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Extra-curricular activities

Find advice on the best extra curricular activities in secondary schools and primary schools here.

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Original poster

DofE Bronze - what are your 13/14 year old doing for volunteering and skills?

21 replies

TwigTheWonderKid · 15/10/2018 18:51

DS is having trouble finding a volunteering opportunity due to his age (13) and I am wondering what your DCs are doing?

OP posts:

AuntieStella · 15/10/2018 18:57

Two of mine have done DofE. They volunteered at Parkrun (Saturday mornings, also there's Junior Parkrun on Sunday mornings). There are so many Parkruns, each of which needs a fair number of volunteers to hold the event, they'll be welcomed with open arms. Most Event Directors have had DofE training/briefing so it all works easily.

For skills, one restarted music lessons, the other took a dressmaking class.

Nephrite · 15/10/2018 19:01

Dd did it in year 9 and was 13 until July of that year. She was a Guide and she helped with the Rainbow pack in the same unit. She still helps with Rainbows now as she enjoyed it

Nephrite · 15/10/2018 19:02

PS. Skills was playing her instrument in the school orchestra

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 15/10/2018 19:06

For Bronze, DS volunteered in the school library.

Now he is an Explorer Scout, he is a Young Leader with the cubs, so that will see him through Silver and Gold.

His Skill so far has been his singing lessons/participation in choir/taking part in the school musicals.

simbobs · 15/10/2018 19:07

One of mine helped at an after-school club at his former Primary school. That worked well as a lot of the children remembered him. My dd helped at a Brownie unit. For skill ds learned an instrument, dd learned to make jewellery.

Meet0nTheIedge · 15/10/2018 19:10

Mine is just about to sign up. Is it OK to use existing hobbies for skills and sports? DS plays hockey and football but isn't sure if they count or it has to be something new.

Dumbledoresgirl · 15/10/2018 19:12

2 of mine did it age 14/15 but the difficulty with finding voluntary roles was still an issue even at that age.

DS volunteered as a cleaner in the school once a week. They used to pay older students to clean in those days and volunteering with D of E was the way most students got into being offered paid work once they turned 16.

DD was the darling of the art department when her D of E came round and, having failed to get work in charity shops because she was too young, she volunteered once a week in the art rooms at school, mainly cleaning brushes, sorting cupboards etc.

Their skills were musical based. Orchestra for DS, steel pans for DD.

capercaillie · 15/10/2018 19:12

Parkrun brilliant for volunteering. Community gardens also a good option. Also sport team coaching
Yes to existing hobbies/sports - I make sure my DofE Bronze set themselves some good challenges.

BackforGood · 15/10/2018 19:14

Thought you were supposed to be 14 to start your DofE (unless for some exception the expedition group is going out just before birthday or something) ?
Mine all volunteered with younger sections within the Scout Association.

Dumbledoresgirl · 15/10/2018 19:15

At my children's school, they didn't need to take on new activities. In fact, they were encouraged to use whatever existing activities they did for their skills, sport, volunteering, where possible. It can be a bit much to take on 3 new activities. I know 2 of them only have to be done for 13 weeks, but, in reality, what with holidays etc, it often turned into several months, and the 6 month activity took most of the academic year.

cariadlet · 15/10/2018 19:15

Yes to existing hobbies and sports for skills, but my DD has found that you can't do the same one for silver that you did for bronze.

KnickerBockerGlooooory · 15/10/2018 19:17

Could he volunteer at a local gym class? Ie where kids go to learn gym/acro skills rather than working out! Or local swimming lessons helping in the pool? Cubs etc might be an option too.

PawneeParksDept · 15/10/2018 19:21

We take DofErs in the charity shop I volunteered in.

I did Library work for my own volunteering for D of E

Swimming for my sport

Can't remember skill, possibly Reading 😂

exexpat · 15/10/2018 19:23

Some charity shops will take them as volunteers from age 14. Lots of DD's friends did that. One spent an hour a week playing piano at our local hospital, which has a piano in the waiting area (luckily he is pretty good).

Lots of them did musical instruments as their skills; DD took lessons at home in another language. It can sometimes be hard to find 'skill' options that don't cost much money.

whojamaflip · 15/10/2018 19:25

Ds did volunteering as a junior coach with his Tae Kwondo school for both his bronze and silver and is carrying it on for his gold as well - he plans to become an instructor eventually so it's good experience for him.

Skills was a challenge but he ended up getting chickens and raising them to sell eggs farm gate which has turned into a thriving pocket money business for him - that was bronze.

Silver he went to our local butchers and got an unpaid Saturday job helping out - learned about different cuts of meat and how to prepare it for sale - was most annoyed he wasn't able to use the knives but learnt a lot - it turned into a paid Saturday and holiday position so he was well chuffed. Again he's carrying that on for his gold skills as he's now old enough to use the knives!

Friends of his did loads of different volunteering ranging from library monitors in the school library to helping with beavers and cubs, parkrun and one even went to the local nursing home for a couple of hours a week just to chat to the residents which was greatly appreciated.

Skills included taking a cookery course, learning an instrument and one lad got the local farmer to teach him how to do dry stone walking!

capercaillie · 15/10/2018 19:26

They can be 13 now to start to allow schools to run bronze in year9, silver in year 10.

whojamaflip · 15/10/2018 19:26

Ffs dry stone walling not walking!

Aragog · 15/10/2018 19:28

When DD did hers she did some of her volunteering at the younger age group of her Drama Club and some volunteering with an after school club at a local primary school.

For her skills she did Drama - again, via her drama club.

Her sport she chose running. She kept a record using a running app, and it was signed off by someone we know who organises a running club.

foundoutyet · 16/10/2018 08:58

Mine did helping out in library, after school club, local sportsclub

pacer142 · 16/10/2018 09:01

How about cadets? They do forces, police, and fire service. St Johns Ambulance also have a similar scheme. It should qualify for both the skills and volunteering. My son joined the police cadets for DofE. You don't need to actually be serious about it for your future/career. My DS was very open when he was interviewed for the police - they asked him if he had career aspirations within the police and he told them no - they actually said they were impressed with his honesty!

TheOnlyLivingBoyInNewCross · 17/10/2018 06:42

Yes to existing hobbies and sports for skills, but my DD has found that you can't do the same one for silver that you did for bronze.

Just to correct this - you can. This is what the official website says:

If you did Bronze, you can choose the same activity for Silver, but you need to show development in it. It’s best to try something new!

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