WHY DO THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH’S AWARD?Many young people find achieving a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) life-changing. A fun adventure and major challenge, three progressive award levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold) and a wide range of activities offer endless possibilities to anyone aged 14 to 24.
Millions of young people in the UK have already taken part in the world’s leading youth achievement award - pushing personal boundaries, gaining new skills and enhancing their CVs and university applications.
At Gateway Adventure we can help you or your organisation achieve your goals. With an experienced team of qualified training staff and with over 50 years combined experience, we know a thing or two about helping people fulfil their ambitions.
Many company apprenticeship schemes use the Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award during their training to help with confidence, life skills and experiences.
“Completing my Gold Duke of Edinburgh's Award alongside my apprenticeship was hard work, but great fun. Looking back, I only wish I had started the Award when I was 14! I never had the opportunity, but as they say its better late than never!” Michael, Apprentice and Gold Award Participant Whatever your needs, you can be sure that your workplace or organisation and your participants will benefit from the prestige that comes with the gaining of a Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in partnership with Gateway Adventure.Many company apprenticeships enrol their apprentices on to the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award. Gateway Adventure offers tailormade packages for Gold DofE expedition and residential sections.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award is broken down in to four different sections so that you gain experience across a range of skills and activities to help you plan and achieve your own personal and unique journey.
Volunteering is all about making a difference to other people’s lives. Perhaps you’re interested in animals or conservation? Or you might like to work with older people or raise money for a cause that means a lot to you? From teaching children cyber safety to starting a local recycling campaign, the Volunteering section of your Dofe enables you to give your time to help others and change things for the better.
Gateway Adventure can be on hand to help with advice on ways to help you complete the Volunteering section. Ideas include:-
• Coaching, teaching and leadership
• Community action and raising awareness
• Helping a charity or community organisation
• Helping people
• Working with the environment or animals
The Physical section is a chance for you to focus on your health and fitness and have fun along the way. As long as you pick something that requires a sustained level of energy and physical activity, the possibilities are endless. Gateway Adventure can offer the following opportunities for the Physical section. Ideas include:-
• Archery
• Caving & Potholing
• Climbing
• Kayaking (British Canoeing Star Awards)
• Mountain Biking
• Orienteering
• Walking
The Skills section is about discovering what you’re really good at. By developing practical and social skills and nurturing your personal interests and talents, you’ll boost your self-esteem and your CV. Gateway Adventure can offer the National Navigation Award Scheme (NNAS) for the Skills section.
As part of a small team, you’ll plan, complete a practice and final expedition that will truly stretch your horizons. You will improve your communication and leadership skills and whatever you decide to do, you’ll have an unforgettable experience getting to grips with the great outdoors.
Please refer to the DofE Expedition Training & Assessments Section of the website for more detailed information regarding the this section.
For Gold DofE participants only...
If you are looking to achieve your Gold DofE Award, you need to complete an additional Residential section. You will spend five days and four nights taking part in a shared, worthwhile activity with people you’ve never met before. A DofE residential will boost your independence and confidence and is a great way to leave a positive footprint on your life and other people’s.
Gateway Adventure predominantly aims to run is residentials in the Peak District as it is an ideal area to cover a wide variety of activities and is central to most areas of the UK. However, we are able to run residentials throughout the UK including the Bannau Brycheiniog (formerly Brecon Beacons), the Lake District and Snowdonia.
Please refer to the DofE Residential Section of the website for more detailed information regarding this section.
GOLD DofE EXPEDITION PACKAGEOur Gold package consists of 10 days spread over 3/4 different dates.Day 1 A ‘Walk & Talk’.
Day 2 Day route planning session for the qualifying expedition plus comprehensive training to include topics such as kit, navigation, route planning, food and nutrition etc.
Days 3, 4 & 5 Consists of an overnight practice expedition where the participants take part in a further ‘Walk & Talk’ and an overnight supervised ‘Wild Camp’ on day 3 and then meet supervisors at checkpoints on days 4 & 5.
Days 6 to 10 Finally the participants take part in their qualifying expedition over the final five days which includes an acclimatisation day prior to the start of their venture.
OUTSOURCING YOUR EXPEDITIONSIf you have ever run expeditions for the Dofe Awards, you know that it can be very time consuming. And then there is the cost of the equipment and making sure you have the staff with the right qualifications and experience!
This is where we come in. We make it easy for you!!
We offer a complete foot expedition package for Bronze, Silver and Gold. If, however, you are interested in alternative modes of travel such as cycling or canoeing/ kayaking then contact us for further information.*
We provide the staff and equipment for training, practices and assessed expeditions. Our staff are all experienced and qualified and many are accredited assessors. All are First Aid qualified and are DBS cleared.
* Please note pricing will increase for these alternative modes due to hire of cycles or canoes/kayaks and the relevant safety equipment.
TAILOR MADE PACKAGESThe beauty of our service is that we can give you exactly what you want! We understand that each organisation has different requirements.
Our prices include campsite fees and fully qualified supervision. We sort out all of the expedition administration. All you need to do is arrange the transportation of your participants to the expedition area.
We do encourage everyone taking part to supply their own personal equipment as they advance through the DofE Awards. However, the package can include first aid kits, mess tins, roll mats, rucksacks (65 litre), sleeping bags, stoves, tents, trowels, waterproof jackets and trousers for participants who are finding it difficult to finance such items.
* Direct entrants may require additional training dependant on their individual abilities (at extra cost).
