Sections
This page will be useful if you have watched the video about your DofE programme and have more questions about activities. This information is also available on the DofE website.
For each of your DofE sections, you need to choose an activity. Remember - you own your own DofE programme and have the freedom to choose activities that are specific and relevant to you. It is important that you set yourself some challenging targets, so you really benefit from being a part of DofE. Don't forget to seek approval for your activity from your DofE Leader before you spend too long working on something that might not count!
There are some handy tips here as well as some ideas, programme planners and activity logs on the next few pages:
Tips for choosing activities:
You decide: it is up to you to find an activity that you wish to do in your own personal time; maybe something you're already doing or something you're interested in. Pick something you'll enjoy and find challenging - it'll make it easier to stick at it!
Preparation: you need to research what you want to do and agree it with your Leader. You must find a suitable Assessor (who must not be related to you) and set yourself some goals so that you can show how you progressed at the end. The programme planner documents might be helpful with this.
Cost: it all depends on what you want to do. Some activities will be expensive, some will be cheap and some will be free - do your research!
Location: find out whether this activity can be done at school (outside normal lesson times), at home (remember that family members cannot assess you, though they can supervise you doing the activity), at a club, or in your local area. Part of the challenge is finding a suitable opportunity.
Insurance and safety: you may need to ask the provider of the activity (especially for more adventurous activities) what training and insurance cover is required or is in place. This is your responsibility for activities that do not take place at school.
Check the activity counts: Remember to check with your Leader if what you are planning to do is permitted for the section. The DofE is firm on what activities fall into which sections and they cannot be used for more than one section.
Repeating the activities for the next level: you can choose to do the same activity for the next level (Silver/ Gold), but you must continue to show development in it by setting challenging targets. You may like to choose to do something new to give yourself new experiences and develop new skills.
Checklist for choosing activities
So that you don't spend a long time doing things that don't count, please consider the following when choosing activities:
Check the lists on the following pages to see if your activity counts for DofE. If it isn't on the list, please talk to your DofE Leader before starting.
Find someone to supervise and assess you. This can be the same person for most activities and they should have some knowledge about the activity. Please bear in mind that your assessor must not be related to you.
Set some targets and agree them with your supervisor.
Put your plans onto e-DofE and get approval for your activity from your DofE Leader.
Checklist for carrying out activities:
Once your activity has been approved by your Leader, you can get started!
Remember that you should spend an average of 1 hour per week over the minimum number of months (eg if you have chosen a six month activity, you should spend a minimum of 26 hours taking part in the activity with the first date and the final date being a minimum of six months apart).
You should keep a log of the hours spent doing the activity, especially if your supervisor or assessor are not present. Suggested templates for activity logs are available on the page for each section.
You should keep a journal of what you have done and reflect on what you have learned. Note the progress made towards achieving your targets.
Checklist for signing off activities:
Once you have completed the minimum timescale for your activity, ask your assessor to write a report.
Give your assessor your log of hours and your journal, so they have something to comment on in their report.
There are two possible methods for your assessor to use in order to submit their assessor's report:
You give them the card provided by DofE when you completed your registration on e-DofE. Please check that the dates match those on e-DofE, that the assessor has signed, dated and completed their contact details. Then you take a photo of the card and upload that onto e-DofE.
They complete the form on the DofE website (www.dofe.org/assessor). You will need to give them your e-DofE ID number. This is the best way to submit the report.
Once they have submitted the report, it will be approved by your DofE Leader and then e-DofE will show that the section is complete.
Well done!