Recent years have hindered the progression of the Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) programme primarily due to the effects of Covid-19. However, this year has brought new light to this award as lockdown has ceased and as a result an influx of young people have signed up to either Bronze, Silver or Gold Awards.
DofE has always been an attractive scheme for young people to sign upto, however prior years have seen completed awards stagnate across the country mainly because of Covid-19 and its restricitons. For those unfamiliar with the DofE scheme it is a long term commitment whereby young people complete sections such as Skill, Physical and Volunteering over a timescale. Ontop of these segments applicants must complete an expedition in the rural outskirts of England whether that be the Ashdown Forest or the Peak District.
2022 however, has been the DofE's most successful year in its 66 year history with 321,000 young people signing upto the award. Following the passing of The Duke of Edinburgh on April 2021 this scheme bears an emotional side to it and the recent influx of applicants expresses this. The DofE foundation have set forth an aim to reach an audience of 1 million young people by 2026 (that have signed up to the scheme). The DofE foundation is the centrepiece of Prince Phillip's legacy and it seems to be the charity that has affected most people across the country in a positive manner.
The overall objectives of the DofE programme is to provide young people with a platform that enables them to explore activities that they had not been able to do so before, as well as to explore the rural and mountainous regions of the UK and form connections with new people. The expedition itself compels young people to act accordingly as a team and conduct their teamworking skills and mapping skills to a degree of merit.
