Today’s world is facing unprecedented challenge and change. The effects of COVID-19 have been sudden and will be felt far and wide for many years to come. And for the UK’s young people, this pandemic not only affects their lives now, but will impact fundamentally the world they will inherit.
As we start to navigate a new normal, new challenges emerge – mass unemployment, stretched social services, impacted mental health, increased poverty, reduced social inclusion; no corner of our world will be left unaffected. But with challenge, comes opportunity.
We want every young person in the UK to get the benefit of a DofE programme as they transition to their new world; to benefit their mental and physical health, to increase their job prospects and to help them play an active role in restoring their communities.
We want teachers and youth workers to leverage DofE as a tool to help young people develop the attributes they need; the resilience, confidence, adaptability and determination to cope with the change, and counter the challenges, the pandemic presents. We want disadvantaged young people to not get left behind, to use the DofE as a scaffold to enhance their skills and level the playing field.
The DofE was established in 1956 as a way to support young people as nations rebuilt and reinvented themselves in the decade after the second world war. Now, the world is about to do the same again. With more than 60 years’ experience helping young people transform their worlds, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is more relevant than ever – and ready to help.
Find out more about the DofE
Discover the power and impact of the DofE
The DofE is a vehicle for social change. It provides young people with structure, a positive focus and purpose, crucial for their mental and physical wellbeing. It enables young people to connect with others and form vital social bonds. It expands young people’s worlds, introducing them to people, causes, subjects, opinions outside their immediate circles. It helps them to stay positive, motivated and curious. It offers young people an opportunity to act and give back to their communities through the Volunteering section, helping them develop empathy and compassion. Crucially the DofE benefits young people’s futures: It raises their aspirations, helps them build valuable skills for their future and increases their employability. You can read about the impact it has had on the lives on many young people as we travel the length of the UK coastline.
