The Gold programme is for those aged 16+ years run by the Open DofE Centres runs at Horsham. You have until your 25th birthday to complete the programme, which allows plenty of time to complete the Gold Award and fit in going to University, a gap year or an Apprenticeship.

Activities for each DofE section take a minimum of one hour a week over a set period of time, so they can be fitted in around academic study, hobbies and social lives. Development and regular progress must be shown in these activities.

The overall DofE Gold Programme consists of the following sections and timescales:

• 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 complete the Silver Award, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

The Expedition section generally involves meeting one evening per week or fortnight, plus training weekends, a practice expedition and the final expedition of 4 days and 3 nights in wild country.

Training weekends take place on the North or South Downs, the practice expedition over 4 days in somewhere like the Brecon Beacons or Snowdonia in Wales, and the final expedition in the Lake District or Scotland. Expedition locations may change and are not guaranteed to be in these places.

Participants are grouped into teams of a minimum of 4 people and a maximum of 7 people.

If you are interested in more information, come along to one of the locations on a meeting night and discuss the award with one of the leaders or contact us using the links below.

Horsham

More information about the D of E Programme content can be found on the D of E Web Site.

Information for parents, guardians, carers, etc can be found here, and also on the D of E Web Site.