July 2013

Mailin’ out around the world…

July 2013

Are you ready for a brand new beat? The update’s here and the time is right for the DofE. As per usual, please email all content for the next update to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org.  Assessors required Assessors are needed for the following expeditions… • A Bronze expedition on 4th and 5th July in the Chiltern area. For more information, please contact Ruth Henning – RHENNING@parkview.haringey.sch.uk. • A Bronze expedition on 4th and 5th July in the Knockholt area. For more information, please contact Juliet Heaney at Juliet.Heaney@royalgreenwich.gov.uk. • A Bronze expedition on 12th and 13th July in Dorking. Please contact Tom Unwin tunwin@hurlchel.lbhf.sch.uk at Hurlingham & Chelsea School if you can assist. • A Bronze expedition on 16th and 17th of July in the Tring area. Please contact faith.robertson@barnet.gov.uk if you can help. • A Bronze expedition 20th and 21st July in Ashdown Forest. Please contact Rik Payne on 07812574187 or at rikpayne@hotmail.co.uk. The Gold Award Forum wants you! If you are going to be doing your Gold Award in September and want to have your say on DofE matters in London, then the Gold Award Forum is for you. Members of the forum meet regularly to discuss DofE issues, work on projects and take part in an international residential. Members must be nominated by their DofE Manager. See here for a poster and download a nomination form here. Training available Our next Introduction to the DofE course is on 9th July at Award House. Please download a booking form from this page of our website and send the completed form to Kirsty.Young@DofE.org. You can also view our other training opportunities there too. Expedition support  DofE London may be able to provide financial support a group of young people with additional needs undertaking the Expedition section of their DofE, including the training, practice and qualifier. If you are working with a group of young people with additional needs who are currently planning their expedition and are in need of funding to support this, please get in touch with Hayley.Shenholds@DofE.org with details of your expedition plans. Responses by Friday 19th July. Residential opportunity  Expeditions required  • We are looking for an open Silver expedition opportunity for a young woman. I also have some participants looking for open residential opportunities and would welcome details of any you may be running this year. Please contact matthew.barnett@DofE.org with the details. • Another young woman in Sutton requires a Silver practice, after 7th July and before 27th August. Please email Sarah.Alderman@sutton.gov.uk if you can assist. • An Assessor-in-waiting would like to be accredited before 22nd July. She needs to undertake her supported assessment, preferably in the London area. Please contact Zoe at ZPoullos@greigcityacademy.co.uk if you can support her. Residential required There is a young person who requires a Gold residential and has the following accessibility requirements: • Wheelchair accessible • Accommodation for young person plus up to 3 carers • Hoist • Bed with sides If you are able to offer a place on a residential for this young person please get in touch with Kassandra on Kassandra.Gordon@hafad.org.uk.  And finally... A member of the DofE London Team is raising money for disadvantaged young people to participate in the DofE by running the Ealing Half Marathon. If you wish to sponsor them to do so, you can donate here. Until next time!

June 2013

You are now entering a DofE London Mail Out zone

If we themed our network mail outs, this would definitely be an Expedition season special. If you have any opportunities, news or other items for inclusion, please email them to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org.

Expedition Opportunity – September 2013

We have received funding to facilitate a subsidised, accessible Bronze expedition week for young people with additional needs from 2 separate schools. Each school needs to have a group of 8 participants and at least 2 Leaders. It will take place from 7^th-13^th September and will include the training, practice and qualifying Bronze expedition. The cost will be £60 per participant.

The expedition will be multi-mode, using bell boats and by foot. It will take place at Trewern in Wales.

Please respond with your expression of interest for this expedition no later than Friday 14^th June to Hayley.Shenholds@DofE.org.  Please feel free to contact her with any questions on 020 7227 9820.

Gambia Residential Opportunity

We still have places available to go on our exciting Residential in The Gambia in October. Please see here for more info and email Kirsty.Young@DofE.org to register your interest.

Team London Volunteers

We’ve partnered with the Team London Volunteers to offer volunteering opportunities across London with DofE groups. There are also many other organisations to volunteer with. This can be good way to find activities for a Volunteering section. The site is http://volunteerteam.london.gov.uk/.

Additional Needs Leaflet

Here is an ‘additional needs’ leaflet, produced by the London Regional Office, which can be used by leaders to promote DofE to non-participating schools. Please bear in mind that this document can be updated and adjusted according to your feedback, therefore we would appreciate feedback from you and the groups that you use it with.  

eDofE Training for Leaders

Free Train the Trainer Sessions FOR MANAGERS ONLY. Please email Kirsty.Young@DofE.org to reserve a place.

Wednesday 18^th September

Tuesday 15^th October

Friday 22^nd November

Tuesday 10^th December

Free eDofE training for all leaders (limited places). Please email Kirsty.Young@DofE.org or Jack.Kirby@DofE.org to reserve a place.

Monday 29^th July AM (Kirsty)

Wednesday 4^th September PM (Jack)

Wednesday 11^th September PM (Kirsty)

After this point, the period of free eDofE training ends. The following sessions are available to all leaders at a cost of £50 per person. Please click here to download a booking form to return to Kirsty.Young@DofE.org to reserve a place.

Wednesday 30^th October PM

Wednesday 4^th December PM

Tuesday 21^st January AM

Friday 28^th February AM

Tuesday 25^th March PM

You can find all our latest training opportunities here.

Assessors Required

An assessor is needed for the weekend of the 22^nd and 23^rd of June for a Bronze Expedition. Please contact  Benedict.Fogarty@evelyngraceacademy.org for further information.

Assessors are also needed for Bronze Expeditions on 15th & 16th June and 6th & 7th July in Dorking and a Silver Expedition 29th June to 1st July. Contact jnolan@westminster.gov.uk for more information.

Help Blind Veterans UK 

Blind Veterans UK are trying to recruit volunteers to support a 100k walk on 22^nd  and 23^rd June from London to Brighton. They have several rest stops on route and particularly need volunteers at Imberhorne, East Grinstead and Scaynes Hill, West Sussex. If anyone could spare a few hours to cheer the walkers, help them get food and encourage them to keep walking Blind Veterans UK would really appreciate it. Please can you contact victoria.marshall@blindveterans.org.uk if you are interested.

The Routes They are a Changin’

DofE groups that walk near Quarr Farm in the Swanage area, grid ref 989796 should be aware that the farmer is concerned that students and adults are not following the footpath/bridleway signs but sticking to the routes shown on the OS map. The new, official routes, are all clearly marked/sign posted and should not pose a problem for groups but they need to be aware that alterations have taken place.

Jobs

London Borough of Richmond are currently advertising for a 3 hour a week post to deliver the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in Ham & Petersham Youth Centre. Please see here or contact Rob Clark (Robert.Clark@Richmond.gov.uk) for more information.

You can also view the latest opportunities within the DofE at http://www.latestvacancies.com/DofE/.

And Finally

In response to general accusations of DofE groups littering the countryside, groups in Hounslow have started to pick up litter other people have left that they have encountered en route.

This not only helps the environment and challenges preconceptions of young people but could also be an Expedition aim.

Until next time,

May 2013

Mail Out for Summer… Mail Out forever!

If you’re a qualified Expedition Assessor who is looking for something to do in June then you are in luck my friend! There are lots of schools who are looking for assessors. See below for further details. And if you’re interested in becoming an assessor, why not check the available training? This and other exciting info is below.

Expedition Assessors Required

• Stoke Newington School are in need of an Accredited Assessor for Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd June. Bronze assessment weekend with 18 young people near Theobalds Park, Enfield, North London. Please contact John Barrett - John.Barrett@sns.hackney.sch.uk if you are available or for more details.

• Alexandra Park School require an Expedition Assessor for the weekend of 22nd and 23rd of June in the Epping Forest area. They have approximately 6 walking groups. Please contact Crispin Bonhem-Carter - cbonham-carter@apsch.org.uk if you are available or more details.

• Northumberland Park School require an Assessor for a Bronze Expedition Friday 21^nd – Saturday 22^nd June in the Epping Forest area. Expected 20 participants (approx. 4 walking groups). Please contact Sam McDonald by email sma@northumberlandpark.haringey.sch.uk.

• Canons High School require an assessor for their Bronze Qualifying, 5^th-6^th July based at Chalfont Heights campsite, Denham Lane, Chalfont St.Peter, Bucks, SL9 OQJ. Please contact Alex Butcher at abutcher@canons.harrow.sch.uk if you are able to assist.

• Holland Park School, urgently needs an assessor for their Bronze expedition 29th and 30th June. It will be around the Southdowns area. If you are available, can you please contact Alison Bale or Richard Ball asap at Alison.bale@hollandparkschool.co.uk or Richard.ball@hollandparkschool.co.uk.

• Sacred Heart Language College require an assessor for their Bronze Qualifying, Saturday 29^th – Sunday 30^th June in Chesham – camping at Braid Wood Scout Campsite. Please contact Deb Capp at dcapp@tshlc.harrow.sch.uk

• Fortismere School also require an assessor for an expedition taking place at the South Downs on the 28th- 29th of June. Please email Gavin Kay at GKay@fortismere.org.uk if you can help.

New Leaders Programme and Gold Award Forum Nominations

You can nominate young people to participate in either our New Leaders Programme, which trains DofE Leaders of the future or the Gold Award Forum, where they can have their say on issues affecting the DofE in London. Both initiatives offer a Residential and can count towards sectional activities.

Click here for a New Leaders Programme nomination form  

Click here for a Gold Award Forum nomination form

Return both forms to Kirsty.Young@DofE.org.

Gambia Open Residential

Places are still available for the Gambia Residential. See this poster for more information and email Kirsty.Young@DofE.org to register your interest.

SEN Expedition Opportunity – September 2013

We have received funding to deliver a subsidised, accessible Bronze expedition week for young people with additional needs. The opportunity is available to two schools that support young people with additional needs. Each school needs to have a group of 8 participants and at least 2 Leaders. It will take place from 7^th-13^th September and will include the training, practice and qualifying Bronze expedition.

The expedition will be multi-mode, using bell boats and by foot.  It will take place at Trewern in Wales.

Please respond with your expression of interest for this expedition no later than Friday 14^th June to Hayley.Shenholds@DofE.org.  Please feel free to contact me with any questions on 020 7227 9820.

Job Vacancies

There are currently three job available within the DofE, based at our offices in Newcastle, Sutton Coldfield and London. Please see http://www.latestvacancies.com/DofE/ for further information.

DofE A Level Survey

For those expecting A Level or AS Level results this summer or with participants who are, please take a few minutes to complete this short survey: http://www.dofesurvey.org/s/SDWHLK7IWptNDb2

Money off Travel for Apprentices 

The Apprentice Oyster photocard has gone live and applications are now open at: http://www.tfl.gov.uk/apprenticeoyster. This concession is available to all apprentices aged 18 or over, living in London and in the first year of an approved apprenticeship course. Apprentices can save 30 per cent off the price of adult rate Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes.

Backpack Competition

Cotswolds have given us a backpack to give away. Entrants must like our Facebook page and tell us their favourite thing about the Expedition section. Full details are on the poster that can be downloaded here.

Open Gold Expeditions

Monday 1st – Sunday 7th July – Training/Practise OR Qualifying week

Monday 5th – Sunday 11th August – Training/Practise OR Qualifying week

The cost is £180 per week. This includes instruction, bed and board whilst at the centre, all specialist equipment and camp fees.  Participants will be expected to work with a group in planning and purchasing food for the expedition but this is normally no more than £10 per head. Participants will need to arrange their own transport – pick up is available from Hereford station.

If you have students who would like to book onto one or both of these weeks, please fill out and return the attached form to me as soon as possible. A flier for the qualifying expedition is here. Click here for a consent form.

Littering is Wrong

We have received a number of complaints from farmers and landowners in the Chilterns based at St. Leonards, and stretching from Bellingdon to Chartridge and Swan Bottom, near The Lee. They are situated very close to Braid Wood Activity Centre. Several groups have been reported as being ill prepared for the task of navigating by map, littering and are frequently walking over or through growing crops and environmental features that are left to encourage wildlife on the land.

We appreciate that it is a few individuals being referred to here as the majority of DofE groups are well prepared and aware of the Code.  However, we would welcome your support in ensuring leaders and their participants are briefed and understand the impact they can have on the environment and local community when expeditioning. 

Training Available

We have upcoming EAAS, ITTDofE, ESTC and BEL Assessment courses available. See here for more info and how to apply.

eDofE and Training

Beginners eDofE training sessions are fully booked at present and no further ‘free of charge’ sessions are planned. ‘Top up’ eDofE training is available on 26th June (PM) and 4th September (PM). Email Jack.Kirby@DofE.org for more information.

eDofE is going to remain in its current format until at least April 2014 and we have already offered comprehensive training across London region whilst leaders, teachers and volunteers were becoming acquainted with the latest format and functionality.

All current courses through to September will be freely available to the network but most of these are nearly full.

In the autumn we will be running 4 train-the-trainer courses (free of charge) so that DofE Managers’ can be suitably skilled-up in delivering local support.  For those Licensed Organisations that wish to continue signposting leaders, volunteers and teachers to us for training there will be a small charge of £50.00 per candidate.  You can also arrange for bespoke courses locally at a cost of £250.00 for a half day course for up to 12 candidates.  You must ensure that appropriate IT Systems are available for us to deliver this training on your behalf.

If you have any concerns related to eDofE training and/or functionality please contact your respective Operations Officer for support.

The last few weeks we have had an increase in enquiries regarding allocating and using participation places. Follow the link here to find a guide for allocating places. Please remember if you have not allocated places, they will appear under the ‘Licenced Organisation’.

When creating a participant account DofE Manager’s and LO Administrator accounts can use places directly from the LO (section 2). If Coordinators are creating accounts, the participation places must be allocated to a centre or group.

We have also had some further queries regarding the Expedition section. All young people must add their own Expedition Aim (the team aim) and Goal (this is what an individual wants to achieve personally). A step by step guide for participants has been added and can be found here. This will show a participant where they need to add the details.

Please be aware the young person should add their aim and goal AFTER you set the details on behalf of the group. If a young person adds it before, they will be allocated 2 qualifying ventures. You will not receive an alert as the young person will only save the changes, not submit them.

Do you run first aid courses?

If so, please let us know. A participant in Hillingdon is seeking to do this for his Skill. Other participants across the region may also have interest in attending.

Well Done to Jo and Kirsty

Their bicycle ride to Paris raised nearly £3500 (and still counting) to support disadvantaged young people take part in DofE, risking life, limb and being extremely saddle sore to do so. Hooray for them!

As ever, please email any items for inclusion in the next mail out to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org. 

April 2nd 2013

Ou est le mail out? 

Bonjour! Ca va? London team members Kirsty and Jo are raising sponsorship to help disadvantaged young people take part in the DofE by cycling from London to Paris this May. If you would like to sponsor them in their endeavours to help make sure the reach of the DofE is extended as widely as possible across the capital, please do so via their JustGiving pages here: 
http://www.justgiving.com/KirstyYoung90 (Kirsty) 
and here: http://www.justgiving.com/jomarieamand (Jo). 

Ça plane pour moi!

Oh, and don't forget to return the quiz at the bottom to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org for another exciting prize!

Let's get statistical 

As that time of year approaches please make sure all your Awards awaiting approval are signed off and any new participants are created on eDofE prior to 31st March 2013 (Sunday).  Awards approved and new starts allocated after this date will not be counted in this reporting year.  It is imperative that we capture the correct figures for work carried out in this year to help us to better understand the support needed for our network and direct our resources to best effect. Details on the Annual Statistical return will be sent to DofE Managers in the coming weeks. Awards submitted for approval after April 19th will be signed off by your Award Verifier.

Open Residential 

All Gold Award participants are welcome to apply for our open residential to the Gambia in the October half term. It will involve cultural exploration, purposeful work and volunteering with schools. The residential will cost £1150.00 per person all included except lunch costs and drinks. To book or for more information please contact Kirsty.Young@DofE.org and please distribute this flyer to your participants.  

Participants seeking expeditions 

Two male participants in Sutton require a Bronze practice expedition to run April, May or early June. They will have completed their expedition training before going on the practice. Please contact  Sarah.Alderman@sutton.gov.uk if you can assist. 

A female participant from St Gregory's Catholic Science College requires a Silver practice prior to her assessed expedition in July. Please contact her leader Neil Rossiter at  nrossitersgs@gmail.com if you can assist.

Everest event 

The RGS and the Himalayan Trust are celebrating the 60 year anniversary of the first ascent of Everest with a special talk on Wednesday May 29th. The theme is Lasting Legacy which the DofE is a part of - the expedition team Leader went on to set up the DofE Charity. Trustees Debra Searle and David Hempleman-Adams are both speaking. Please see here for further info.

Jobs

The latest vacancies with the DofE are online  at http://www.latestvacancies.com/DofE/ and lately include an Events Co-ordinator and Partnerships Manager positions both in London and an Operations Officer position in the South East Region.

Available training

DofE London is offering lots of training including Expedition Assessors Accreditation Scheme, Introduction to the DofE for Leaders, BEL Level 3 Assessment Course and Expedition Supervisors Training. See here for full details and how to book. 

Please be aware the London Regional Office are not offering BEL Training Courses. 

eDofE Training

Kirsty will be running free beginners eDofE training for those with little to no experience of eDofE approximately every six weeks on the following dates:

* 1st May (PM)
* 17th May (AM)
* 11th June (PM)
* 29th July (PM)
* 11th September (PM)

Jack will be running free intermediate eDofE training for those with some experience of using the system but would like a refresher every ten weeks on the following dates:

* 26th April (PM)
* 26th June (PM)
* 4th September (PM)

Attendees' names and email addresses should be sent to the appropriate
tutor at either Kirsty.Young@DofE.org or Jack.Kirby@DofE.org.

Quiz! 

1. Who is cycling to Paris to raise money for disadvantaged participants?
2. From which school is the Silver participant who is seeking a practice
Expedition?
3. Which regional office is seeking to employ an Operations Officer?

Until next time! 

We Built this Mail Out on Rock and Roll...

Welcome to your latest DofE London Mail Out, the best Mail Out provided by the DofE in the whole of London. As ever, please read carefully and send anything for inclusion next time to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org. Due to the success of the previous edition’s competition, we will once again be offering an amusing prize for those who answer the questions at the end of this message.

Plotr

We are pleased to announce that we have teamed up with www.Plotr.co.uk, a new website that highlight opportunities for young people and is full of great advice for gaining employment. Do check it out when you can. If you have any job opportunities, internships, training, special events or similar please email Jack.Kirby@DofE.org to get them promoted to Plotr users. We will be promoting access to open award centres and our various youth engagement platforms on the site.

iPhone Competition 

Our iPhone competition was won by Hadi Arran of Wandsworth. You can see his winning entry  on our Facebook page.

Expedition Information

We’ve been asked to make you aware of some changes in the New Forest.

•           Drop Cards (information left by participants to notify staff of their progress) are now banned in the New Forest by the Forestry Commission, please use alternative supervision methods

•           Wild camp sites now incur a charge of £10 per team and still need to be booked in advance with the Forestry Commission

•           Due to flooding and wet conditions it is very important to stick to paths and check routes in advance

•           Impact on environment and safety is increased when crossing open areas in these conditions

•           Remember participants getting into a vehicle to ‘get round a wet bit’ are not fulfilling the first of the 20 conditions!

For more information or to book an assessor or wild camp site please visit either:

http://newforestean.org.uk/ New Forest Expedition Assessor Network

http://www.forestry.gov.uk/newforest Forestry Commission Website

Plan ahead and prepare for any expedition area by contacting the Assessor Network, details here: www.dofe.org/expeditionareas

London Volunteers Orientation Weekend

We have 5 spaces free for the March 9th – March 10th event. You must be nominated by your DofE Manager to attend this event. Find a nomination form here. The event will take place at the Park Inn, Harlow and is free; all accommodation and catering included.

Please note that there are no more spaces available on the June weekend.

Conference Reminder

All DofE Managers need to get their booking forms into Kirsty.Young@DofE.org asap. A reminder of dates:

18th March – DLC State and Academy Schools

19th March – DLC Independent Schools

23rd – 24th April – Local Authority Managers

Training

We have the following training courses coming up…

EAAS, Wednesday 20th March 2013, £130, Award House, 7-11 St Matthew Street

ESTC, Thursday 11th April 2013, £135, Award House, 7-11 St Matthew Street

IttDofE, Thursday 9th May 2013, £95, Award House, 7-11 St Matthew Street

Please go to our website for details of how to book onto one of these courses.

eDofE Training

Kirsty will be running free beginners eDofE training for those with little to no experience of eDofE approximately every six weeks on the following dates:

•           28th March

•           1st May

•           11th June

•           29th July

•           11th September

Jack will be running free intermediate eDofE training for those with some experience of using the system but would like a refresher every ten weeks on the following dates:

•           26th April

•           26th June

•           4th September

Attendees’ names and email addresses should be sent to the appropriate tutor at either Kirsty.Young@DofE.org or Jack.Kirby@DofE.org.

Stats

A reminder to all DofE Managers stats returns will be due in the near future. Once we received the questionnaire from Head Office, Peter Fleet will be providing more information on what we need from you.

eDofE Award Verifier Role

As mentioned at the DofE Managers conferences, written about in the DofE Magazine and mentioned in previous mail outs, the Award Verifier Role is coming to eDofE on 19th April 2013. You can find out more about the role here. Please contact Mat or Jo if you have any questions.

 Jobs

The Northern Ireland office are currently seeking a new Operations Officer and a new Administrative Assistant. Please click here for more info.

 …And Finally

If you can answer the following questions, email them to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org to receive an amusing prize!

1.         What are now banned in the New Forest?

2.         When is the next ESTC course?

3.         When is the Award Verifier role being brought in?

Until next time!

30th January 2013

Holy mail out, Batman!
Welcome to your second mail out of the year. As usual, please email any updates for the network to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org. We’ve incentivised reading the entirety of this missive – please see the final paragraph for more details!

Annual review
We are preparing our Annual Review which will highlight the breadth and quality of programme delivery across the capital in this reporting year.  If you have any projects or activities from your Licensed Organisation that you would like to highlight for this publication, or can name one good DofE thing that has happened in the last year, please email it to Keighley.Jensen@DofE.org.

eDofE training
Kirsty will be running free beginners eDofE training for those with little to no experience of eDofE approximately every six weeks on the following dates:

• 13^th February
• 28^th March
• 1^st May
• 11^th June
• 29^th July
• 11^th September

Jack will be running free intermediate eDofE training for those with some experience of using the system but would like a refresher every ten weeks on the following dates:

• 12^th February
• 26^th April
• 26^th June
• 4^th September

All sessions will run from 1pm and be finished no later than 5pm. As usual they will take place at the Regional Office. If you wish to send a Leader for training, please email their names and email addresses to the relevant trainer: Kirsty.Young@DofE.org orJack.Kirby@DofE.org.

iPhone competition
There’s still plenty of time for Leaders and participants to enter our iPhone competition. See our Facebook page for full details. You can also download A3 and A4 posters to advertise this to your groups.

Expedition volunteers orientation weekend
There is still time for DofE Managers to nominate new volunteer Leaders to attend a free weekend of learning the DofE ropes. Please see www.DofE.org/London for further information and download a nomination form here.

Job vacancies
There are currently two roles available at the DofE, both based in Windsor, an IT support assistant and an Operations Manager. Please see here for full details and how to apply.

Expedition volunteers required
Croydon High School need some volunteers help with a practice expedition in East Grinstead, Ashdown Forest, 27^th April 2013. This is a good opportunity to make up some hours if you are undergoing BEL training. Please contact Donovan Smith if you are able to help at D.Smith@CRY.GDST.NET.  

DofE centre certificate now available
An electronic template of the Centre Certificate has been produced and is available to download from the Resource Zone on eDofe. This will allow DofE Managers to generate Centre Certificates for schools and groups using the certificate paper available from ASL.

The DofE Virtual Centre (DVC) is nearly here
On 22^nd February, we will be launching the DofE Virtual Centre. This will be a facility for young people aged 18+ who are unable for whatever reason to participate in a local DofE centre to enrol online and participate in the Programme with the support of the London Regional Office. Please sign post any young people you do not have the capacity to support to this opportunity. Further information and promotional material will be forthcoming.

And finally…
You’ve reached the end of the mail out. If you can answer these questions three and send them to Jack.Kirby@DofE.org, you will receive an amusing prize!

1. Who is delivering eDofE training for beginners?
2. Which school requires volunteers for their practice Expedition?
3. On what date does the DVC launch?

Good luck!

10th January 2013

Happy New Mail Out

Happy New Year to you all. We hope you had an enjoyable and restful break over the festive period. Just a quick mail out with some interesting info. Expect your usual bumper size mail out in the near future.

Last Chance for the Multi Faith Residential!

We are looking for DofE Leaders from a range of faiths and communities to take part in a FREE two day residential consultation. This consultation will explore how to promote leadership from under-represented communities, how to ensure DofE programmes remain relevant to young people from diverse backgrounds and how to engage them. See the flier here.

Date Sunday 20th - Monday 21st January 2013

Location Theobalds Park, Hertfordshire, EN7 5HW

Food and accommodation will be provided.

For more information or to register your interest, please contact Hayley Shenholds on

020 7227 9820 or at Hayley.Shenholds@DofE.org.

Expedition Leaders Network Event

An opportunity for new and experienced expedition Leaders to learn and share ideas.

This event will explore sharing of delivery methods, environmental concerns, identifying Expedition purpose, campsite selection, equipment selection, sharing resources, expedition food and a chance to get out on the hills for a few hours and try out a climbing wall.

Date Friday 22nd - Monday 25th March 2013

Location Trewern Outdoor Education Centre Herefordshire, HR3 5RF

Cost £200

Food, accommodation and travel from Central London are included.

A coach will pick up delegates from Central London at 9.00am on Friday and drop off delegates in Central London at 2pm on Monday. To attend this event please complete a booking form and return to Kirsty Young at Kirsty.Young@DofE. Flier available here.

Countryside Leader Award

There is CLA course taking place on 2^nd February and 18^th-19^th February. Closing date for bookings is 24^th January. Please see this document for more information.

Job Vacancies

The London Borough of Camden were part of a successful bid to increase participation in sports and outdoor education to young people with disabilities and are advertising for a senior worker/coordinator. The DofE will be a key part of the programme. Please see job description, person specification and application at this website. Deadline for applicants is 28^th January.

Please also see here for details of a part time Expedition Network Co-ordinator in the Yorkshire and Humber region. Deadline for applicants is 24^th January.

Conference Dates Reminder!

Conference dates for Licenced Organisations are as follows:

Monday 18th March – State Secondary Schools and Academy Directly Licensed Centres

Tuesday 19th March – Independent School Directly Licensed Centres 

23rd and 24th April – Local Authority Operating Authorities

Finally…

Don’t forget to enter out fantastic iPhone competition!

Looking forward to seeing you all in the new year!