The Duke of Edinburgh’s 2015

Sections of the Award There are FOUR sections of the Award Scheme There are FOUR sections of the Award Scheme Volunteering Volunteering Skill (hobby) Skill (hobby) Physical Recreation (Sport) Physical Recreation (Sport) Expedition Expedition

Volunteering - Introduction This involves doing something which will be of benefit to somebody else This involves doing something which will be of benefit to somebody else

Volunteering – Self organised course This means finding somebody, or some organisation to help. This means finding somebody, or some organisation to help. This can be an individual This can be an individual This can be a charity This can be a charity

Volunteering – the rules The service section must last at least 3 months and you can extend this to 6 months The service section must last at least 3 months and you can extend this to 6 months It must work out at an average of 1 hour per week It must work out at an average of 1 hour per week

Skill This is a hobby which you may already be doing or you may wish to take up This is a hobby which you may already be doing or you may wish to take up This must last for between 3 and 6 months This must last for between 3 and 6 months As a guideline, it must not involve doing anything which involves ‘getting sweaty’! As a guideline, it must not involve doing anything which involves ‘getting sweaty’!

Skill – School run courses There are many courses / clubs in school which will count towards the Award. There are many courses / clubs in school which will count towards the Award. Photography Club; Choirs; Angling club; Warhammer Club, Drama etc. as examples Photography Club; Choirs; Angling club; Warhammer Club, Drama etc. as examples

Physical Recreation This needs to involve you ‘getting sweaty’! This needs to involve you ‘getting sweaty’! You do not need to be a star sports person to take part. You do not need to be a star sports person to take part. You only have to PARTICIPATE You only have to PARTICIPATE You only need to show that you have IMPROVED You only need to show that you have IMPROVED

Supervision For each of these three sections, you need to have someone who is prepared to supervise you while you are doing the course; help you with it and be prepared to sign your record book up at the end of the course. For each of these three sections, you need to have someone who is prepared to supervise you while you are doing the course; help you with it and be prepared to sign your record book up at the end of the course. These people must be over the age of 18, they must not be a member of your family and they must have either experience in the activity and/or a qualification in that activity! These people must be over the age of 18, they must not be a member of your family and they must have either experience in the activity and/or a qualification in that activity!

How long do I have to do it? You need to do each of the three sections for at least 3 months. You need to do each of the three sections for at least 3 months. You then need to choose one of the sections and do that for an extra 3 months making that section 6 months in total. You then need to choose one of the sections and do that for an extra 3 months making that section 6 months in total.

EXPEDITIONS This is the bit which most people find the most fun This is the bit which most people find the most fun The idea is that you go off as part of a group of between 4 and 7 people, on your own, into the wilderness, and find your way from start to finish along a route which you have devised. The idea is that you go off as part of a group of between 4 and 7 people, on your own, into the wilderness, and find your way from start to finish along a route which you have devised. You will need to carry all your food, tents, stoves and clothes etc to allow you to be totally self sufficient for the duration of the trip. You will need to carry all your food, tents, stoves and clothes etc to allow you to be totally self sufficient for the duration of the trip. There must be a purpose to your expedition There must be a purpose to your expedition

Expedition Training You need to be trained in the art of using camping gear, packing rucksacks so they don’t hurt when you carry it, putting tents up, and of course, using a map to navigate your way around. You need to be trained in the art of using camping gear, packing rucksacks so they don’t hurt when you carry it, putting tents up, and of course, using a map to navigate your way around.

Practice Expedition You then need to go on a practice expedition with adult supervisors who will make sure that you know what you are doing and that you are safe You then need to go on a practice expedition with adult supervisors who will make sure that you know what you are doing and that you are safe

Practice Expedition – the rules You need to walk for a total of 15 miles over two days which means one night’s camping included You need to walk for a total of 15 miles over two days which means one night’s camping included

Practice Expedition – where? Training will take place in the local area at the start of February. Training will take place in the local area at the start of February. The practice expedition will take place in North Norfolk during March. The practice expedition will take place in North Norfolk during March. This will involve a weekend for each bit. This will involve a weekend for each bit.

Assessment Expedition This is the bit where you go up north for three days. This is the bit where you go up north for three days. Unfortunately this means a day off school! Unfortunately this means a day off school! Places you may go to include the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales Places you may go to include the Lake District and the Yorkshire Dales

Assessment Expeditions These will take place in the Summer Term These will take place in the Summer Term You do not need to buy loads of gear for these! You do not need to buy loads of gear for these! The school has plenty of tents, stoves and rucksacks, but you will need to have your own boots, sleeping bags and waterproof clothing. The school has plenty of tents, stoves and rucksacks, but you will need to have your own boots, sleeping bags and waterproof clothing.

Why join the scheme? It is good fun – over half of each year takes part in the scheme and most complete it, so it must be OK! It is good fun – over half of each year takes part in the scheme and most complete it, so it must be OK! It is very worthwhile – it gives you the chance to do things which you may not otherwise do. It is very worthwhile – it gives you the chance to do things which you may not otherwise do. If you see the scheme through all the way to silver and then Gold level, you will be given an invite to the Palace to meet Prince Philip himself to get you gold certificate! If you see the scheme through all the way to silver and then Gold level, you will be given an invite to the Palace to meet Prince Philip himself to get you gold certificate! Employers like it as they see it as a voluntary activity which they know has taken a lot of hard work in completing. It sets you apart from other pupils as – let’s face it – you will all have GCSE’s and ‘A’ levels or whatever which you have been told to get! Employers like it as they see it as a voluntary activity which they know has taken a lot of hard work in completing. It sets you apart from other pupils as – let’s face it – you will all have GCSE’s and ‘A’ levels or whatever which you have been told to get!

What will it cost? To buy the record book is £16.00 To buy the record book is £16.00 The school makes a charge of £9.00 each to pay for extras The school makes a charge of £9.00 each to pay for extras This is a total of £25.00 This is a total of £25.00 The expedition training and practice trip to Norfolk is £40.00 The expedition training and practice trip to Norfolk is £40.00 This makes a total of £65.00 This makes a total of £65.00 This is the same price as last year! This is the same price as last year!

What do I need to do to join the Scheme? There is a meeting for all of your parents (and you if you want to come as well!) to find out more about the scheme. There is a meeting for all of your parents (and you if you want to come as well!) to find out more about the scheme. This is a week on Monday (1 st Dec) at 7.30pm in the Hall This is a week on Monday (1 st Dec) at 7.30pm in the Hall We would like all parents to attend this meeting. We would like all parents to attend this meeting.

If your parents can come to the meeting: Return the reply slip about the parents meeting and the Medical and Exped Choice Form, both contained in the letter which you can pick up on the way out. Return the reply slip about the parents meeting and the Medical and Exped Choice Form, both contained in the letter which you can pick up on the way out. This must be back by next Tuesday This must be back by next Tuesday Your parents can then pay the money for the record book and expedition either right away, or at the Parents Meeting or just after it. Your parents can then pay the money for the record book and expedition either right away, or at the Parents Meeting or just after it.

If your parents CANNOT to come to the meeting: You must return the “Reply Slip” from the letter. You must return the “Reply Slip” from the letter. You must return the “Parental Consent Form” for the practice expedition and training You must return the “Parental Consent Form” for the practice expedition and training You make a payment of £65.00 either by bringing cash or a cheque into school, or paying using WisePay on the school’s website. This covers the cost of joining the scheme and the costs of the expedition training and the practice expedition to North Norfolk You make a payment of £65.00 either by bringing cash or a cheque into school, or paying using WisePay on the school’s website. This covers the cost of joining the scheme and the costs of the expedition training and the practice expedition to North Norfolk

First-come - First-served! There are 112 places guaranteed for this activity. There are 112 places guaranteed for this activity. These will be on a “first-come - first-served” basis. These will be on a “first-come - first-served” basis. As was mentioned at an assembly earlier in the year, your behaviour record in school will be taken into account and all applicants will be assessed on this by both myself and your Head of Year! As was mentioned at an assembly earlier in the year, your behaviour record in school will be taken into account and all applicants will be assessed on this by both myself and your Head of Year!

When is the final data for handing in all the forms? All forms and all payments need to be handed in by Friday 5 th December. All forms and all payments need to be handed in by Friday 5 th December. This must be handed into Reception in an envelope with your name and form on it, together with the words “Bronze D. of E. enrolment 2015”. This must be handed into Reception in an envelope with your name and form on it, together with the words “Bronze D. of E. enrolment 2015”.

What to do now: If you do not want to join the scheme then you can now leave and go back to your lessons. If you do not want to join the scheme then you can now leave and go back to your lessons. If you do want to join the scheme, take a letter from the piles on the tables by the door. If you do want to join the scheme, take a letter from the piles on the tables by the door. Remember, applications are limited to 112 and will be accepted on a ‘first come – first served’ basis. Remember, applications are limited to 112 and will be accepted on a ‘first come – first served’ basis.