Duke of Edinburgh's Award

DOFE header image

DofE offers an individual challenge and encourages young people to undertake exciting, constructive, challenging and enjoyable activities in their free time. In Boys' Brigade, DofE can work alongside the Company Section programme.

Your DofE Contacts

DofE Boys' Brigade Manager: Jonathan Graham jonathangrm@gmail.com

DofE Expedition Advisor: Malcolm McFadden Dofeni@boys-brigade.org.uk

DofE in 2021 - DofE With a Difference

During 2020 and 2021 DofE introduced temporary programme changes to allow young people to continue with their Awards during covid-19 restrictions. Find out about DofE with a Difference here

Outdoor Related Discounts

All DofE participants, Leaders and volunteers get a discount card that gives you a discount in five retailers in-store and online: GO Outdoors, Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors and Tiso.
Find out about the DofE Card here

For other discounts offered to BB members check here: Online Brigade Manager (log into OBM, go to HELP and FAQs)

DofE Expedition Notifications

STEP ONE - Get approval for your expedition

Please send one e mail for notification per expedition group to include: 1 x Green Form, 1 x set of maps and 1 x set of route cards. Please note expedition numbers will not be issued for Qualifying Expeditions where there has been no Green Form or number issued for a suitable practice expedition.

Bronze Expeditions Notifications - please send to your BB Battalion Adviser for checking and verification.
Silver and Gold expedition notifications must be sent to: dofeni@boys-brigade.org.uk, or posted to NIHQ at Newport.

STEP TWO - Notify BB of your approved expedition. This is done through OBM.

Expedition Resources

Pilot Age Range for Bronze and Sliver Awards

Posted 26.8.15 The Duke of Edinburgh's Award UK are running a pilot on the age range for participation at Bronze and Silver levels. From August 2015 young people can start their Bronze award in the academic year they turn 14 and their Silver in the academic year they turn 15. Please note there is no change at Gold level.

The criteria for the pilot is clear and specific:

Bronze Award: Participants can enrol and start the Bronze Award in the school year in which you turn 14, which for NI is Year 10. This is the case whether the participant is doing DofE in school or with any other DofE centre type. Note! If a pupil has been put forward a year and will not be 14 in that school year, they may not start the Bronze Award.

Silver Award: Participants can enrol and start the Silver Award in the school year in which you turn 15, which for NI is Year 11. This applies whether whether the participant is doing DofE in school or any other DofE centre type. Participants may be a direct entrant to Silver under the same criteria - if the pupil has been put forward a year and will not be 15 in the school year, they may not start the Silver Award.

There is no change to Gold Award criteria and participants can only enrol for Gold on or after their 16th birthday.