Youngs Leaders 16-24yrs
& Volunteers
Guiding / Scouting
Queen's Guide Award
Supporting the Guiding /Scouting & DofE Awards and The Use of Resources for meetings with young people
The Duke of Edinburgh Award Scheme and for Young People volunteering in schools.
It is always great having volunteers in our schools, however,sometimes it can become more work than the facilitator expected. So we are providing a purpose and programme that you can hand over to your volunteer or DofE award candidate.
- A planned programme for the facilitator to provide to their volunteer
- For the DofE programme we have made it progressive for each level of the award - Bronze .Silver . Gold
- The programme give support to the volunteer and still allows them the opportunity to develop their own input .We also provide resources that the volunteers can download and use
- This is designed for volunteers 13 years plus
D of E
Our Bronze Award
free support
Programme
Our free resource bronze programme is here to support young people taking sustainability into schools as part of their DofE.
This is not produced by the DofE
Our Silver Award
free support
Programme
Our free resource Silver programme is here to support young people taking sustainability into schools as part of their DofE.
This is not produced by the DofE
Our Gold Award
Programme
Our free resource Gold programme is here to support young people taking sustainability into schools as part of their DofE.
This is not produced by the DofE .
Activities and Resources
Activities to Lead with Young People
The Duke of Edinburgh Awards Scheme
By using the Sustainables Academy and the Curriculum for Sustainability and Circular Economy Programme, young people can gain valuable insights into sustainability while developing key skills required for their DofE Award. This free support initiative not only promotes eco-awareness but also aligns with the DofE's focus on personal development, teamwork, and community involvement.
Skills Section
- Sustainability Education: The Sustainables Academy cartoon team can be used to deliver fun and educational content that aligns with sustainability principles. Young participants could learn about circular economy practices, climate change, and responsible consumption through interactive workshops, online modules, or even by creating their own short sustainability-themed cartoon episodes.
- Circular Economy Projects: The Curriculum for Sustainability and Circular Economy Programme could offer training on upcycling, waste reduction, and resource management. Participants could develop skills such as composting, designing eco-friendly products, or learning about sustainable supply chains.
Volunteering Section
- Environmental Advocacy: As part of their volunteering hours, participants could work with local environmental groups or schools to promote sustainability. They might use resources from the Sustainables Academy to create awareness campaigns, host eco-workshops, or even help with local clean-up initiatives.
- Sustainability Mentors: Participants could also take on a mentorship role, guiding younger students through sustainability projects, possibly using the cartoon team to deliver key concepts in an accessible, child-friendly way
Physical Section
- Eco-Friendly Outdoor Activities: The DofE’s focus on physical activity could be linked to sustainability by encouraging activities such as nature conservation, tree planting, or outdoor clean-up events. These could be complemented by discussions led by the cartoon team on the importance of physical environments and maintaining them for future generations.
Expedition Section
- Sustainable Expeditions: The programme could challenge young people to conduct their expeditions with sustainability in mind. This might include using sustainable travel options, minimising waste, or tracking their environmental impact. The cartoon team could play a role in providing guidance on eco-conscious expedition planning, with a focus on reducing carbon footprints and leaving no trace.
Residential Section (for Gold Award)
- Sustainability and Circular Economy Camp: Participants could engage in a residential programme centred around sustainability education, involving hands-on workshops on renewable energy, waste management, and environmental conservation. The cartoon team could provide educational sessions and storytelling, making the experience both enjoyable and informative.
- Green Innovation Projects: Another idea could be working on sustainability innovation projects in a group setting, such as developing eco-friendly products or creating a community garden. This would allow young people to collaborate on practical sustainability solutions.
- Indoor & outdoor activities
Guiding and Scouting
We are proud to share that our Founder has kindly allowed us to display her Queen’s Guide Certificate as part of our commitment to supporting young people and leaders. Her experiences as a Guide and Venture Scout shaped her lifelong passion for nature, sustainability, and community. Through camps, wide games, environmental stewardship, cultural folklore, and learning the codes and customs of countries around the world, she developed a deep respect for our planet and a true sense of connectedness to nature.
With the launch of the new Guiding Eco Awards, we are more excited than ever to support this journey. Our site offers a wealth of resources and inspiration to help young people and leaders explore sustainability, the circular economy, regenerative learning, and meaningful environmental experiences.
Guiding and Scouting provide powerful opportunities to understand and protect our world — and we are here to champion and celebrate that every step of the way.
Our reasons why Scouting and Guiding can help young people overcome climate anxiety and support mental health
Our Founder has allowed us to use the Image of her Queen’s Guide Badge
Building Real-World Skills and Hopeful Action
Building Real-World Skills and Hopeful Action Through practical activities like conservation projects, eco challenges, and community service, young people move from feeling powerless to feeling capable. Taking positive action builds resilience and helps them see that change is possible — and that they can be part of it.
Fostering Community and Shared Purpose
Scouting and Guiding provide a supportive community where young people can share their feelings, find friends who care about the same issues, and work together towards solutions. Being part of a positive, like-minded group reduces feelings of isolation and eco-anxiety.
Strengthening Connection to Nature
Strengthening Connection to Nature Camps, hikes, outdoor adventures, and environmental projects help young people develop a deep, personal relationship with nature. This connectedness to the natural world is proven to reduce anxiety, boost wellbeing, and create a lasting sense of calm and belonging.
Encouraging Positive, Regenerative Mindsets
Encouraging Positive, Regenerative Mindsets Rather than focusing only on problems, Scouting and Guiding encourage young people to think about solutions — from sustainability to the circular economy to regenerative practices. Learning that it's not just about "less harm" but about "creating a better future" shifts their mindset towards optimism and empowerment.
Service in
Guiding
- Running a Sustainables Academy project would easily provide over 60 hours of service.
- Planning and delivering sessions, events, or workshops around sustainability, the circular economy, or environmental stewardship would count strongly
- Organising a community event (like a sustainability fair, eco-skills workshop, or a young leaders’ training day) would cover the event-planning requirement
Personal Skill Development
- Leading a project would develop valuable skills like public speaking, leadership, project management, educational outreach, or even a sustainability-focused skill like regenerative gardening or eco-innovation.
- You could track your skill progress over 12 months, easily meeting the 60-hour commitment.
Community
Action
- A Sustainables Academy initiative could research local sustainability challenges (e.g., food waste, biodiversity, renewable energy) and deliver a practical project such as community clean-ups, biodiversity planting, or creating resources for local schools.
- It would tick both the research and practical action project boxes.
Outdoor Challenge (Optional Link)
- If you ran an outdoor community learning event (like an eco-trail, outdoor conservation workshop, or sustainability-themed hike or wide game), it could tie into aspects of outdoor leadership and exploration, though you’d still need a formal expedition separately.
Residential
Experience
- Residential Experience Attending or organising a sustainability-focused residential (e.g., eco-camp, regenerative farming camp, or attending a broader environmental conference) with people outside your usual network could fulfil this requirement too.
Leading a Sustainables Academy project
- It offers real-world leadership, meaningful community change, personal growth, and environmental action — all perfect for the Queen’s Guide Award. It shows you’re committed to the values of Guiding and to building a better world.
