Duke of Edinburgh

[Dragonsandcats]

My year 9 dd, not overly academic but does quite a few extra curricular activities has the chance to do D of E at school. Her dad is really pushing for it as he says it is great for her cv. I’m not fussed as she’s quite busy already, and neither is she. Does anyone know if it does look really good on a cv? Should I be pushing her to do it?

How does it work now that the Duke of Edinburgh is no longer with us? They should rename it

@WineDup

You have said it didn't cost you anything then you reveal

Buying food
Lottery funding
Fundraising
Organisations that provided equipment for free

Can you understand that not everyone would have the opportunity to have that support and such support may not be available now?

I did bronze DofE because it was heavily pushed at my school that it would be amazing to put on the CV etc etc. I really wished I hadn't done it, it wasn't a nice experience! My friends left me behind and I had to take 2 days off school afterwards because my blisters were so bad 😂

I don't think any employers / uni even looked at it, they're far more interested in personal statement, A levels etc

if your child enjoys that sort of thing and really wants to, then they should do it for the experience but manage your expectations about how much value it adds in the long run.

I didn't do it as a kid, but did paid work (from age 6, we could then although it wasn't usual to startthat early) and was into team sports. I missed out on volunteering and don't do it as an adult and will do that in retirement. I was very independent and got myself to places and made sure it was free or paid for it from my pay. My parents were both busy and led interesting lives and expected us to be busy and be independent. They were not interested in cultural stuff beyond the pub or community either.

I do interview entry level youngsters both at 18 and degree level entry. Many haven't done any paid work or really gone out into the world, so have just been exposed to immediate family and school and have no true hobbies. It really shows both at interview and when they start work.

I think that being well rounded as an individual makes such a difference in so many areas from social skills to work ethic. It is only as I have got older that I have appreciated the importance of community and of wider culture. DofE can bring out a broader range of experience that it is easy to miss out on otherwise.

GOLD DofE is what's looked for as an "achievement" - many many kids start Bronze (and quite a substantial number never finish it!)....So if she can fit it around what she is doing, then great...

Just think though, my Ds uses his extracurricular activates to go towards his award, so he loves his skill, and also teaches younger kids the basics - which covers his skill and his volunteering. Its about setting new challenges and developing yourself. He uses a sport he loves, and has learnt something different doing that sport. Would it fit in and around her current activities? The expedition you do need to complete and need good kit (although bursaries are available, and some schools/organisations lend it out).

Someone above says she got left behind - basically if that happens the whole group fail.

Works exactly the same as it did before he died as the scheme is now registered as a charity.

King Charles inherited the DofE title when Philip died and still has it, though there was talk if him passing to Edward and Edward and Sophie becoming the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh

My dd is continuing having done bronze in year 9. She also wants to do gold in 6th form. Year 10 now btw. It isn’t really just about the dofe for her but about camping and camaraderie. Your dd can try it and drop out if it doesn’t work for her and it definitely will be beneficial for you DD’s confidence.

There certainly is funding available now, I have been involved in the DoE scheme as recently as last year.

It didn’t cost me anything. I would require food while I was at home and while on expedition. Actually, my expedition food probably saved money because we lived on instant noodles and dried porridge oats made with water, which is not how I normally ate.

There are plenty of ways to fundraiser and plenty of grants/funding pots available currently, and I’d advise looking at local youth work charities rather than schools/for profit clubs.

Mine all did it, thoroughly enjoyed it and got a lot from it. BUT they wanted to do it. Why p, when she already has extra curricular activities, would you use her to do something she doesn’t want to do and that some people would absolutely hate. That would be a shitty thing to do.

I did Gold at uni.

I used existing activities for skill, voluntary service and sport so that didn't take up any extra time.
I loved the expedition and residential.

Personally I don't think I missed out by not bothering with bronze or silver. It's never, to my knowledge, made a difference on my CV. But how would I know?!

No rush, if you don't start in Yr9 it's not like you've missed the boat. She might enjoy the camping with friends though.

We were offered bronze at school. I completed it, it was great fun. The expedition/weekend away was 25 years ago and I still remember it fondly.
Teachers said it would be good for my cv, I may have put it on University personal statement but that was it. Some friends did silver and gold which they had to arrange themselves. All good experiences for them.

It's enjoyable, good experience and if she wants to do it I'd say go for it.

Didn’t quite know how to vote because I think you’re just asking a question.

My yr 9 Dd is doing it, and actually it involves a lot of the things she’s doing anyway - rock climbing and playing an instrument. Then she just does a bit of volunteering in a charity shop, which is also quite useful as it’ll help her get a Saturday job later I hope!

She might just do bronze though because as you say they’re often quite busy.

Plus the away trip but tbh that sounds fun!

Forgot to say she can use her existing skill/hobby if it qualifies, so as not to take any extra activities on.

That is a shame. I’m doing no ferrying at all but we live somewhere with great transport. Dd is at a London comprehensive (albeit all girls comp) and most of the kids are doing it or so it seems.

One of eldest dds friends did chunks of a competency based interview based on an entirely imagined D of E award. Apparently there is no such thing as the D of E police!

If it’s for the experience, your child should go for it. For a CV/UCAS, you need Gold. My kids just did Bronze and did not waste any space on their personal statements mentioning it, as they knew it counts for nothing in that sphere.

My eldest did it through their school, state school in Scotland, only got volunteering part to finish to complete their gold.
They absolutely loved it, especially their expeditions.
I would encourage them to do it for the experience not what it does to their CV but to be fair my friend who works in the recruitment department of our work does say that if someone has completed their DOE it is absolutely looked on favourably

Its a bit of a pain in the arse to log evidence etc. DS did his gold except for submitting all the proof so he has nothing to show for it/no actual award. But he talks very fondly about all the residentials.

DD did bronze, got the certificate, but won't countenance doing silver or gold. I should have just got her to do gold at the right age I think.

Worked in grad recruitment for a while and nobody really paid much heed to Bronze level on a CV tbh. If someone had Gold level, that would stand out.

i think anything outside of school Drama group sports uniformed organisations show a commitment that is worth putting down.

My disabled child can't do it, and her CV won't suffer because of it. If she wants to do it make sure it's not to improve a bit of paper in 10-20 years time