Skills

Duke of Edinburgh website SKILLS IDEAS - Click Here

British Sign Language Group and Course.

There will be a new British Sign Language Group/course that will be launching in January 2026 at the Beauchamp College.

The group will run as a 13 and 26 week course where the students will learn and practise functional skills in communicating using BSL. The course will be run by our Deaf Practitioner who has many years of teaching BSL. A certificate of completion will be awarded at the end of the course. The course will run after school on a Thursday – most probably from 3.30 – 4.30 pm at Beauchamp Hearing Support Centre.

For further information please email Heather O’Neill, Senior Teacher for the Deaf for Leicestershire. [email protected] 

Cooking Mentorship - The Little Cooks CLUB

Are you looking for inspiration for the skills element of your Bronze Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme? How about cooking up a storm to really impress your family as well as your leader?

From 19th September 2024 there will be a 12-week online cooking programme to help you develop your kitchen skills and build a repertoire of delicious recipes… and of course, meet all the requirements for your DofE award.

The sessions will last between 20 and 45 minutes (the time will depend on what we are making). All sessions will be recorded, so if you can’t make it one week, you’ll be able to catch up at another time because I’ll send you the link to rewatch.

You will be guided through 12 different recipes, from lasagne to star pizzas, spiced apple buns to burritos. You’ll receive an email with details of the ingredients and equipment you’ll need for each bake, so you’ll have plenty of time to get yourself prepared. At the end of the course, you’ll receive a cookbook with all recipes, plus many hints, tips and facts to help consolidate your learning.

The cost for this 12-week programme is just £40 per student. To book your place or to discuss this offering further, please contact me, Lisa James, on [email protected] or 07811 346219.

LET'S COOK FRENCH

LET'S COOK FRENCH is a structured online French cooking course designed specifically for young people doing their DofE Award.

What is LET'S COOK FRENCH?

A user-friendly ONLINE platform for students to learn to cook classic French recipes while fulfilling the DofE Skills section requirements.

Choose from 8 themed 3-month modules (perfect for Bronze, Silver or Gold levels). Students can build a flexible, personalised experience to fit their programme length. Each module includes 12 carefully selected recipes.

They pick the module(s) that suit them best, according to their taste and experience level.

Explore their Website: https://www.letscookfrench.co.uk/

Any questions? Email at [email protected]

HSBC UK Smart Money for DofE

HSBC UK serves around 15 million customers across the UK, supported by 25,500 colleagues. HSBC UK offers a complete range of retail banking and wealth management to personal and private banking customers, as well as commercial banking for small to medium businesses and large corporates.

HSBC UK is currently working with over 7,800 schools and youth organisations across the UK to deliver free financial education programmes for students and young people aged 3-25 years. More than 450,000 children have engaged in HSBC UK’s financial education programmes in the last 18 months alone – either digitally, through youth organisations or in the classroom.

Our skills programme is designed to build financial capability through a series of interactive webinars and practical activities to help young people develop the financial knowledge, skills and attitudes for a successful financial future. Suitable for bronze and silver learners looking for a 3 month skill.

During the course we will explore six fortnightly modules to build your financial capability. These range from looking at the basics of bank accounts and credit cards, to the importance of starting saving early, protecting your money from fraud, understanding your shopping habits and building a strong budget.

To find out more, including how to register please click here to join us on one of our New Applicants Webinars

Do you want to try your hand at some traditional craft skills?

Our Fibre Group can help you get started or to progress in spinning, weaving, dyeing, knitting, crochet or sewing. We meet monthly but can give you guided practice tasks in between. We can lend you equipment where needed. Whether it’s for 3 months or longer we can guide you through the basics and beyond. Please contact Jules [email protected]

Spark4Kids' DofE Skills courses

Spark4Kids is an Approved DofE Activity Provider, offering digital courses for participants looking to complete their Skills section. Participants learn the life skills of computer coding and touch-typing.

The courses include Web design, Python programming, Unity 3D/C# games design and typing skills, in LIVE! tutor-led online classrooms and are aimed at participants of all abilities including absolute beginners.

Web: www.spark4kids.com/dofe
Email: [email protected]
Tel: 020 8090 1444

Touch Typing DofE Skills Courses

Choose From a Range Of Online or Flexi DofE Skills Courses. Qwerty Tye offer four different styles of 3 Month DofE Skills courses for the DofE Bronze and Silver Award. All courses include: Online Typing Programme , Colour Coded Keyboard & Finger Stickers, DofE Assessor’s Report and Student’s Pack.

For further information visit the Qwerty Type Website - Click Here

Try something Musical

Seaforth Highlanders is a charitable pipe band based in Leicester, who are currently practising in Birstall. They offer free tuition and equipment for Students looking to learn this particular musical instrument. All instructors are all subject to DBS checks etc so if you are interested please email Lottie Bozon - [email protected]  for further information or you can book a taster session so why give it a go!

Low-cost Skills

During Covid cooking became one of the most popular Skills activities, which helps teach a vital life skill. There is a 13-week programme to help young people complete this as a skill at home, downloadable from the DofE website.

There are lots of virtual learning opportunities available such as learning British sign language, online money management or completing a free creative writing course. 

Fighting Plastic Pollution with the Turner Twins is a relatively new activity programme in support of their plastic survey and beach cleans.

For sport loving young people Sport Appreciation or Sports Nutrition may be of interest – 13-week programmes of both activities are available from the DofE website.

Choosing Reading as a skill, borrowing books from the school / local library.

IBM SkillsBuild

Free online courses that can be completed for your DofE Skills section.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) has partnered with IBM, the global tech leader, to offer all DofE participants and centres, free access to their online portal of courses that can be used to complete your DofE Skills section for your Bronze, Silver or Gold Award.

• 100s of professional and tech courses to choose from
• Courses can earn recognised qualifications and digital badges that you can add to your CV
• Sign up with just your email in seconds
• You can track your progress and evidence your DofE Skills section; and your DofE Leader and Assessor can too (if you give them access)

DofE Licensed organisations can set up a group account so all participants can access IBM SkillsBuild, whether or not they choose it for their Skills section.

There are two ways to use IBM SkillsBuild for you DofE:

1. Select a course package that meets the hours required for your Award level – includes Work Readiness and Artificial Intelligence.
2. Create your own SkillsBuild programme by combining your own courses from the 100s available to meet your interests and the hours required for your Award level.

Find out more and sign up.

Ignite Hubs' DofE Programme - Activities for Skills, Volunteering, & Physical Sections

A DofE Approved Activities Provider and offer exciting remote activities for the Skills, Physical and Volunteering Sections. Students can gain coding knowledge through our Skills Section, volunteer and make an impact at our charity for the Volunteering Section, or engage in self-directed physical activities for the Physical Section. Throughout the programme, students will be supported by trained mentors who have industry experience to provide specialised support for a successful DofE journey. More information is available on our DofE webpage.

The main DofE Website has many more ideas - click here.