Hertfordshire County Council Services for Young People (SfYP) is the is the licensed organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh's Award (DofE) in Hertfordshire. We supports schools, learning establishments and youth projects to become DofE centres and deliver the DofE Award to young people. We are the largest licenced organisation in England.
The year in numbers
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026, the number of DofE centres supported by the SfYP DofE Team grew by 11% and we now support a total of 97 centres across Hertfordshire. The range of DofE centres has widened to include more SEND schools, a volunteer-led youth group and a children's centre.
These numbers are a snapshot of what is being achieved by Hertfordshire's DofE centres.
- Active DofE accounts 15,728 young people are currently doing their DofE with centres operating under the SfYP licence
- Enrolments 8,499 new starters - an increase of 4.5%
- 5,812 young people started their Bronze Award
- 1,185 young people started their Silver Award
- 794 young people started their Gold Award
- Achievements 5,527 awards were achieved - an increase of 13.6%
- 3,985 young people achieved their Bronze Award
- 1,895 young people achieved their Silver Award
- 350 young people achieved their Gold Award
- Average completion rate 68% (16.12% higher than the national average)
- 28 centres achieved a completion rate over 80%
- 56 centres achieved a completion rate over DofE's target of 60% - an increase of 36.5%
- 61% of centres achieved a completion rate higher than the national average
- Number of SfYP DofE volunteers increased by 111% to 19
- One DofE volunteer training day was delivered in November 2025 for nine volunteers
- 39 volunteers completed training in Lowland Leader, Hill and Moorland Leader and Outdoor First Aid
- 27 DofE leaders completed the Hertfordshire Expedition Skills Training (HEST) course delivered by the SfYP DofE Team
- 4 SfYP DofE projects ran every week during term time
- 34 young people successfully completed their Bronze Award assessed expedition with SfYP
- 19 young people successfully completed their SfYP DofE Gold Award residential course with SfYP at Hudnall Park in October 2025
The social value of the Duke of Edinburgh's Award in Hertfordshire
Between 1 April 2025 and 31 March 2026 young people doing their DofE Award under the Services for Young People licence spent 17,2003 hours volunteering in their communities. The social value of these hours is an amazing £1,298,534.
2025-2026 infographic
