Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's)

Below are listed the most common questions I am asked about the Duke of Edinburgh's Award, see if you can find the answers to your questions below.

If you cannot find your answer here there is an Online Community for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award within Greater Manchester West where you can post any other queries or questions you have.  Click Here to access the Online Community.

• Q: Can activities undertaken count towards both the Scout Association awards and the Duke of Edinburgh's awards?
  A: Yes, providing that you are registered with the Duke of Edinburgh's Award by purchasing a record book for the level of award you're undertaking before you start the activity and that you're a youth member of the Scout Association.  See Take the Challenge and DoE/Scout Award comparisons

• Q: Can an activity count towards the Duke of Edinburgh's Award or a Scout Association Award, if followed before I register?
  A: There is some flexibility but not much.   Activities can count towards an DoE Award if they are undertaken during the preceding 3 months or with an Access Organisation only.  For a Scout Association Award it's at the discretion of the Leader although we would advise following the same guideline as for DoE.

• Q: Can I start at any level of The Award Scheme?
  A: Providing the minimum ages are met yes.

• Q: Can I start an Award early?
  A: Discretion is given to your Unit Leader or Commissioner to permit those who are too young to enter the Bronze Award but who are part of a larger group aged 14 years and above to make a start with their friends.  The Unit Leader or Commissioner must be satisfied that the participants are sufficiently mature to undertake the Bronze Award Programme.
  
  Unit Leaders or Commissioners may permit those who have completed the Bronze Award to make a start on the Silver Award before their 15th Birthday without imposing an artificial delay.
  
  It must be stressed that no activity can count towards the Gold Award before the 16th birthday.  This includes practice expeditions for the Gold Award expedition.

• Q: What is the maximum age for completing the Awards?
  A: The upper age limit for all Awards is the 25th birthday by which time all activities counting towards an Award must be completed.

• Q: Can I have an extension if I don't finish before my 25th birthday?
  A: An extension to the upper age limit will only be considered where illness, accident or unavoidable circumstances make it impossible to complete an Award by your 25th birthday.  If you wish to ask for an extension you will need to submit in writing your request to us which we will forward on to the Award Secretary for consideration.  If successful a period of time will be allowed which must not be further exceeded.  The latest age a participant can enrol on to an award is 23.

• Q: Can I follow activities in my lessons at school, college or uni or whilst I work?
  A: Activities should be followed during free or personal time.  Because The Award is voluntary, it should be followed at times when participants have freedom of choice as to whether they participate or not.
  
  Those activities pursued partly during curriculum or work time may count only if you can demonstrate a substantial contribution to the activity in personal or free time and that the activities are not followed for examination or career advancement purposes.

• Q: Can I complete any of my service, skill and physical recreation requirements in one sitting, i.e. over a week or a weekend?
  A: No.  The minimum time requirements are expressed in months during which there should be sustained regular commitment averaging at least an hour a week.

• Q: Can I start a section of the next level of Award before I finish the previous Award?
  A: You may start on a Section of the next level of Award prior to completing the previous Award providing you obtain a Record Book for the next level; you have completed that Section in the previous Award; you have reached the minimum age of entry for the next Award and you are not working on all three Awards at the same time.

• Q: I've lost my Record Book, can I get a new one?
  A: Yes, with previous entries endorsed by your Unit Leader or Commissioner.  There will be a charge equal to the current price of a record book plus postage.  Lost certificates and badges can also be replaced by contacting us and at Gold Level by contacting the appropriate Award Office for you region.

• Q: Can my Instructor/Supervisor assess my activity?
  A: For Service, Skill and Physical Recreation Sections, the activity can be instructed and assessed the same person although in some cases independent assessment may be desirable.
  
  For the Expedition Section at Bronze level the Assessor should not have been involved in any of the training or instruction of the Expedition Group.  At Silver level the Assessor should be independent of the Expedition Group and at Gold level the Assessor must be independent of the Expedition Group and not associated with the Award Unit in any way.

• Q: Can my Expedition Group have members over the age of 25?
  A: No, all members of the Expedition Group must have met the minimum age requirements of the expedition level being undertaken, have completed all the necessary training and be under 25.  The only exception to this is where a participant has been granted an age extension.

• Q: Where can I find out more information?
  A: Your Entrance Pack and Record Book is your first point of call.  Your Unit Leader is also a good source of information and they should let you have access to the Award Handbook and Expedition Guide.  After that you can try the DoE Award Website or Scoutbase for further information.  The Programmes File is a good source of typical programmes that you should be following for all the Award Sections and finally you can always Contact Us if all other routes fail to answer your query.

• Q: Can I complete my training and qualifying expeditions outside the normal Expedition Season.
  A: This will be addressed on an individual basis.  Expeditions should take place during the DoE Expedition Season.  However, it may be possible to do your expedition outside the Expedition Season but you should consult with your Trainer/Supervisor and Assessor as early as possible when planning your expedition.  For Gold Training and Qualifying expeditions you will need the permission of your Operating Authority and the approval of the Wild Country Panel of the area you will be completing your expedition in.

• Q: Can I use the same activity for two different levels of Award, i.e. Bronze to Silver.
  A: Yes, providing you show progression in your chosen activity and not a repetition as the previous Award. You cannot, however, use the same activity towards two sections of the same Award, i.e. Skill and Physical Recreation at Silver level.

mailto:doe.adviser@gmwscouts.org.uk