As an Open Award group we can take young people from any educational establishment and even those who have full time jobs or who are home schooled. All are welcome from Year 9 upwards.
Young people can join a DofE Award from Year 9 at Bronze level, moving to Silver level in Year 10 and Gold level after their 16th birthday. Young people are accepted at any level provided they meet the age requirements, they do not have to work their way through all the Award levels.
The Award itself is built by the young people depending on their interests and activities. It is split into 4 sections at Bronze and Silver Level and 5 sections at Gold Level. Each section has equal merit and the whole award cannot be gained without completing all the sections.
Young people must take part in a Volunteering activity, a Physical activity, a Skill activity and an Expedition. At Gold a Residential experience is also a requirement.
Many activities that young people already do can be used to help them to gain their DofE Award. Eg Music lessons = a Skill, football club = a Physical or helping out at cubs = a Volunteering.
At St Ives Open Group we monitor and guide young people in their choices and support them along the way until they have fully completed their award. We also operate a full training programme for the Expedition section of the DofE Award at all levels.
Expeditions at Bronze take place in neighbouring counties, at Silver we go slightly further away, choosing The Peak District, Shropshire Hills or The Pennines, and at Gold all expeditions must take place in “Wild Country”.
In the past we have completed assessed expeditions in The Dales, The Lake District and in Wales. We have even started doing cycling expeditions at Bronze level as well as the traditional walking expeditions.
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