Duke of Edinburgh Award

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award offers a nationally-recognised accreditation scheme, which is flexible and available to all. Young women need not necessarily be part of Girlguiding UK to complete this award. Young people can choose to participate at any time between the ages of 14 and 25 years (minimum ages apply) at one of three levels — Bronze, Silver and Gold.

Four sections

There are four sections to the award:

service — to encourage service to individuals and to the community
skill — to encourage the discovery and development of practical and social skills and personal interests
physical — to encourage participation and improvement in physical activity
expedition or exploration — to encourage the spirit of adventure and discovery.

At Gold level a further section — residential — is undertaken. This level aims to broaden young people's experiences through involvement with others in a residential setting. With each level the award requires that there is an increasing degree of commitment and responsibility.

The internet is changing the way we live. Young people have taken to technological advances very quickly, taking advantage of the opportunities they provide to socialise, communicate and learn. However, new technologies bring new risks that we need to be aware of and manage in order to safeguard the welfare of our members. Girlguiding UK are constantly updating resources online to keep our Young Girls safe.