Why do people do the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award? Most young people would probably reply that it’s useful for a CV. It’s one of those classic accomplishments which too many teenagers do mainly so they can write it on an application form, proudly standing next to the volunteering in a charity shop, the paper round and the three months in Asda last summer. But is there any more to it than that? Could it be no more than one of those things you endure because your teacher said you simply must do it to get a gold star on your personal statement?
Well, when the award was founded over sixty years ago by the Duke himself, the aim was to encourage 14 to 24 year olds to take part in activities to enhance resilience, team work, communication and other life skills, as well as giving them a chance to meet new people and enjoy the experience. Surely this must at least partially account for the 112,000 young people in the UK who take part every year? Surely the simple desire to boost a CV couldn’t have been the only motivation for so many people?
Indeed, one Silver Award participant who just completed a practice expedition with Rosebery School told me that she believes the award is also beneficial for herself, not just her CV, because ‘it tests your mental and physical strength, improves your teamwork and co-operation, and makes you more self-sufficient in a world where we are increasingly dependent on other people or the internet’. This is a belief held by many participants; 93% nationwide feel that the award has helped them to work in a team, and 84% feel that they have become a more responsible person.
Though this may be the case, the CV or university application is still the main incentive. Why? Because it seems to work. The director of student recruitment at the University of Bristol states that ‘the DofE award can be beneficial’ when applying for university, because many courses lead to jobs in which it is necessary to ‘communicate effectively’ or have a ‘practical, problem-solving ability’, and ‘participation in extracurricular activities such as the DofE award can be a valuable way of evidencing this kind of aptitude’.
Yet there are many arguably easier things that these 112, 000 young people could do instead if all they want is to stock up on CV ammunition. DofE is hard. If the CV is the only reason, the expedition is nothing but draining and arduous and back-breaking and potentially soul-destroying. And as for the other aspects: long, boring, irritating, useless. Even the uni-hungry CV machines which society has made our teenagers into could not choose this. If not all, then most of the participants must realise that it can enhance your independence and personality in a way useful to your private life, and perhaps – shock horror – actually be enjoyable, if you choose to do it for more reasons than because Mrs Teacher says employers will give you a pat on the back for it.
Additionally, DofE is by no means a guarantee of application success – most universities do respect it, but a spokesperson for the University of Cambridge states that ‘clear evidence of academic engagement beyond the curriculum’ is the most useful evidence of aptitude for their courses. If this is the case, why has the annual number of young people achieving a DofE award risen from 1,000 in the first year to 119,892 last year? The only plausible explanation is that most participants realise its value for their own personal lives, skills and personalities, and/or that if you choose to do it for the right reasons, it can be immensely enjoyable.
Ultimately, the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award may be a useful paragraph on your CV, but in order to enjoy the experience and get the most out of it, all participants should recognise the benefits for themselves. For you. Your character, and your enjoyment. Not just for the piece of paper attached to your name.
By Samantha Perren, Rosebery School
