If anyone needs support with finding placements for their Volunteering and Skills section, we have been offered opportunities for DofE participants to Bell Ring at St Alphege Church Solihull and to assist with volunteering at Solihull Station – flower beds and litter picking. If this is of interest to you, please contact me for more information.

HSBC also offer DofE support – SBC UK Smart Money for DofE. They have sent us the following information:

‘Financial knowledge is an important skill for everyday life. We know that 85% of young people wished they had learnt more about money at school so that they could make more informed choices in their lives.

We are excited to introduce the new HSBC UK Smart Money for DofE which is suitable for Bronze and Silver learners aiming to complete their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. Our Skills programme is designed to build financial capability through a series of interactive webinars, practical activities, and reflections to help young people develop the financial knowledge, skills, and attitudes for a successful financial future’.

 IBM are also offering opportunities. The DofE are working in partnership with IBM SkillsBuild to enable DofE participants to access 100s of courses and certifications to complete the Skills section of their Bronze, Silver or Gold Award, please see the link below:

https://www.dofe.org/shopping/ibm-skillsbuild-home-page/

There is also a wealth of information on the DofE page’s ‘Opportunity Finder’;

https://www.dofe.org/opportunity-finder/opportunity-for-dofe-participant/?paged=1&distancelearning=1

With regards to the volunteering section with businesses, DofE have made a few adjustments. 

They have updated the section’s aims, principles, and outcomes to highlight the impact volunteering can have on the individual and wider society. Please see the attached document for more details. 

More DofE Volunteering Opportunities:

Ygam – Youth Advisory Panel Volunteering – Online

The Ygam Youth Advisory Panel gives you the chance to share views and make your voice count on issues around gaming, gambling, and the wider digital lives of young people.

Do you have an interest in the digital world? Keen to gain experience by volunteering with a national charity and shaping real change?

Join the Ygam Youth Advisory Panel and make your voice heard! As a panel member, you’ll:

• Share your views on how gaming and gambling can affect young people
• Help shape Ygam’s resources and engagement so they really connect with your generation
• Explore wider digital harms and give insight into the realities of young people’s online lives

This is a chance to influence change, gain valuable experience, and contribute towards your Duke of Edinburgh volunteering.

For more information, follow the link below:

Youth Advisory Panel Volunteering – The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award