Opportunities for Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Volunteering with NHEBSC
The Duke of Edinburgh Award is a completely personal programme that allows you to be rewarded for the things you’re interested in, that matter to you and which you may already be doing in your free time. You may have already completed one of the awards or could be considering completing one for the first time, either way you will need to carry out some volunteering work.
So why not volunteer at North Herts and East Beds sailing club? Whether you are an adept sailor or only have a limited knowledge of sailing, you can complete your volunteering section supported by an experienced DofE assessor, helping through fun and rewarding work.
To give a better idea of why completing DofE volunteering at NHEBSC is so advantageous, and as a DofE Gold Volunteer myself, I asked DofE assessor Alex Burns, who has also been through the whole process herself and with her children, a few questions about the volunteering process:
What skills do participants typically gain when working with you?
Over the course of the volunteering experience, they learn how to manage their time to ensure they spend long enough volunteering each month to complete the award. Tasks generally completed as part of DofE include helping with the rigging of boats, assisting an instructor from the powerboat and participating in club working party events.
During winter months when there is less sailing, participants are instead able to complete many other tasks such as designing informational posters for the club, writing up information for the website and thinking of ways to update it.
Finally, by the end of their time spent volunteering not only do participants display a much greater understanding of how a sailing club is able to function, but they also consistently display a huge increase in confidence. This includes when talking to and helping other club members or additionally in taking out new members onto the lake for the first time while telling them all about the club.
How flexible are you with scheduling and individual needs?
We are generally very flexible – for example as long as the correct amount of time is spent volunteering each month, volunteers aren’t required to be present every single week. As well as this, tasks can be found for participants with a full range of abilities or sailing experience, and help is always provided in organising what to do. Jobs can also be adapted as needed, for example for people with disabilities to enable participation to be accessible for all.
How do you help participants reflect on and record their progress?
Throughout their time volunteering with us we make sure to consistently take photos of our volunteers completing activities, while encouraging participants to reflect on what they have learnt. As well as promoting the continuous collection of evidence, we are often able to trust volunteers to be pro-active in knowing what tasks can be completed, enabling them to recognise a clear progression in their independence and familiarity with how the club works.
How does having young volunteers help the club?
By having young volunteers at the club they are able to talk to the other members to help increase the understanding of what younger members enjoy about the club. As a result, their suggestions are implemented into the club’s calendar. For example, each year camp out sailing sessions are held, along with the summer fun day and barbecue. Young volunteers also provide a wider variety of ideas when tackling problems and help to build trust in younger club members.
In summary, the sailing club is a great place to volunteer for the Duke of Edinburgh award, with volunteers gaining valuable experience and skills while the club benefits from their enthusiasm and energy. If you are not already a member, to find out more please contact: membership@nullnhebsc.org.uk , otherwise feel free to bring any questions you have to Alex.
Article by Jacques B. and page created by Conan A. (DofE Volunteers)
*Please note NHEBSC is NOT a Duke of Edinburgh training centre