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AIBU?

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Original poster

Urban DofE: does such a thing exist?

109 replies

paulinepolos · 12/07/2026 18:19

Hello
I am looking for an alternative Gold Duke of Edinburgh`s Award Expedition for my just turned 18yo daughter. She has mental health difficulties and a history of depression, to which I have found the standard Expeditions unsuitable. We live in Liverpool and I initially suggested to our Private DofE coordinator to do the Leeds and Liverpool Canal as her Expedition. And before you go on about wild country or mountains, as of 2023 the DofE says it allows Urban Expeditions (look at 20 Conditions).

It needs to have/provide the following things:

.be in an urban or semi-urban environment and not in "wilderness" or mountains
.have absolute MINIMUM team size of 4 people
.female only or request to have female only
.to ask an allocated time for me to see my daughter at night
.to ask to bring own food and not those shitty ration pack boil in the bag meals (such as bring own spaghetti and sauce)

Can anyone help or advise me on this?

OP posts:
Sofiacalling · 12/07/2026 18:25

Surely the main point of the expedition is to prove independence and initiative-needing to meet you fails that core criteria..

Ithinkhesamerdog · 12/07/2026 18:25

Why not just start with some baby steps of her trying things like a bit of volunteering?
Or you and her agree to try something new once a month? It could be a new food. A visit to a different town. A trip to a museum or art gallery. Going to a local event

BaseballBraves · 12/07/2026 18:24

Would your daughter not be better getting advice from her school and considering sitting some exams instead?

Ithinkhesamerdog · 12/07/2026 18:24

I seem to recall a thread like this before
Surely a large part of the benefit of D of E is that it gets children out of their comfort zone?

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 12/07/2026 18:24

And a key factor in what’s Available are the unpaid volunteers that plan train and supervise.

If you wanted a bespoke experience, you needed to gather a team of children and volunteers that generally aren’t related to them to manage it. It’s a bit risky, as experienced leaders are better prepared for all the things that can happen.

Muchtoomuchtodo · 12/07/2026 18:23

This is your 3rd thread about this.

i think you’ve already had some excellent responses.

EssCarGo · 12/07/2026 18:22

You already posted this and lots of people said it doesn’t sound like DofE was really that suitable for your daughter

PrizedPickledPopcorn · 12/07/2026 18:22

They can take their own food as long as they can cook it and carry it. So the shitty ration packs are chosen by many because they are light and easy to prepare. I think mine took instant noodles, among other things- pepperami, maybe. Can’t remember as it was a long time ago.

TheCurious0range · 12/07/2026 18:22

You started a thread about this before. You were told then that doing DofE isn't going to replace the exams she didn't get. You were also told that what you are looking for doesn't really exist.