The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme is one of the UK's leading charities dedicated to the development of young people. The charity engages around 300,000 young people each year, 30,000 of whom are considered excluded or vulnerable, focusing on developing qualities and skills to lead a fulfilled and successful life. Offered at three levels (Bronze, Silver and Gold), the award engages young people aged 14-25, and can engage individual young people for up to two years.

After the successful delivery of the Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme at three Football League clubs (Brighton & Hove Albion, Burnley and Sheffield United), The Football League Trust decided to offer 17 other clubs the opportunity to offer the scheme to young people in their area.

Football clubs and community schemes provide an ideal setting for delivery of the Award. We are all aware of the power that football clubs have within their local community to engage hard to reach young people, and the volunteering, skills and physical elements of the award can be delivered within a football club setting, and adapted to suit the environment.

A dedicated team at the Duke of Edinburgh Award have provided training, resources and ongoing support to all participating Football League clubs, allowing them to deliver the scheme locally. Support has also been provided in sourcing expedition experts, based locally, who have led that element of delivery.