronze programme.
- Volunteering section: 3 months
- Physical section: 3 months
- Skills sections: 3 months
- Expedition sections: 2 days/1 night
You also have to spend an extra three months on one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections. It’s your choice which one and, though you can change your mind later, you should decide which section you want to do for longer at the beginning. Knowing how long you’re going to do it for will help you to choose your activity and set your goals for each section.
Your achievements link directly to the Chief Scout’s Platinum Awards (Explorers)
*If you aren’t 14 yet, but in the school year in which your peer group turns 14, you may still be able to start. All activities must be completed by your 25th birthday.
Silver
For ages 15+*
It will take you at least 6 months for Silver if you’ve already achieved your Bronze Award, or 12 months if you’ve jumped straight into Silver.
- Volunteeing Section: 6 months
- Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
- Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights
If you didn’t do Bronze, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
Your achievements link directly to the Chief Scout’s Diamond Award (Explorers & Network)
*If you aren’t 15 yet, but in the school year in which your peer group turns 15, you may still be able to start. All activities must be completed by your 25th birthday.
Gold
For ages 16+*
For Gold you’ll need to do your programme for at least 12 months if you’ve achieved your Silver Award, or 18 months if you’ve started at Gold level without doing your Silver (even if you’ve done Bronze). The big difference at Gold is you’ll also do a Residential section – staying away from home for five days and four nights doing a shared activity with people you don’t know.
- Volunteering section: 12 months
- Physical and Skills sections: One section for 12 months and the other section for 6 months
- Expedition section: 4 days/3 nights
- Residential section: Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights
If you didn’t do Silver, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.
Your achievements link directly to the King’s Scouts Award (Explorers aged 16+ & Network)
*The age range for this award is strictly set: any work done on the award under 16 unfortunatly won’t count. All activities must be completed by your 25th birthday.
For all DofE Awards you must be an Explorer Scout or Scout Network member and then meet the minimum age requirements.
Bronze – be in the academic year in which you turn 14.
Silver – be in the academic year in which you turn 15.
Gold – you must be 16.
You will need to agree on an activity for each section and set some goals with your Leader. This might include Scouting activities such as hiking, taking part in staged performances or being an Explorer Scout Young Leader. It may also include hobbies such as dancing, playing a sport or learning a musical instrument. You’re probably already doing some activities that could count. It is up to you whether you decide to start something as a beginner or work on an existing interest – as long as you are developing and having fun!
The duration of each section will vary depending on the level of the award). You must complete an hour a week (or equivalent, such as two hours every two weeks) of your Volunteering, Skill and Physical activity for its duration. All DofE awards must be completed by your 25th birthday.
There’s more good news! Time spent on completing your DofE programme also counts towards your top awards in Scouting. The top awards in Scouting have been carefully aligned with the DofE meaning that if you are working towards one you may as well work towards the other. Information about how the DofE awards and Scouting awards align can be found on the following pages, with more detail also available here.
If you choose to work towards your Gold DofE Award you can work towards your King’s Scout Award (KSA) and cross-credit all of the relevant sections. There are just a few more requirements you’ll need to complete for the KSA and then you’ll have achieved both awards! Both award programmes are highly respected by potential employers, colleges and universities, so the awards are great additions to your CV! Find out more about KSA here.
Each participant will be required to pay a registration fee for each level of the award they sign up for.
2025/2026 DofE Registration Fee
Bronze & Silver: £65 (including Activity/Team Bonding Evenings)
Gold: £37.50
2025/2026 Expedition Fees
Training Weekend: £30
Practice Expedition (Danbury): £30
Qualifying Expedition Bronze & Silver (Chiltern Hills): £30
Qualitfying Expedition Silver & Gold (Lake district): £60
Further details, including how to make payment will be provided following registration of the award.
Whether you’re signing up for the first time or registering to complete the next level of the award (Silver or Gold), then click here to register.
Please email DofE@hornchurchscouts.org.uk if you have any questions.
These are the dates for our 2026 participants. All evening sessions are held at 1st Upminster’s HQ, Gwillcoo in Brookdale Avenue, Upminster, RM14 2LT. Those looking to complete their Gold award will be advised separately.
| Introduction Evening: | Wedneday 17th October 2025 |
| Activity Evening: | Wednesday 22nd October 2025 |
| Team Bonding Session: | Wednesday 28th January 2026 |
| Training Weekend: | Saturday 21st – Sunday 22nd March 2026 (Thriftwood) |
| Training Evening: | Wednesday 25th March 2026 |
| Training Evening: | Wednesday 15th April 2026 |
| Practice Expedition: | Friday 24th – Sunday 26th April 2026 (Danbury) |
| Route Planning Evenings: | Wednesday 17th & 24th June 2026 |
| Qualifying Expedition (Gold): | Tuesday 7th – Sunday 12th July 2026 (Lake District) |
| Qualifying Expedition (Bronze & Silver): | Friday 28th – Sunday 30th August 2026 (Chiltern Hills) |