The Silver programme run by the Open DofE Centres is for those aged 14+ years (Year 10), and runs at each of the 2 locations, Chichester and Horsham. You have until your 25th birthday to complete the programme, which allows plenty of time to complete the Silver Award (and possibly the Gold Award as well) 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 Silver Programme consists of the following sections and timescales:

• Volunteering section: 6 months
• Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
• Expedition section: 3 days/2 nights
• If you didn’t complete the Bronze 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 3 days and 2 nights in an area of open country or moorland.

Training weekends take place on the North or South Downs, the practice expedition over 3 days in somewhere like the New Forest in Hampshire or the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, and the final expedition on the White Peak in the Peak District. 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.

Chichester

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.