Volunteering is all about making a positive difference to other people's lives, animals, society, the community or the environment; getting off your sofa and taking time out to change things for the better can be great fun. For this section, the idea is to volunteer somewhere for a number of months. Typically commitment to this section should average around an hour each week - in general it must be a regular thing and not "oh I volunteered for a whole week at this place, therefore I don't have to do any more volunteering". The requirements for this section are pretty self-explanatory, but you can certainly find out more by hovering your mouse over the boxes below:

Volunteering FAQs

How long do I need to volunteer for?

At least 1 hour per week on average, over 12 or 18 months.

• If you have completed Silver DofE, the volunteer requirement is 12 months.
• If you have not completed Silver DofE, you have the option to choose the compulsory 18-month volunteer section instead of the skill or physical section.

Do I have to volunteer every week?

No! It is ideally on a weekly basis, however, you can take a break for exams or just because you feel like it. You do need to show regular commitment over the whole 12 or 18 months, however, so you can't just volunteer for 52 hours over 1 week, for example.

Can I include time spent training in this section?

Yes, but no more than a quarter of your time should be spent training for the activity. If the activity is mainly to learn something, then this choice would be more appropriate in your Skills section.

Can work experience count as volunteering?

Probably not. Volunteering activities should not replace the work usually undertaken by a paid member of staff. However, if the position is in a charity or non-profit organization, then it is usually allowed.

Can I volunteer as part of a team?

YES!

Do I really need evidence for volunteering?

Yes! Evidence is often required from participants, and is frequently the one thing stopping people from achieving their award. Try to take pictures of yourself volunteering as much as possible, and it is very helpful to keep a record (or logbook) of every volunteering activity you do.

https://www.dofe.org/do/activitylogs/

How long do I have to complete my volunteering?

As long as you have finished the activities before your 25th birthday, you can still achieve an Award, but it is much better to finish this before you leave.

Who is my assessor?

You need to have your volunteering section signed off specifically by an assessor at the end. This assessor should be a person who is appropriately qualified and experienced in the activity you are undertaking, and who is not a member of your family.

An assessor can complete their report in two ways:

1. They can complete it online in eDofE.
2. They can complete it on a paper form and give it to you to upload to eDofE.

Can I get paid for my volunteering?

No, you must freely give up your time without being paid (apart from expenses). There can be other ways to benefit, such as contributions towards training courses (if provided).

Volunteering Ideas

Being an Exec Member for a society can count as your volunteering Section - why not run for a DofE Soc Exec position at the end of Term 2?

Check out Warwick Volunteers for hundreds of ideas in close distance to our university. Filter by location, type and time commitment: https://warwick.ac.uk/about/community/volunteers/