The Bronze programme run by the Open DofE Centres is for those aged 13+ years (Year 9), and runs at each of the 3 locations, Adur (Shoreham), Chichester and Horsham. If you are in Year 9 but are only 13 years old, you may be able to start a Bronze DofE programme if most of your friends doing the Award are already 14 – check with a DofE Leader. You have until your 25th birthday to complete the programme, which allows plenty of time to complete the Bronze Award (and possibly the Silver and Gold Awards 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 Bronze Programme consists of the following sections and timescales:
- Volunteering section: 3 months
- Physical section: 3 months
- Skills section: 3 months
- Expedition section: 2 days/1 night
- You also have to do 3 more months in one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections.
The Expedition section generally involves meeting one evening per week or fortnight, plus training days or weekends, a practice expedition and the final expedition of 2 days and 1 night in an area of open country.
Training days and weekends take place on the North or South Downs, the practice expedition over 2 days in somewhere like the South Downs in Sussex or the Ashdown Forest in East Sussex, and the final expedition in the Sussex Weald. 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:
More information about the DofE Programme content can be found on the DofE Web Site.
Information for parents, guardians, carers, etc can be found here, and also on the DofE Web Site.
