The logo of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (or D of E), also popularly known as The Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme, is an award for personal achievement that can be obtained by anyone aged from 14 to 25, regardless of personal ability. Around 225,000 participants are taking part in the Award programme at any time in the United Kingdom, although only half obtain an Award, taking on average around a year. It began in the United Kingdom and is popular in the Commonwealth. The Award is also run in other Countries by the International Award Association. Image File history File links The logo of The Duke of Edinburghs Award. ... The Commonwealth of Nations, usually known as The Commonwealth, is an association of independent sovereign states, almost all of which are former territories of the British Empire. ... The International Award Association administers the Duke of Edingburgh Award scheme ...

History

A pilot award scheme "for Boys" started in 1956, with Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh as chairman. The award borrowed from the Moray Badge, instituted at Gordonstoun School by its headmaster, Kurt Hahn, in 1934, and the County Badge adopted in Morayshire in 1941. The first Gold Awards were made in 1958, when a parallel scheme "for Girls" was piloted, and the charity was established in 1959. A combined scheme for "Young People" aged 14 to 21 was launched in 1969, and extended to those up to 25 in 1980. 1956 (MCMLVI) was a leap year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ... The Duke of Edinburgh The Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (Philip Mountbatten, formerly Prince Philip of Greece and Denmark) (born 10 June 1921) is the husband of Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom. ... Gordonstoun is a famous British public school. ... In the UK and elsewhere, a head teacher is the most senior teacher in a school. ... Kurt Hahn (1886 - 1974) was a German educator who founded such projects such as the Schule Schloss Salem in Germany, Gordonstoun in Scotland, Atlantic College in Wales, the United World Colleges movement, and the Outward Bound schools. ... 1934 (MCMXXXIV) was a common year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... Morayshire or Elginshire (Siorrachd Mhoireibh in Gaelic) is one of the traditional counties of Scotland, bordering Nairnshire to the west, Inverness-shire to the south, and Banffshire to the east. ... For the movie, see 1941 (film) 1941 (MCMXLI) was a common year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1958 (MCMLVIII) was a common year starting on Wednesday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday of the Gregorian calendar. ... 1969 (MCMLXIX) was a common year starting on Wednesday For other uses, see Number 1969. ... 1980 (MCMLXXX) was a leap year starting on Tuesday. ...

The Award

The Award itself has three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold. To obtain an award, participants must demonstrate achievement at the appropriate level in various activities in four sections: Assorted ancient bronze castings found as part of a cache, probably intended for recycling. ... General Name, Symbol, Number silver, Ag, 47 Chemical series transition metals Group, Period, Block 11, 5, d Appearance lustrous white metal Atomic mass 107. ... It has been suggested that Gold Bar be merged into this article or section. ...

1. Service: helping the community (for example, working with a charity)
2. Skills: a hobby, skill or interest (for example, showing progress with a musical instrument);
3. Physical recreation: sports, dance, or fitness; and
4. Expeditions: can be by bicycle, horseback, or water, but most commonly on foot.

The expedition can be taken almost anywhere in the countryside, with popular places being the national parks, particularly the Lake District, Dartmoor, the Peak District, Pembrokeshire and Snowdonia. Some groups undertake their expedition in places outside the UK, such as the South of France or Kenya, and a number of companies organise such trips. The expedition must be planned and prepared for in advance, and at least one practice journey of equivalent difficulty must be undertaken. The expedition party is expected to be self-sufficient and have an aim, such as a nature project. Allegorical personification of Charity as a mother with three infants by Anthony van Dyck Charity is a term that refers to giving. ... The United Kingdom has 13 national parks, 11 in England and Wales and 2 in Scotland. ... The panorama across Eskdale from Ill Crag. ... Dartmoor is a National Park in the centre of the English county of Devon. ... Rock climbers on Ellis Eliminate (grade VS 4c) on Stanage. ... Pembrokeshire (Welsh: Sir Benfro) is a county in the south-west of Wales in the United Kingdom. ... See also Snowdonia National Park The north ridge of Tryfan (seen on the left in this picture) makes an enjoyable scramble in Snowdonia. ...

Participants aiming for the Gold Award must also take part in one additional fifth section, a residential project. The residential project must be 5 days and 4 nights away from home with unfamiliar people to achive some form of purposeful enterprise.

Time frames

The Bronze Award takes approximately 6 months to complete, with the participant having to complete three months work in two of the three main sections (service, skills, physical recreation) and six months in the third. The expedition must be an overnight trip spanning two days.

At Silver Award level, participants must complete six months of in the service section. Of the skills and physical recreation sections, one must be undertaken for six months and the other for three months. Participants who have not completed the Bronze Award must add an extra three months in either the service section or in the longer of the skill and physical recreation sections (so one activity takes nine months, another takes six months, and the third takes three months). The expedition must last for three consecutive days, including the two nights between them.

At Gold Award level, participants must complete twelve months in the service section. Of the skills and physical recreation sections, one must be undertaken for twelve months and the other for six months. Participants who have not completed the Silver Award must add an extra six months in either the service section or in the longer of the skill and physical recreation secyions (so one activity takes eighteen months, another takes twelve months, and the third takes six months). The expedition is must last for four days and three nights. In addition, to the ususal four activities, participants at Gold Award level must undertake a residential activity for five days away from home.

Activities can be untaken concurrently, so each award can be obtained in the period required for the longest task. Participants are expected to do at least an hour a week in the sections, and need to arrange for an assessor for each section to sign a record book to confirm they have meet the requirements for that section.

Principles

The Award, according to its key principles, is non-competitive, available to all, voluntary, flexible, balanced, progressive, achievement-focused, a marathon not a sprint, personal development, and enjoyable.

External links

• Official site
• Information on the award scheme in Australia
• Information on the award scheme in New Zealand
• Information on the award scheme in Singapore
• Information on the award scheme in Pembrokeshire