Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Volunteering

The DofE is a leading youth Charity in the UK that gives all young people aged 14-24 the chance to develop skills for life and work, fulfil their potential and have a brighter future.

How old do I need to be to do the Gold DofE Residential?

You can complete your Gold DofE from age 16 until your 25th birthday.

What is required for the Gold DofE award?

There are three separate DofE levels; Bronze, Silver and Gold. You will need to have completed all your Bronze and Silver sections before moving onto your Gold. 
Here is an overview of the 5 different sections of the Gold DofE award:

Volunteering - 12 months (52 weeks) of consistent volunteering service. Your volunteering will need to average one hour per week with the aim of making a positive impact in the community. This section aims to develop leadership and teamwork skills. You can choose your own activity and popular options include assisting with Rainbows/Brownies/Guides or Scouts, volunteering in a charity shop or helping a local environmental charity. 

Physical & Skill – 6 months for one and 12 months for the other. The Physical section focuses on fitness and health whilst the Skill section focuses on personal development and hobbies. You will need to do your physical and skill for around one hour per week. 

Physical - You will need to engage in sport, dance, or a fitness activity. You can get involved in team sports such as football or netball, individual sports such as swimming or horse riding, running (Park runs are a popular option), martial arts or dance. You can even pursue your extreme sports passions such as climbing, mountain biking or surfing. The goal of this section is to improve health, fitness, strength, focus or stamina. 

Skill – You will need to take part in a skill which could include a wide range of activities including playing an instrument, coding, performance arts, creative arts, gardening, animal care, learning a language, strategic games or creative media. The goal of this section is to learn or improve on a specific skill, passion or hobby.  

Expedition - 4 days/3 nights. For your Gold DofE Expedition you will need to plan and complete an unaccompanied and fully self-sufficient journey, usually backpacking, canoeing or cycling. This section aims to improve participants navigation, camping, equipment management and teamwork skills. You will also need to complete an added project aim which could be photography or wildlife/environment study during the expedition.

Residential - 5 days/4 nights. For your Gold DofE Residential you will need to spend 5 days and 4 nights away from home with new people whilst doing a shared activity. You can join a group with friends, as long as over 50% of the group are people you haven’t met before. This section aims to strengthen independence and teamwork. Popular options include international volunteering, conservation work, outdoor activity adventure camps or doing a residential cooking course. 

A popular option is to complete your Residential section on a Pod Volunteer international trip. Pod Volunteer is an approved activity provider for the Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award. 

Joining a Pod Volunteer trip for your Gold Duke of Edinburgh Award means you will help support a fantastic project around the world, travel to a new destination, make new friends and experience new cultures! 

What do I need to record for my DofE Gold Residential and how is it signed off?

Throughout your Gold Award you will need to log your progress on your online eDofE record which will require approval by your DofE leader. 

We will be your assessors and at the end of your project we will sign off your project completion online via the DofE portal. 

How does taking part in the DofE award benefit me? 

The DofE, funded by The Pears Foundation, initiated research into the impact that awards have on young people and their futures. The research team was from The Centre for Children and Youth at The University of Northampton and their results and findings were impressive. Here are the key results from the young people who participated in the DofE:

• 95% feel like they have developed decision-making skills 
• 93% feel that doing their DofE has helped to develop teamwork skills 
• 87% want to do their DofE because it is attractive to employers
• 84% feel that the DofE has made them a more responsible person
• 82% feel that it has helped them to develop leadership skills
• 81% feel that doing their DofE has made them more adventurous
• 81% identified increased motivation 
• 79% felt more independent 
• 74% said they developed self-esteem

I’ve already completed Bronze and Silver DofE levels, how will finishing my Gold DofE Award help me? 

It’s already a big achievement to get your DofE Silver, but the Gold really sets you apart from other candidates. Only around 8,000 participants achieve their gold each year and it’s celebrated with a special ceremony at Buckingham Palace.

Unlike the Bronze and Silver sections, the Gold Award includes a Residential so it’s a great opportunity to make your dream become a reality and explore somewhere new – it could be living by the beach helping to rescue turtles, caring for rescued elephants or helping conservation in the Amazon!

The Gold award requires 12 months commitment, so it is a clear way to demonstrate you can accomplish a long term challenge. It requires more dedication, time and effort than previous sections, so once you have completed it, you can feel very proud of your achievement.

The Gold Award is an internationally recognised and valued award – a great way to enhance your CV and it is highly respected by employers and further education departments

Is there any funding available for DofE Gold Residential placements? 

There are several grants, bursaries and funding opportunities available to help fund your residential placements which you can learn more about here: https://www.podvolunteer.org/blog/grants-and-funding-to-help-you-volunteer-overseas 

Can I hear from past DofE Gold Residential participants?

Each year we help 100s of young people complete their DofE Gold Residential by joining a volunteer trip overseas. 

If you are interested in joining a Pod Volunteer trip to complete your DofE then you might like to hear from some of our recent DofE Gold participants who have joined our projects around the world:

Ella – Turtle and Conservation DofE Gold Residential in Greece – 

“I recently went on Pod Volunteer's under 18 October half term turtle conservation trip to Greece. Our group leaders were so friendly and helpful which just made the experience feel really comfortable. The area we were based in around Argostoli was so stunning and the Pod Volunteer team organised a wide variety of activities throughout the week based all around the local area. I learnt so much about both conservation in general and turtles through the presentation and talk that our group leaders had organised. I would 100% recommend this trip to anyone who is considering it!!!”

Mia – Big 5 Conservation DofE Gold Residential in South Africa – 

“Volunteering at the Big 5 Animal project was truly fantastic and life-changing. I had the most amazing 3 weeks in South Africa at the Big 5 Animal volunteering in the summer. Our activities included animal observation, nature conservation and community activities. We had a great camp life with other volunteers hanging out, cooking and dining together every day. 

Every weekday we were either out at the reservation/safari or helping out in the nearby village school or soup kitchen. The weekends are free for other activities such as sand boarding, surfing, pottery or horse riding on the beach, or simply just chilling – your choice! Everyone was so friendly and helpful, and we all felt very safe and supported. 

We saw all the safari animals very close by; the elephants, hippos, giraffe families, rhinos, and lions which was just out of this world! 

This is the best in the world experience, and I would recommend a minimum stay of two weeks to really see and do everything that the Big 5 experience has to offer!

Pod Volunteer was very reliable, shared useful information on what to expect from the volunteering and arrangements, and provided a global 24/7 contact for any emergencies/queries which I didn’t need to use. The Big 5 Camp workers and organisers were the most amazing people and very knowledgeable about the Big 5 Reservation, all the animals, nature conversation and local community activities. They made my stay really special My experience was absolutely amazing and cannot recommend it more!”

William – Marine and Coastal Conservation DofE Gold Residential in Greece 

“I joined the Marine Conservation project in Kefalonia with Pod Volunteer, and it was an amazing experience from start to finish. Each day offered something new — from seagrass and sand dune monitoring to bird surveys and beach profiling. The variety of fieldwork made every day rewarding, and it was great to see how each task contributed to the wider conservation effort. The team were incredibly supportive and knowledgeable, creating a friendly and purposeful atmosphere throughout. It was also a great opportunity to meet people from different backgrounds who all shared an interest in protecting the environment. Overall, it was a fulfilling and eye-opening experience that combined meaningful conservation work with the chance to explore a beautiful part of Greece. I’d highly recommend it to anyone who wants to learn, contribute, and be part of something positive.”

Sophie – Turtle and Wildlife Conservation DofE Gold Residential in Costa Rica 

“Volunteering with the turtle conservation was honestly one of the most unforgettable experiences of my life. The project gave me the chance to be surrounded by nature and contribute to protecting endangered sea turtles. 

One of the most enjoyable moments for me was releasing some of the baby turtles into the ocean for the first time. Watching these tiny baby’s make their way to the sea was both emotional and rewarding. 

Night patrols along the beach to protect nesting mothers and helped relocate their eggs to the safety of the hatchery, was one of the best experiences as it was so satisfying. The work was physical and sometimes tiring, but it felt incredibly meaningful. 

Aside from turtle work, I helped with wildlife monitoring, including birds, butterflies, and crocodilians. I also got to explore the nearby beaches, whale watching and waterfalls on my day off, which made the experience even more special. 

The team at Pod was super supportive from the start, both before and during the trip. The accommodation was simple but comfortable, and I really enjoyed the sense of community with other volunteers — we cooked, ate, and worked together, and I made some great friends. 

If you’re looking for something a little different and want to make a real impact while being surrounded by nature, I can’t recommend this experience enough. It challenged me, inspired me, and gave me memories I’ll have forever.”

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