The Late Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, first considered the idea of a national programme to support young people’s development in 1954 at the request of his former headmaster, Kurt Hahn. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE) was born.
Since then, every year, DofE inspires hundreds of thousands of young people, from all walks of life, to explore who they are, grow in confidence and develop the skills they need to successfully navigate life. The DofE is open to any young person aged 14-24. Participants build their own programme, choosing activities and a cause to volunteer for.
The DofE is structured into three levels of Award which increase in challenge and duration: Bronze, Silver, and Gold.
His Royal Highness, Prince Edward, became a Trustee of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award in 1986 and of the DofE charity in the UK in 1988. Since 2015, he has been Chair of the International Award Foundation, heading the global family of organisations which continue to deliver on his father’s vision.
In March 2023, His Majesty The King conferred upon Prince Edward the title ‘The Duke of Edinburgh,’ succeeding his father. In the same month he became Patron of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and the International Award, commenting:
“Being asked to take on the role after my father is a particular honour and quite a responsibility. Sustaining and enhancing what is arguably his greatest legacy around the world matters a great deal to me, as does pursuing The Award’s long-term ambition of universal access so that every eligible young person has the opportunity to participate.”
Celebrating a Ground-breaking Partnership: Greater Manchester Lieutenancy and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award
We are immensely proud of the pioneering partnership established in 2019 between the Greater Manchester (GM) Lieutenancy and the local Operations Team of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award (DofE), under DofE England. This collaboration was the first of its kind in the country and has since become a model of innovation and impact.
Since its inception, the partnership has gone from strength to strength, delivering a series of transformative outcomes. By working closely with SEND schools, multicultural community groups, and organisations facing barriers to participation, we have significantly expanded access to the DofE Award. Hundreds more young people across Greater Manchester are now engaging with the programme.
Together, we have also shared memorable and meaningful experiences. One such highlight was the joint involvement of the GM Lieutenancy, DofE groups, and operational managers in planting thousands of trees as part of the Queen’s Green Canopy initiative, honouring the legacy of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Shared Commitment
At the heart of our partnership lies a shared commitment: to ensure that every young person has the opportunity to begin their DofE journey. This commitment has yielded remarkable results. By the end of the 2024–2025 financial year, over 12,500 young people were actively participating in one of the three award levels. Of these, 28% came from marginalised backgrounds, 35% identified as being from ethnic minority communities, and 9% were from the additional needs community.
The GM Lieutenancy is proud to have played a key role in this success, and we look forward to continuing this impactful collaboration, empowering even more young people to develop skills, resilience, and confidence for life.
The Lieutenancy Lead for the DofE is Karan Lee JP DL. Please contact us should you wish to discuss an opportunity to deliver the programme in your community and we will put you in touch with her.