As it celebrates five consecutive years of record-breaking participation, DofE has renewed its call for universal access to enrichment opportunities – and unveils plans to equip more than two million young people with skills for life and work by 2031.
Within the next five years, the charity wants to equip more young people with the skills, confidence and resilience they need to transition to adulthood, focusing on expanding access to DofE through schools and colleges and reaching the least advantaged young people.
Around a third of pupils in state schools, and 50% of the most disadvantaged students, don’t achieve a standard pass in their English and maths GCSEs each year, while a staggering 957,000 16 to 24-year-olds are not in employment, education or training. However, research shows that a DofE experience positively impacts young people, helping them develop the confidence and human skills that are crucial for adulthood and employment. Importantly, the evidence suggests these benefits can be even greater for less advantaged young people.
As the DofE charity launches its renewed mission to help young people become world ready, it also celebrates the incredible impact it has had over the last five years. Between 1st April 2021 and 31st March 2026, the DofE charity has seen: