The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Charter

What The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Charter does

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a UK-registered charity founded in 1956 that delivers a structured youth achievement programme for 14-24 year olds across three levels - Bronze, Silver, and Gold - organised around five sections (Volunteering, Physical, Skills, Expedition, plus a Residential section for Gold). The programme is operated through a Licensed Organisation model spanning 1,000+ schools, colleges, youth clubs, prisons, hospitals, and sports clubs, with DofE reaching over 80% of UK state schools and an international footprint of 130+ countries via The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award. In 2025/26, 345,900+ young people started their DofE (the highest figure in the programme's history) and 589,237 were active participants, contributing 6 million volunteering hours in a single year; cumulatively, 7 million Award holders have been produced since 1956.

The underlying technology stack is centred on eDofE, a web platform where participants log progress, upload evidence, and have activities approved by Leaders, complemented by a DofE mobile app and the HowNow-powered DofE Learning Platform that delivers bite-sized volunteer training. Verified shareable Digital Badges, an Opportunity Finder marketplace connecting participants to Approved Activity Providers, and the Your Future Path careers hub extend the digital surface. Approved Activity Providers (notably Teens in AI and IBM SkillsBuild) integrate AI and digital skills into the Skills section, while corporate and retail partnerships (GO Outdoors, Vango, Nikwax, Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors) support an ecosystem DofE Card discount programme.

DofE's revenue model is diversified across participation fees (£33 Bronze/Silver, £40 Gold), donations and Gift Aid, corporate partnerships, merchandise sales via the DofE Shop, and gifts in wills. The go-to-market is community-led and partner-led: schools and youth organisations sign up as Licensed Organisations, recruit participants, and deliver the programme under licence, while corporates and trusts provide funding and Large-scale fundraising events (London Marathon, Royal Ramble, Golf Day) round out the pipeline. A board of trustees governs the charity, which sits beneath The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation for global coordination.

Name

The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Charter

Legal name

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

Website

https://dofe.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Short description

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award is a UK-registered charity founded in 1956 that delivers a structured Bronze, Silver, and Gold youth achievement programme for 14-24 year olds through 1,000+ Licensed Organisations, supported by the eDofE digital platform and an international award network spanning 130+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Youth Development Programme / Youth Achievement Award

NAICS

Sports and Recreation Instruction (611620)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Arts, Sports & Recreation-Based Youth Development Nonprofits (BPAGADAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Sports Fundraising & Development Services (Foundations, NIL Collectives Support) (MPAKAKAK)

Keywords

• Youth achievement award
• Youth development programme
• Non-formal education
• Extracurricular accreditation
• Volunteer-led training

Headquarters

HQ city

London

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: The charity relies on public donations to support young people, particularly those worst hit by the cost-of-living crisis who need free places. Donations are accepted online, by post, and through PayPal. Gift Aid declarations are available for UK taxpayers.
2. Participation Fees: Welcome Pack participation fees: £33 for Bronze and Silver levels, £40 for Gold level. Licensed Organisations may add additional fees to cover administration, transport, or expedition costs.
3. Merchandise Sales: DofE Shop sells branded merchandise including hoodies, t-shirts, bags, as well as expedition kit accessories. Every purchase generates a donation back to the charity. Also includes 70th anniversary limited edition products.
4. Corporate Partnerships: Companies partner with DofE to create meaningful partnerships enabling young people to access programmes. Includes corporate sponsorships, philanthropy, and trust donations.
5. Gifts in Wills: Legacy giving programme where supporters can leave a gift to DofE in their Will to support future young people.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award operates a structured youth achievement award programme at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels for young people aged 14-24. Participants complete four core sections — Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition — with Gold adding a Residential section, all tracked through the proprietary eDofE digital platform and supported by a national network of Licensed Organisations, Approved Activity Providers and adult volunteers.

Product overview

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) is a structured youth achievement programme at three levels — Bronze, Silver, and Gold — for 14–24 year olds. Each level requires completion of Volunteering, Physical, Skills, and Expedition sections, with Gold adding a Residential experience. The programme is delivered primarily through eDofE, a digital platform where participants log activities and Leaders approve progress, supplemented by a DofE App for mobile access. Supporting infrastructure includes the DofE Learning Platform (HowNow) for volunteer training, the DofE Card discount programme for participants and Leaders, the Opportunity Finder marketplace connecting participants with Approved Activity Providers, the Your Future Path careers hub, and an official DofE Shop. DofE also partners with IBM SkillsBuild for free online skills courses. The DofE Young Leaders programme provides leadership development for participants. Together, these components form an integrated ecosystem supporting the end-to-end participant journey from enrolment through Award achievement.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DofE Award Programme (Bronze, Silver, Gold) A youth achievement award programme for 14-24 year olds available at Bronze, Silver and Gold levels. Each level requires completion of Volunteering, Physical, Skills and Expedition sections, with Gold adding a Residential section. Designed to develop self-belief, confidence, resilience, teamwork, leadership and practical skills.
• eDofE digital platform

Quantifiable outcome

• Young people report improvements in wellbeing, skills development, community ties, and physical activity levels after participating in DofE (from Impact Report 2024 based on 40,880 participants)
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers5 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Teens in AIcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 17 February 2026Teens in AI has been designated as an Approved Activity Provider for The Duke of Edinburgh's Award, allowing its AI Adventures online courses to count toward the Skills section of Bronze, Silver, or Gold DofE Awards for young people aged 14-24. The partnership enables teens across the UK to develop AI and digital skills while gaining recognized accreditation through the DofE programme.
• IBM SkillsBuildcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFree online courses and learning pathways for DofE participants to build career-ready skills and boost their CV. Provides AI and technology courses as Skills section opportunities for DofE participants.
• ScoutscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational youth organization that runs DofE for its members. Scouts can work towards their DofE Award as part of their Scouting programme.
• GirlguidingcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational youth organization for girls that runs DofE for Rangers members. Girlguiding members can work towards their DofE Award as part of their guiding programme.
• GO OutdoorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended Retailer of Expedition Kit providing at least 10% discount for DofE Card holders. Exclusive partner for litter picker purchases with 5% donation back to DofE charity.
• Blacks, Millets, Ultimate Outdoors, TisominorGTM or Marketing PartnerRecommended Retailers of Expedition Kit providing discounts for DofE Card holders on outdoor equipment and apparel.
• Fishing Republic and NaylorsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerAdditional retailers offering discounts to DofE Card holders.
• The Duke of Edinburgh's International AwardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DofE is part of The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation which supports operators in more than 130 countries and territories to deliver DofE and increase opportunities for young people internationally.
• VangominorGTM or Marketing PartnerKit partner offering 20% off spares and repairs for tents and outdoor equipment. Part of DofE Recommended Kit programme.
• NikwaxminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOutdoor gear aftercare partner providing waterproofing and cleaning products for DofE participants.

Scale indicators11 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• National Citizen Service (NCS): NCS is a UK government-backed youth programme for 15-17 year olds offering residential and skills-development experiences. It competes for the same school channel, parental mindshare, and the same 'character/employability' outcomes story that DofE sells to employers and government.
• Outward Bound Trust: Outward Bound delivers residential outdoor education and expedition training for UK schools and young people. It competes directly for the expedition section of DofE via Approved Activity Provider status and offers alternative outdoor development pathways that schools could choose instead of DofE.
• Girlguiding UK: Girlguiding is the UK's principal girls-only youth organisation and a DofE Licensed Organisation. Its Rangers section (14-18) maps directly onto DofE's 14-24 cohort and competes for parental and school channel share with overlapping personal-development programming.
• Scouts (The Scout Association): The Scout Association is the UK's largest youth organisation and a direct delivery partner of DofE. Both compete for the same 14-24 demographic, offer structured personal-development programmes, and overlap significantly in Volunteering, Skills, and Expedition activities — Scouts members can earn DofE Awards through the partnership.
• The Prince's Trust: The Prince's Trust is a major UK youth charity operating structured personal-development programmes for 11-30 year olds across the UK. It competes directly with DofE for corporate partnership funding, volunteer pools, and the same employability/skills-development narrative for disadvantaged young people.

Regional players

• National Youth Agency (NYA): NYA is the professional body for youth work in England, providing training, qualifications, and policy advocacy. It sits in the same UK youth-development ecosystem as DofE, influencing how schools fund and select youth programmes, including DofE licences.

Emerging players

• British Exploring Society: British Exploring Society runs overseas wilderness expeditions for UK young people aged 14-25, often from disadvantaged backgrounds. It competes for the same expedition narrative and disadvantaged-youth funding that DofE uses to differentiate from mainstream outdoor education providers.
• City Year UK: City Year UK places young volunteers (18-25) in schools to support pupils and develop their own skills. It overlaps with DofE's Volunteering and Skills sections and competes for the same employer-partnership narrative around youth employability outcomes.

Broad incumbents

• YMCA England & Wales: YMCA is a long-established youth and community organisation with structured personal-development programmes for young people across the UK. It offers overlapping life-skills and employability content but as part of a wider health/community portfolio rather than a specialist youth achievement award.

Others

• The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award Foundation: The International Award Foundation is DofE's parent entity that coordinates delivery in 130+ countries. It is operationally distinct but thematically identical — running the same award framework globally — making it the closest structural peer and potential international expansion vehicle.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about The Duke Of Edinburgh's Award Charter