The IAYP/ DoFE AWARDS Award Programme was initiated in the UK in 1956 as the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award with an aim of motivating young people aged between 14 and 25 years. The concept was to involve them in voluntary self-development activities like individual challenges, encourage personal discovery and growth, self-reliance, perseverance, responsibility to themselves and service to their community.

There are 3 levels of the Award – Bronze, Silver & Gold and the basic structure of the Award consists of 4 mandatory sections Service, Adventurous Journey, Skills and Physical Recreation. The Award therefore is challenging, and can be undertaken at your own pace. Participants can choose to undertake all three categories of the Award programme or enter directly at any of the three levels. The age group is as follows;

1. Bronze Award (for those over 14 years+) / the minimum period of participation are 6 months
2. Silver Award (for those over 15 years+) / the minimum period of participation are 12 months
3. Gold Award (for those over 16 years+) / the minimum period of participation are 18 months. At Gold level, participants undertake a Residential Project in addition.

Bronze Level Time Zones:

> Volunteering section: 3 months
> Physical section: 3 months
> Skills section: 3 months
> Expedition/ Adventure Journey section: 2 days/1 night
> You also have to do 3 more months in one of the Volunteering, Physical or Skills sections.

Silver Level Time Zones:

> Volunteering section: 6 months
> Physical and Skills sections: One section for 6 months and the other section for 3 months
> Expedition / Adventure Journey section: 3 days/2 nights
> If you didn’t do Bronze, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

Gold Level Time Zones:

> Volunteering section: 12 months
> Physical and Skills sections: One section for 12 months and the other section for 6 months
> Expedition / Adventure Journey section: 4 days/3 nights
> Residential section: Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days and 4 nights.
> If you didn’t do Silver, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.