The DofE Awards Access Without Limits Funding for Voluntary and Community Sector Organisations has been extended. They have grants available for organisations, working with young people between the ages of 14-25, who would like to become Directly Licensed Centres, able to offer the DofE Award to their service users, or to those young people who live in the neighbourhoods and communities, where they are based.
Through this funding, the ambition is to build more links with voluntary and community organisations that work with young people experiencing marginalisation and to create more opportunities for them to access the DofE outside of formal education settings.
The DofE is the world’s leading youth achievement award, currently being delivered in over 130 countries, with the purpose of developing young people for adult life. The programme they offer has transformed the lives of millions of young people for over 60 years. Their vision is to reach more young people from marginalised backgrounds and to provide opportunities for personal development and recognition of personal achievements.
Through support from the Julia and Hans Rausing Trust, they are able to fund and support a limited number of voluntary sector organisations that are new to the DofE, to licence and begin to deliver the award. Eligible organisations can receive a grant of up to £10,250 and support to help establish the DofE in your organisation and link their programme to the existing activities you provide for young people.
The support package would include funding for equipment, training, a greatly reduced licence fee (fully funded initially), participation places for the young people you work with, and direct assistance from one of their Operations Officers. After a period of close support and funding, they anticipate you will have developed a wealth of experience to enable your continued delivery of the DofE and to provide further opportunities for your young people to develop and grow in their journey towards adulthood.
Should your organisation wish to be involved, you can find further information here:
More info on the funding and eligibility criteria can be seen here: Access Without Limits - Community - The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
Welcome to DofE video – a little flavour of what DofE is all about: Welcome to DofE
Overview of the sections for Bronze Award - Bronze | start your DofE
Please note they have a limited amount of funding available, and all grants will need to be spent and reported on by March 2026.