The Duke of Edinburgh's Award in West Norfolk is here to offer you the opportunity to gain the Duke of Edinburgh’s Gold Award, which is highly rated by universities and employers alike and which will help you to:
• Gain accreditation for things you do already
• Learn new skills
• Make new friends
• Achieve things you never thought possible
• Have fun

Can anyone go for Gold?
Yes, anyone between the ages of 16 and 23/24 prepared to put in the commitment. The award must be completed before your 25th birthday and will take between 12 and 18 months to achieve depending on whether you have already gained your Silver Award. You can become a participant in the Gold Award without having taken part in the Award at either the Bronze or Silver levels. Currently most of our candidates are Sixth Form and College students, but if you are in training or work, or even looking for work, you are more than welcome to take part - in fact, our organisation was specifically set up to make the Award available for people like you in West Norfolk.

What if I want to do the Bronze or Silver awards?
You can do this through the Open Award Group at the King's Lynn Youth Centre, if not through your school. Please contact the Award Co-ordinator on (01553) 773565.

What if I have a disability?
The Duke of Edinburgh's Gold Award is for everybody whatever their abilities. If you would like to start the award but have a disability of some kind and are concerned about how this may affect you please do not hesitate to contact our award co-ordinator, Penny Dossetor who will be happy to discuss this with you. The award can be adapted so although it will be challenging, it is by no means impossible.

Where does it happen?
If you are a student at either the College of West Anglia or Downham Market Sixth Form, all your training and support will be provided by your institution. Please contact Arthur Skinner at the College of West Anglia on 01553 761144 or Terry Mansfield at Downham Market Sixth Form on 01366 382134 for more information.

For all other students, including those at the three High Schools in King's Lynn and Smithdon High School in Hunstanton, expedition training takes place at the College of West Anglia every other Monday evening and the expeditions themselves are in "wild country", usually in the Peak District, Wales and the Yorkshire Dales.

How much time a week does it take up?
Very roughly about one hour a week for each section. BUT you may well already be doing things which count towards at least one of the sections, e.g. playing a sport, or a musical instrument for the Physical Recreation and Skills sections respectively.

When can I start?
You may enrol any time after your Sixteenth birthday and begin working on the Skill, Physical Recreation and Service sections. The Expedition section is the only one which requires being part of a group and training for this begins in late September and goes through to the summer, with two practice expeditions, usually in April and July, and a final assessed one in late August.

How much does it cost?
The cost of an entrance pack is currently £15.75. Our expedition costs are very low and equipment, apart from boots, is available to borrow. Anyone choosing to undertake expensive training for e.g. their Skills section will probably have to bear the cost of that. However, the Award Committee is able to make funds available to candidates who can make a good case for needing them.

What do I get at the end of it?
The opportunity to receive your certificate from a celebrity at Buckingham Palace or St James’s Palace as well as being presented with your award at a local ceremony. Plus a valuable enhancement to your CV with which to impress University admissions officers and/or future employers, not to mention some amazing memories and a whole lot of new friends.

NOW - navigate around the site to find all the information you need to know about what the Award entails. For each section there is an illustration from a current participant with their views of the Award plus lots of help and information about useful opportunities and other websites.