Any British Citizen between 14 and 20 can participate in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme. In order to do so, a young person must first find an operating authority to help with any arrangements, and provide help and information. One of the most successful operating authorities is the Air Training Corps.

These are the Levels which can be achieved in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme:

Bronze: You must be at least 14 to start.
Silver: You must be at least 15 to start.
Gold: You must be at least 16 to start.

Once you have started any level of the award, you have until your 22nd birthday to complete it.

At each level of the award you must complete the following 4 sections:

1.Skill

Select one activity, from a very wide variety of hobbies and leisure activities under general headings such as:

appreciation of arts
collections, studies and surveys
communication
dancing
crafts
fine arts
creative skills
photographic
music

There are a very large number of other activities which could be used to fulfill this section of the award. ATC cadets might want to use Aircraft Modeling, or Aircraft Recognition as their skill for this section.

Requirement:

Bronze: participate in an activity for at least 6 months.
Silver: participate in an activity for at least 12 months.
Gold: participate in an activity for at least 18 months.

2.Physical Recreation

You must select an physical activity and participate in it, for example:

athletics
keep fit
physical achievement
sports
swimming
yoga

Requirement:

Bronze: participate in it for at least 6 weeks.and attain a certain number of points (depending on activity)
Silver: participate in it for at least 6 weeks.and attain a certain number of points (depending on activity)
Gold: participate in it for at least 6 weeks.and attain a certain number of points (depending on activity)

3.Service

There are two types of service only one of which has to be carried out for each award.

1.Practical Service, for example:

help with the elderly
hospital radio
projects of public interest
conservation projects
Choose one form of service and undergo appropriate briefing.

Requirements:

Bronze: participate in it for a total of 14 hours,
Silver: participate in it for a total of 18 hours,
Gold: participate in it for 12 months.

2.Service requiring Specialised Training/Specific Qualifications, for example:

first aid
service through religious education
brailling competency service
child care
care for animals
leadership at voluntary, children or youth organizations
leadership at a uniformed organisation (i.e. the ATC)

4.Expeditions:

You must undertake basic training, carry out practice journeys, and then plan and complete an expedition on foot, by cycle, on horseback, or by canoe or boat.

Requirement:

Bronze: participate in it for at least 2 days (1 overnight).
Silver: participate in it for at least 3 days (2 nights).
Gold: participate in it for at least 4 days (3 nights).

At each level there is also a set distance which must be covered, varying with mode of transport chosen.

In addition to the above 4 sections, to attain a Gold award you must also complete the following:

Residential Project

At Gold level, participants are required to complete a residential project by living away from home for a minimum period of 5 days (4 nights away) during which some form of purposeful enterprise is to be undertaken with other people, for example:

Forestry Work Camp
Outward Bound Training Course
Leadership Training Camp

A cadet in the ATC could also use an overseas camp (e.g. in Germany, Cyprus etc)

On completion of each award, a cadet will receive a certificate, pin badge, and a cloth badge for his or her uniform. The Duke of Edinburgh badge is the only badge presented from outwith the ATC that is allowed on the uniform.