Welcome to Weydon D of E Thursday 6pm 6

th

February 2014

Unit Leader - Mrs Carol Warnock Bronze Award Leaders - Mrs Nicola Chorley Miss Sian Kinnear Silver Award Leaders - Mr Tom Jackson, Mr Ben Mortimer DofE staff catering - Miss Claire Copeman, Mrs Debi Henderson and Mrs Lou Iles D of E staff team Mr Stewart, Mrs Henderson, Mr Thomas, Mrs Iles, Mrs Gratton, Mrs Bowden, Mrs Guinea, Miss Copeman , Mrs Bailey, Unit assessors for expeditions Mr Martin Butcher, Mr Torquil Chapman, Mr Kevin Mann, Andrew Lenthall, David Stevens and Brian Copeman Senior Management manager Mr Neil Butcher

FOR THE STUDENTS:

As part of the application process, participants will need to

answer the questions

on the sheets about important parts of how the scheme is run at Weydon, and

hand in their answers AS A PART OF their applications

. There are different questions, and answers for bronze and silver! This can be done tonight (so listen carefully) or by reading this presentation and information pack available to refer to all year on the school website in the parent information section.

What is the DofE?

this?

YES!

but a whole lot more

The DofE is…

• •

DofE is a real adventure, whoever you are!

You must be between 14 and 24 years old and ready to commit!

At Weydon students can do programmes at : Bronze (Year 9) Silver (Year 10) which could lead to a successful award. Nationally the pass rate is approx 40%, at Weydon we are proud to support, on average, 75% of our students to completion of their award.

DofE is more than an expedition!

You achieve an Award by completing your own programme of activities in four sections:

   

Volunteering Physical Skills Expedition Participants must get involved in their activity for a minimum of 1 hour each week for the duration of the timescale (eg 3 months, 6 months). If a week is missed, through holiday or illness for example, the timescale must be extended.

Bronze Award (14+ years)

Volunteering Physical Skills Expedition 3 months 3 months 3 months Plan, train for and complete a 2 day, 1 night expedition

All participants must undertake a further 3 months Volunteering, Physical or Skills.

of

Students not yet 14 at the enrolment date can only start their expedition section before their birthday. They must wait until after their birthday before commencing the other sections. This allows us to include our younger students.

Silver Award (15+ years)

Volunteering Physical Skills Expedition 6 months One for 6 months and the other for 3 months Plan, train for and complete a 3 day, 2 night expedition

Direct entrants must undertake a further 6 months of Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections. For direct participants a minimum of one year is needed to complete the award

Bronze award winners can start their silver award from the date of completion of their bronze award but cannot complete silver until they are a minimum of 15 and a half.

Direct entrants must be 15 years to start and cannot complete their award until after their 16 th birthday. Only one section can be backdated (by 3 months) prior to the participant’s enrolment or their 15 th birthday.

Choosing activities

• You must read and use the helpful lists and

category finder on http://www.dofe.org/en/content/cms/doing your-dofe/activities-sections

• Activities are in specific sections, please check

that your chosen activity fits. For example,

golf tuition is NOT a skill but a physical recreation

• Make sure you have a willing and appropriately

trained or experienced assessor, not a close relative.

Suggestions and reminders:

• Choose activities you enjoy. • It could be something that you are already

doing or that you’ve always wanted to try.

• The same activity

cannot

sections, be credited in all three eg football coaching (volunteering), recreational football playing in a team (physical recreation) and learning to be a football referee (skill) is

not

allowed.

Any two sections can be related.

Assessors:

For all sections you need a suitably qualified adult assessor who is not a close relative.

Your assessor must supervise your activity, not necessarily for every hour, but you might need to keep a photo or written diary . Remember to record your start and finish dates and each of your sessions. At the end the assessor must complete a report showing your commitment, skills and progression . This is easiest on line (with your unique ID number), at http://www.dofe.org/assessors .

Volunteering

Aim

•

To inspire young people to make a difference in their communities or to an individual’s life

•

to develop compassion by giving service to others, but in a location of safety for themselves.

Benefits

•

Feel a sense of belonging within their community

• •

Take responsibility for their actions.

Build new relationships

• •

Understand their own strengths and weaknesses.

Develop teamwork and leadership skills.

• •

Trust others and be trusted Be aware of their own safety and the safety of those around them.

•

Enjoy new adventures.

What is required?

• • • • •

Volunteering is simple. It’s giving time to non profit making organisations , without getting paid .

Parents, please safeguard the students; if helping in the local community then do a parental visit. Ensure you know the people and places where the young person is volunteering and check the type of activity asked of them and the equipment they are provided to use. At least 3/4 of the activity needs to be practical, only a 1/4 can be training.

The young people cannot help a commercial company, eg a soccer club or dance school, nor work in the private home of a neighbour or friend . A recent clarification of the rules.

Volunteering categories

•

Helping people

•

Community action and raising awareness

•

Coaching, teaching and leadership

•

Working with the environment or animals

•

Helping a charity or community organisation

Volunteering Opportunities

•

Farnham Library ‘Headspace’ is a volunteering opportunity available to the students to support the work of the library in encouraging literacy in the local community.

•

Volunteer Fundraisers to raise money for a community defibrillator box on the Taylor Hall

•

5th Farnham Beavers Tuesdays need 2-3 helpers Andrew Windsor Almshouses on Castle Street in Farnham, need volunteers who could help almshouses residents to clear leaves in the autumn.

Other possible volunteering opportunities:

• • • • • • •

Construction, hedgelaying, trip boat crewing… WEY AND ARUN CANAL http://normandytherapygarden.org

Saturday 10am – 2pm Pewley Down Volunteers specialise in conservation work Scout or guide organisation groups, faith groups, Disability Challengers, helping at after school clubs Waverley rangers, RSPB, RSPCA, the dogs trust, volunteer wardens, helpers….

Fundraising for charity groups Charity shops! and lots more!

Physical

Aim

•

To inspire young people to greater physical fitness

•

To encourage a healthy lifestyle through participation and progression in physical activity.

Benefits

•

Healthy living

•

Enjoy keeping fit.

•

Improve fitness.

•

Discover new abilities.

•

Raise self-esteem.

•

Extend personal goals.

•

Set and respond to a challenge.

•

Experience a sense of achievement.

What is a physical activity?

In short, anything that requires a sustained level of physical energy when doing an activity.

You are free to do this section independently or as part of a team.

Physical categories

•

Team sports

•

Individual sports

•

Water sports

•

Racquet sports

• • • •

Dance Fitness Extreme sports Martial arts

Elstead Junior Badminton Club meets every Tuesday evening at the Elstead village hall between 8.00pm and 9.00pm.

Skills

Aim

•

To inspire young people to develop practical and social skills and personal interests.

Benefits

•

Develop a new talent.

•

Improve self-esteem and confidence.

•

Develop practical and social skills.

•

Develop better organisational and time management skills.

•

Learn how to set and rise to a challenge.

Something old or something new?

Ultimately you must be able to prove that you have broadened your understanding and increased your expertise in the chosen skill, new or old. The key word is

progression.

Activities can be undertaken on either an individual or group basis.

Skills categories

•

Creative arts

•

Performance arts

•

Science and technology

•

Care of animals

•

Music

•

Life skills

•

Learning and collecting

•

Media and communication

•

Natural world

•

Games and sports

Made in Farnham

• • Offer a variety of workshops including diverse areas such as lampshade making, garment making, furniture painting, learning to knit, needlework and printing.

Offering a 12 week course to students who are working towards the DofE awards which would help fulfil the ‘learn a new skill’ category. www.madeinfarnham.co.uk

Expedition

Aim

•

To inspire young people to develop initiative, responsibility and a sense of adventure

•

to plan, train for and complete an adventurous journey as part of a team.

Benefits

• • • • • • • •

Learn to enjoy and respect the outdoors Become more self reliant; able to overcome challenges. Learn to manage risk. Learn the importance of good organisation and attention to detail.

Recognise the needs and strengths of others and reflect on their own performance Be able to take and share responsibility.

Improve decision-making skills and the ability to accept consequences.

Learn through experience.

The Expedition process

Preparation Training and Practice expedition Qualifying expedition, debrief and presentation Assessment

Timescales for expeditions

Level Duration Bronze 2 days and 1 night Silver Minimum hours of planned activity each day 6 hours activity (at least 3 must be spent journeying) 3 days and 2 nights 7 hours activity (at least 3½ of which must be spent journeying) Gold 4 days and 3 nights 8 hours activity (at least 4 of which must be spent journeying)

Expedition Dates

•

Bronze Practice 10 th – 11 th May (sat + sun) (also obligatory for silver direct participants)

•

Bronze Assessment 7 th – 8 th June (sat + sun)

• Silver Practice 20

th – 22 nd June (fri – sun)

• Silver Assessment 21

st - 23 rd Sept (fri – sun) PARTICIPANTS MUST BE AVAILABLE FOR ALL DATES SPECIFIED TO PARTICIPATE

Expedition Training

•

Mostly done during the practice weekends in a practical way to encourage student engagement, enjoyment and participation

•

Simple preparation in lunchtime sessions

•

Carried out at school and at campsite

Expedition Training

• • • • • • • • •

Map and compass work Route planning First Aid and emergency awareness Safety and the weather Campcraft and country code Safe use of trangia stoves Menu planning and food Kit lists Packing rucksacs

DofE and online eDofE

When accepted, every student will have their own eDofE account and will need to complete their personal details and their planned activities for each section on line. Leaders will have to approve these details Students must update their eDofE account regularly.

The ‘Keeping Track’ booklet is only a back up. To support the students, we have a weekly lunchtime drop in DofE club in a computer room. Student teams are ‘called’ to this once every half term but are welcome to ask advice any lunchtime.

In order to be included in the expedition training ALL PARTICIPANTS must have at least completed their details and their proposed activities , with assessors and their contact details for ALL SECTIONS and had them approved on their eDofE account . This will prove their organisation skills! This can be completed at the weekly drop in sessions at school in N5 if they do not have access to the internet easily at home.

DofE and school life

GSCE PE students must keep their route cards etc from bronze and silver expeditions so that they can use them as part of a presentation to let them to use ‘trekking”as one of their 4 assessed sports.

Activities within the school day, eg core PE, learning a language, cannot ever be used in any section of the award, but regular attendance at lunchtime and afterschool clubs can! Peer supporters and student leaders can use their work for their volunteering section.

We hope this goes without saying, but…

DofE activities CANNOT distract from students’ academic school commitments!

Non attendance at school on the day after an expedition will result in non completion of the section unless a doctor’s note is presented!

Extreme tiredness and blisters shows that the participant was ill prepared for the expedition.

Participants must plan, prepare, train and THINK AHEAD with the support of their families

Parental Help

ALL PARENTS MUST HELP ACCORDING TO THEIR SKILLS.

Transport? Manning checkpoints? Specialised training? Walking? CRB checks are needed to work with the students. Parents must present original and provide photocopies of specific documents and complete an on line application to support their child. This is arranged for Year 9 options evening, 27 th Feb from 6pm to 8pm and again on Progress/theme day on 17 th March, slots for all during the day and early evening, 6pm to 8pm.

An email with details will be sent to all parents after selection. PARENTS, BE PREPARED TO DO YOUR PART Remember the award is inclusive, ie AVAILABLE TO ALL. If you are worried about being able to take part,come to see us for a chat.

Is D of E for Me?

• I play team sport every weekend • I have other activities 3 or 4 times a

week

• I can’t be trusted to meet deadlines

with meetings and paperwork

• I need constant reminders I give up

on things

• I would need a day off school to

recover from an expedition

• I can’t be without my friends • I can’t exist without my phone

or xbox for a weekend

• I have an interest in the outdoors • I would like to use trekking for one of

my GCSE PE sports

• I am a reliable team member who

does their share and gets on well with others

• I enjoy keeping fit • I like to learn new things • I make sure I complete things, even if

I’m not enjoying them

• I am able to manage my time • I like helping people

The Application Process: You need to fill in a school application form Your parent will need to sign, saying how they will help Decide what activities you want to do Find someone, suitably trained or qualified, who is not a family member, who could assess your activity for each section Hand in your fully completed application by the deadline, Thursday 27 th February, 3.20pm

If oversubscribed there will be a draw in front of students

when selected for the award at Weydon…….

You need to fill in a D of E application form for Surrey registration and hand it in. Arrange prompt payment through Wisepay.

Register onto your eDofE account and then log on regularly and keep progress up to date Carry out your section activity(s) keeping an accurate record of the start date and duration for each section Review your progress with your assessor and the Unit Leader at Weydon Get your presentations completed (as necessary), Ensure eDofE and Record Book filled in, signed and SUBMITTED to your leader for approval Complete and SUBMIT all Sections fully and gain your Award. Attend the Award ceremony proudly

KEY DATES

Date

6 th February 27 th February 11 th March 17 th March End of April 1 st May 2 nd May 10 th & 11 th May 22 nd May 7 th & 8 th June End of June End of Feb 2015 March/April 2015 D of E Launch Application Deadline Registration forms Deadline Parents CRB completed Letter to Parents regarding Training weekend Students complete online registration Consent forms received Bronze Practice weekend Route card and Menu submitted Bronze Assessed weekend Expedition Presentation submitted All sections submitted online Presentation of Completed Awards

Question Time please ask if you are unsure about anything mentioned

We will be available to answer questions about specific students and individual issues at a later date in the application process.