To be frustrated by DofE requirements

[Frenchcremefraiche]

My daughter has just turned 15 and is trying to complete (well, START tbh!) her Bronze DofE.

On paper it's fine: learn something and do some volunteering.

In reality it's really, really hard! All suggestions appreciated!

There are so many exclusions to the skill requirement. She doesnt get home from school until 6 which limits evenings. Not that there are many lessons/groups after school anyway. Then there are so few activities that count as a skill on the weekend. Anything vaguely "sporty" doesnt count as a skill even if it's something she's never done before and is going to classes to learn it (eg ice skating). She's been doing online guitar lessons but because she started those before DofE, they dont count. There is a minimum hours requirement and Ive found a few in person classes but they arent long enough. It needs to be something in person because it needs to be signed off so teaching herself or doing something at home wont count.

Then volunteering, because of her age, very few places can help. Any informal groups that are willing to take her want a parent present because they cant take responsibility for her / arent DBS checked etc which I get but obviously she doesnt want me hanging about. It has to be a regular thing so she cant organise eg an afternoon litter pick. Plus she needs someone to sign it off anyway. She looked at helping at a local beaver/scout group but one said no and the other has her ex boyfriend helping so she said no. In her naive 15year old way she wont help at brownies because they are "sexist".

Any suggestions on what she can do? She's on the verge of having to quit because she cant meet the requirements.

My dd is volunteering by doing a little bit shopping each week for an elderly neighbour- would this be possible?

She needs to suck it up and help at brownies

We don't know many people tbh but Ive asked the people we do know and they either declined or were insulted. 🤐

I volunteered at a care home as a volunteer ‘friend’

She'd rather give up than do that which is her choice but it would be a shame and I refuse to believe that is the only option. Ive not even looked into it so dont even know if it's possible anyway.

My son volunteered at our local library for Bronze, helping run a children's activity on Saturdays, so it might be worth trying a library.

My dd became a helper at the local rainbows, she ended up being a qualified guide leader. She also did a Friday afternoon in a Shelter charity shop which really helped her get a part time job in retail when she was 16.

We have dofe volunteers at our local parkrun. One hour a week, done by about 10.15 on Saturday mornings. Parents not needed. You need to be a bit creative.

Our local Sea Scouts (accepts boys and girls) would take volunteers for DoE - perhaps try local Scouts troops?

IMO the requirements are a barrier to participation.

I think you can do things started before the DofE as long as the DC and the instructor of the thing completes the DofE admin. The entry bar for the adult to be an instructor is low so a family friend could do it for stuff like cooking or crafting.

Gold requires a costly residential, on top of the other requirements and traditional camping expedition.

Can she ask a local councillor to set up a regular community litter pick with her. Ours does one on 1 Saturday a month.

Can she volunteer with a charity shop on a Saturday? In the dark ages I did that for my DofE. I also helped at Sunday School. I'm guessing that's "too religious" for her. She may have to get over herself re Brownies however.
For the skill, why can't she start with a private class (coding, origami, calligraphy, cooking), practice on her own and go back for a one off class to be signed off?

Does she really want to do it. It's not compulsory.

Does school have any clubs or wraparound care for younger DC she could volunteer at?

Volunteering with this age group is usually with groups who know them.

to be honest, it sounds more like she has opportunities but is ruling them out herself.

try St John ambulance cadets? They do first aid duties. First aid probably counts as a skill as well.

most scout packs have beavers/cubs/scouts so could she volunteer with a different age group from her ex boyfriend?

skills - musical instruments definitely count. Can she join a guitar group? Do the county music service or her school run anything?

Not a option unfortunately. There are 2 care homes we can do, one is awful and the other is volunteered to capacity.

We've asked at the library if she can help at one of their weekend sessions to read a book in the children's section (where there will be parents and adults about) but they said no. Because her school day finishes so late she cant help at any after school clubs.

Do you have any charity shops locally? A few people in my daughter’s year volunteered in those on weekends.

Skill - how about cooking? A neighbour got her son to cook something every week which he photographed and sent to another friend who is a good cook to sign off.

Cross posted. They said no. It would have been perfect otherwise.

Does she have computing skills? Maybe a small group would appreciate her putting their data into excel or digitising their history. She could do that at home and then the tangible results could be signed off by the organisation.

I’ve signed off students doing Duolingo as their skill a few times, would that be an option?

Are there no litter picking groups near you she could join?
We have a wombles group in our area that let any age help.

Is she interested in joining cadets? My dd is doing her DoE through them and a lot of the activities they do can be signed of towards her DoE. It's so much cheaper as well.

I work in a residential care home for children and young people, we take volunteers.

Was also going to suggest park run.

If all else fails, ask a good friend to help think of something and sign it off for you

Are you sure something that’s already begun can’t be counted? My son did trombone lessons, which he’s been doing for years, but as long as his teacher said he’d made progress within the time period, that was fine.

Volunteering - There are some online volunteering options for DofE things like online mapping of communities in case there’s a natural disaster. I think I found these sites through the official DofE website.

I think places like British Heart Foundation have opportunities online too, helping to list items.

Alternatively, what about helping in a local library or the school library? Or in a primary school after school club? My son volunteered to do that and just had to play with the younger kids. He quite enjoyed it!

Good luck!

Volunteer at a park run

Our local charity shops take DofE volunteers, do you have any nearby?