The PIONEER
Highlighting the achievements, new initiatives and impact of the DofE made possible with your support
Welcome!
Welcome to the summer issue of The Pioneer!
It's been a busy few months at the charity, and I am delighted to share an update with you.
Continue reading to hear about our record-breaking year, new campaign This is Youth, our podcast developed and hosted by young people and recent Gold Award Celebration events held across the UK.
I hope you enjoy reading The Pioneer. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with me, or your main contact at the charity.
Thank you again for supporting the work of the DofE. Supporters like you allow us to widen access to the Award, making sure more young people can take part in a life-changing DofE programme and carve out a brighter future for themselves.
Caroline Glen
Director of Fundraising
The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
Record numbers start their DofE!
Our recently published annual statistics showed that with your support, more than 323,000 young people started their DofE in 2022/2023 – the highest number in our 67-year history!
More than 500,000 young people are also currently taking part in an Award. The DofE’s continued growth brings benefits to communities across the UK. Last year, DofE participants gave a staggering 3.5 million volunteering hours – equivalent to £17 million in paid working hours.
We have made fantastic progress toward our goal of reaching one million young people by 2026. We are committed to breaking down barriers, and with your generous support, are reaching more marginalised young people than ever – nearly 50,000 current participants are experiencing poverty, 81,500 are from minority ethnic backgrounds and 22,500 have additional needs.
Your ongoing support ensures people like Habeeba have access to a life-changing DofE programme. Habeeba is doing her DofE at Aspire 2 Inspire Communities in Rochdale, which began running DofE thanks to funding.
Habeeba’s story
Aspire 2 Inspire is a community organisation that aims to empower, educate and encourage young people to break barriers and achieve milestones. It works with young people from black and minority ethnic communities, new and emerging communities, refugees and asylum seekers, families facing financial hardship and young people with additional needs, disabilities and language difficulties.
Habeeba, 18, is working towards her Gold Award and supporting younger participants at Aspire 2 Inspire:
“I’m helping out as a DofE Leader for Bronze participants. As a young Muslim woman, I think it’s especially important for the people of my community to understand DofE is not just for those of other cultures, but that we can get involved as well.
“It’s not just about the camping – it's about the volunteering, doing physical things and learning new skills which is a great opportunity for young people to step away from schoolwork and improve on their life skills. University and employers look for this kind of thing, so DofE is a great chance to help set up things for later on in life.”
DofE Podcast Launches
We are delighted to let you know that the DofE has launched a new podcast – Navigating Now.
Giving young people a voice is a key part of our Youth Without Limits strategy. This podcast has been created by young people, for young people, and centres on some of their biggest questions about life.
Listen to the first episode of Navigating Now – 'Navigating...Identity' here!
It launched this week and features eight episodes, with one released weekly over the summer. We’ll listen in as young people discuss a relevant topic and explore suggestions and advice from unexpected places.
To make sure you don't miss an episode, you can subscribe wherever you listen to your podcasts.
Please do share with anyone in your network who would be interested in listening!
Navigating Now was made with the generous support of The Gosling Foundation and RSM.
This is Youth
The charity recently launched our new initiative – This is Youth – recognising and celebrating the amazing, untold stories of the young people and adults behind the Award.
From teamwork and innovation to overcoming personal challenges, This is Youth will shine a light on the extraordinary things young people do on their DofE journeys. It will also highlight the exceptional commitment and passion of adults who deliver the Award and have a life-changing impact on DofE participants all over the UK.
All current DofE participants or recent Award holders can be nominated, along with adults who support young people to do their DofE in schools, community organisations, hospitals, prisons and more.
There are eight categories, with six categories recognising young people, and two celebrating adults.
Find our more in the video below:
Voting is open until midnight on 17 September 2023. If you want to recognise a young person or adult who has gone above and beyond The Award – please get your nominations in and do share with your networks!
For more information and to fill out a nomination form visit: DofE.org/ThisIsYouth.
This is Youth is kindly supported by MTC and The Gosling Foundation.
Gold Award Celebrations
We were delighted to once again welcome Gold Award holders to Buckingham Palace Gardens to celebrate their achievement. We were joined by 9,000 young people from around the UK across two days.
HRH The Duke of Edinburgh hosted the event and attendees heard from a host of well-known names including Jill Scott and Jermaine Jenas. Recent Gold Award holders Emily, Ffion, Onyii and Lyndon also shared their personal experiences of DofE with guests.
Lyndon was diagnosed with cancer during his DofE journey but is happily now in remission. He shared some inspiring words with the audience saying:
"Throughout a worrying time, I did struggle with my mental health, but I found that focusing on my DofE goals one week at a time really helped to motivate me. It was a source of normality during a time when everything else felt out of my control. You can probably all relate to me when I say that the DofE is not just an Award, it is something that will have long-lasting impressions on each one of us here today and will no doubt go on to inspire and drive all of us to work towards our goals no matter how big or how small."
We were also delighted to be joined by young people who achieved their Gold Award at work through DofE Business. A huge thank you to Amey, First Group, Great Western Rail, Heathrow, MTC, RSM, St James's Place, TransPennine Express, UKPN and Vinci for supporting the DofE charity by offering their young staff the opportunity to achieve Gold at work.
If you’d like to find out more about including DofE as part of your Learning and Development Programme, please get in touch with the fundraising team at fundraising@dofe.org.
We have also had the chance to celebrate young people at Gold Award Celebration events across the UK. The Duke hosted events at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland and The Palace of Holyrood in Edinburgh, Scotland.
Watch the highlights video below to get a taste of the celebration in London!
Events for your diary
Gower Walk Challenge
Fancy a challenge in 2023? Walk 22 or 10 miles along the spectacular Gower Peninsula and raise much-needed funds for the DofE.
The walk will be followed by a celebration event were you'll be presented with your finisher's medal!
The Gower Walk Challenge takes place on Saturday, 9 September.
Run to support the DofE
We have three great opportunities to race for DofE with no entry fee! Get a team together, take on a challenge, & support more young people to do DofE!
- The Big Half: 3 Sept - London
- Vitality London 10k: 24 Sept
- Manchester Half: 15 Oct
Entry is free – we just ask that you aim to raise £300 if you enter a half marathon and £200 if you enter the 10k.
Support our Wing Walkers
On 27 July, intrepid DofE supporters will be taking part in a wing walk – standing on a 1940s biplane to raise money to enable more young people to take part in the DofE.
Two of our DofE UK Youth Ambassadors are taking on the challenge to support the charity. If you would like to sponsor them, please click on the link below.
Built with Shorthand