BPE DOFE EXPEDITIONS (SCHOOLS) Participants & Parents Guide. Steve Wilkins

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1 BPE DOFE EXPEDITIONS (SCHOOLS) Participants & Parents Guide Steve Wilkins

2 Bull Precision Expeditions Ltd The Coach House, Hexgreave Hall, Farnsfield, Notts, NG22 8LS Bull Precision Expeditions Ltd Company Reg. No Tel: Fax: web: Contents BPE Who are we?... 3 DofE Awards explained... 4 The Expedition Section... 5 BPE DofE Expedition Programmes... 6 Training & Planning... 6 Practice Expedition... 6 Qualifying Expedition... 7 What to bring on and Expedition and what not to bring!... 8 Personal Clothing... 8 Personal Equipment... 8 Group Equipment... 9 Group Camping Equipment... 9 How to pack your equipment Food & Fuel Factsheets Joining Instructions What happens at the Start and Finish of an Expedition? BPE DofE Expedition Code of Conduct Expedition Aims & The Presentation Frequently Asked Questions... 14

3 BPE Who are we? Bull Precision Expeditions Ltd (BPE or Bull Expeditions) are an expeditions company based near Sherwood Forest in Nottinghamshire. We have an experienced expedition management team who have led and organised a wealth of expeditions all over the globe. Our portfolio includes: School overseas expeditions DofE Expeditions at all levels DofE Horse Riding Expeditions DofE Canoeing Expeditions National Citizenship Service Expedition Leaders Our team of Expedition Leaders are all highly experienced, well-qualified, friendly and supportive who understand what you will be going through and your needs on an expedition. They all hold the appropriate National Governing Body qualifications for the mode of travel that they are leading, whether hill walking, canoeing or equestrian, and have many years of expedition experience in the UK and overseas. The safety of everyone involved on the expedition is our prime concern. In addition to holding NGB qualifications, all leaders hold a current up-to-date First Aid qualification, and have undergone enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks. They are also DofE Accredited Assessors and have an extensive knowledge and experience in delivering DofE expeditions throughout the UK. Our expedition leaders are very experienced in the outdoors, and will put you at your ease through expert tuition and a relaxed and friendly manner. They provide friendly guidance and tuition to the highest quality, and will help make your expedition a great experience. 3

4 DofE Awards explained To gain a DofE Award, participants have to complete 4 sections (5 at Gold) over a specified length of time. These sections are: Volunteering Skills Physical Expedition Residential at Gold level only. Bronze Silver Gold (Age 14 25) (Age 15 25) (Age 16 25) Volunteering 3 months + an additional 6 months 12 months Skills 3 months 3 months in any of 1 section for 6 months, 1 section for 12 months, Physical 3 months these sections the other for 3 months the other for 6 months Expedition Plan, train for and undertake a Plan, train for and undertake Plan, train for and undertake a 2 day, 1 night expedition a 3 day, 2 night expedition 4 day, 3 night expedition Residential n/a n/a Undertake a shared activity in a residential setting away from home for 5 days, 4 nights. Your school/youth group will manage the Award and mentor and support participants in planning and organising their Award. However, due to safety reasons, the Expedition has to be delivered by adults with an appropriate National Governing Body qualification. Some schools have teaching staff with these qualifications and run the expeditions in-house, but where schools do not have this option, they will engage an outside provider to deliver this section. These outside providers are called Approved Activity Providers (AAPs) and are licensed by the DofE to deliver sections of the Award. BPE is an Approved Activity Provider for the Expedition section, and we hold a license by the DofE to deliver this section. The Expedition section is not just delivered over the set amount of days, but over a period of a few months. During this time, participants have to train and plan for their expedition. Volunteering, Skills and Physical are completed outside of the school curriculum, usually by participating in these activities on average of an hour per week for the appropriate length of time for that Award. Participants are therefore encouraged to participate in these sections in parallel to the delivery of the Expedition section, and in this way, they will approach the completion of many of their sections around the same time and gain their Award. To record their activities, participants are issued with an online DofE account, known as edofe. They will be issued with an account by their school or Operating Authority (the organisation licensed to run the Award, such as a County Council) and will be given a Username and Password. Participants are encouraged to use this account on a regular basis, to record the activities they are doing and keep it updated with their progress. At the end of each activity, they are to ask for a written report from the person running the club or organisation that they have been attending who will assess their performance. This Assessor Report is then uploaded onto their edofe account as evidence that they have completed that section. Once all sections have been completed in this way, then the participant has gained that Award. Participant Tip Regularly log on to edofe and record your activities and progress. This will help you to remember your username and password, and keep your records up-to-date saving you a lot of time at the end of your Award and ensuring you get the Award that your efforts deserve! 4

5 The Expedition Section Whilst participants have to complete all sections to gain their Award, the Expedition is arguably the section that receives the most publicity and attention. So what is the Expedition section? The ultimate goal of the Expedition section is for participants to complete an unaccompanied, self-reliant journey with an agreed aim, lasting over a set amount of days determined by the level of Award they are doing. This isn t achieved in isolation though, and the months leading up to this journey involve training and planning so that they are safe when out on an expedition. The Expedition is not an individual task but one that is completed in a team, and is designed to enhance teamwork and leadership skills as well as independence and the ability to look after themselves. Through participation in an expedition, young people: Gain an appreciation of and respect for the outdoor environment. Learn to share in the responsibility for success through leadership, teamwork, self-reliance and co-operation. Learn the importance of attention to detail and organisational ability. Develop and demonstrate enterprise and imagination. Become more self-reliant. Become more able to overcome both expected and unexpected challenges. Recognise the needs and strengths of others. Improve decision-making skills and the ability to accept consequences. Gain the skills to reflect on personal performance. Learn to manage risk. Learn through experience. In order to successfully complete the Expedition, the young people have to demonstrate that they have fulfilled 20 Expedition Conditions, as follows: 1. All expeditions must be by the participants own physical effort, without any motorised or outside assistance. 2. All expeditions must be unaccompanied and self-sufficient. 3. All expeditions must be supervised by an adult who is able to accept responsibility for the safety of the team. 4. The expedition must have an aim. 5. All participants must be properly equipped. 6. Participants must have completed the required training and practice expeditions. 7. At least one practice expedition must be undertaken at each level of the programme, in the same mode of travel and in a similar environment to the qualifying expedition. 8. The team must plan and organise the expedition. 9. Assessment must be by an approved accredited Assessor. 10. There must be between four and seven people in a team. 11. All participants must be within the qualifying age of the programme level. 12. Participants must be at the same level of assessment. 13. The team must not include those who have completed the same or higher level expedition. 14. Accommodation should be camping. 15. The expedition must be of the correct duration. 16. The expedition should normally take place between the end of March and the end of October. 17. The expedition should take place in the recommended environment. 18. The expedition must meet the minimum hours of planned daily activity. 19. A substantial meal should be cooked and eaten by participants each day. 20. A presentation must be prepared and delivered after the expedition. 5

6 BPE DofE Expedition Programmes Our DofE Expedition programmes consist of 3 separate elements: Training & Planning Practice Expedition Qualifying Expedition Training Practice Expedition Bronze Silver Gold Either 2 separate days or 2 day, 1 night residential Either 2 days, 2 nights or 3 days, 2 nights if group includes participants who have not done Bronze Either 2 separate days or 2 day, 1 night residential 2 days, 1 night Qualifying Expedition 2 days, 1 night 3 days, 2 nights Training & Planning 2 days, 1 night residential camp in a UK National Park 3 days, 2 nights in a UK National Park 4 days, 3 nights in a UK National Park, preceded by a travel & acclimatisation day All of our training and planning for the expeditions is undertaken during a 2 day training course. Often, this is delivered in a residential setting either on a camp site or at a Youth Hostel. The training equips the young people with all the skills they will require for the expedition, and covers the following topics: First Aid and Emergency Procedures An Awareness of Risk and Health and Safety Issues Navigation and Route Planning Preparatory & Practical Map Skills Compass Skills (specifically Silver & Gold) Camp Craft, Equipment and Hygiene Food and Cooking Country, Highway and Water Sports Codes Observation Recording and Aim Team-building Canoeing expeditions also cover training appropriate to this mode of travel, including a full day developing Paddle Skills and practising Capsize Drills on the water. A full day is spent journeying in their expedition teams, accompanied by their BPE Expedition Leader, who will deliver the training throughout the day through a combination of tuition, demonstration and practice. On our residential camps, the young people will practice what it is like on a lightweight camp and practice their campcraft and cooking skills. The second day is spent planning their expeditions, including planning their routes, looking at the equipment they will need and planning their food. Practice Expedition The Practice Expedition is designed to provide the young people with an understanding of what the experience is like. It allows them to develop their own skills through practice and yes, sometimes through learning from mistakes! In their teams, they will follow a route that they have planned on their Training, supervised by our team of Expedition Leaders. The supervision is quite close to start off with, meeting them frequently during the first part of their journey whilst they gain in confidence, but then eases back a little to give the team space to develop their skills. 6

7 Qualifying Expedition The Qualifying Expedition is the real thing an expedition that is remotely supervised allowing the young people to work together as a team to be unaccompanied and self-reliant. In their teams, they will follow a route that they have planned on their Training, supervised by our team of Expedition Leaders. Whilst the supervision on the Qualifying Expedition is remote, we monitor them closely and are at hand if there are any injuries or incidents so that the young people remain safe. We will meet them at agreed checkpoints, and will also observe them at other times on their route. The team will also be observed an Accredited Assessor. This will usually be one of the BPE Expedition Leaders, but someone who hasn t been involved with the expedition programme of those young people, thus providing an independent assessment. Their role is to assess the team based on the 20 Expedition Conditions. It is NOT a test but is designed to encourage and support the young people in their experience. At the end of the expedition, the Assessor will discuss and share their observations with the young people in the form of a debrief, and then complete an Assessor s Report for each person in the team. This is sent into the school to be uploaded onto the participant s edofe account as evidence of their completion of the Expedition. Participant Tip Start work on your Volunteering, Skills and Physical when you enrol and continue these whilst preparing for your Expedition. In this way, you will either complete your Award with the Qualifying Expedition or be close to completion. This will spur you on and give you extra motivation if facing challenges on the Expedition from wet weather, being lost or walking up hills! 7

8 What to bring on and Expedition and what not to bring! Participants are encouraged to be sensible in what they bring on an Expedition. Whilst they need the essentials for dealing with the conditions and whatever the weather will be, they also need to be able to carry their load. As a general rule, rucksacks must not weigh more than ¼ of their own body weight, and our own advice is to limit the rucksack weight to a maximum of 14kg. Often food takes up quite a bit of weight, and this can be limited by removing excess packaging, not carrying heavy containers (such as glass bottles, jars or tins), choosing lightweight food and spreading the weight between all the members of the team. Our recommended kit list is shown below: Personal Clothing Comments 1 pair Walking Boots Broken in 2 pairs Walking Socks e.g. Bridgedale Woolfusion Trekker T-Shirt / Top Fleece/ Windproof Jacket Walking Trousers Underwear Base Layer Mid Layer Warm - NOT Jeans. 1 Pair lightweight flip-flops (optional) For wearing on camp instead of boots Warm hat & Sun hat Woolly hat required even in the summer 1 pair Gloves Thermal & waterproof Gaiters Waterproof Jacket Waterproof Over-trousers Personal Equipment Rucksack Rucksack Liner Sleeping Bag Sleeping Mat Optional esp for boggy moorland terrain (Silver/Gold) Taped seams. Pertex, GORE-TEX or similar As above Comments 65 litre e.g. Vango Sherpa Dry Bag, Thick Rubble Sacks, Survival Bag 2-3 season e.g. Vango Nitestar Foam Roll Mat 1 set of Spare Clothes Top, Trousers, Fleece wrapped up Survival Bag Personal First Aid Kit Emergency Food Rations Mobile Phone Sun Cream Whistle Torch, Spare batteries & bulb Watch Water Bottle Cutlery (Knife, Fork, Spoon) or Spork Plastic Bowl & Mug Wash Kit & Towel Thick orange plastic bag e.g. Lifesystems Plasters, Compeed, personal medication e.g. Kendal Mint Cake, Energy tablets. Switched off & sealed in a plastic bag Head torch preferable Cheap & waterproof 1-2 litres Small Toothbrush, toothpaste, hand towel or microfibre 8

9 Group Equipment Food Fuel Matches Washing-Up Liquid, Brillo Pad, T-Towel Trowel & Water Purification Tablets Rubbish Bags Toilet Paper Antibacterial Hand Gel Insect Repellent (DEET) Small amount of money Pencil & Notebook, Camera Compass Comments Methylated Spirits approx 250ml per day per team In a waterproof container In a small container Gold only if wild camping Small number of sheets inside bag For travel & personal use Recording your aim Min. 2 per team Note 1: Footwear You must wear boots that have ankle support to protect your ankle from twisting and sprains. Please do not wear trainers or trek shoes. Check that your boots have a hard-wearing sole that is injection moulded and is not going to tear away from the upper part of the boot. Understand how your boot is waterproof, and what you need to treat the boots with to retain that waterproofing. All boots will need to be cleaned and retreated after use to keep them in good condition. Fabric boots are lighter in weight, and contain a waterproof membrane inside, but this needs to be regularly maintained by applying waterproofing spray otherwise they will start to leak. Leather boots should be cleaned and regularly waxed, but tend to withstand tougher conditions. Notes 2: Spare clothes A single spare set of all outer clothing, plus a spare set of underwear per expedition day. Must be wrapped in dry bag/protective bag to keep dry. Note 3: Waterproofs, Hat & Gloves These are required on all expeditions as the weather can turn very easily, especially on the hills. Make sure they are warm and will keep you dry. Note 4: Rucksack & Rucksack Liner It is important that you keep your kit dry, and a rucksack liner is the best option for this. We advise a rucksack capacity no greater than 65 litres. Fully pack your rucksack, with lighter bulkier items at the bottom, then weigh your rucksack before you leave home. It must not exceed ¼ of your body weight, and ideally should weigh no more than 14kg. Group Camping Equipment BPE will provide the following items of Group Camping Equipment: Tent 2-person / 3-person lightweight camping tents (Terra Nova Hoolie 2 / Hoolie 3 tents) Trangia Camping Stove (Spirit stove, contains burner, 2 pans, windshield, handle and lid) Safety Fuel Bottle must be used to store your Methylated Spirits for safety Maps 2x OS 1:25000 laminated maps of your expedition area Map Cases Ortlieb Map Cases to protect your maps These items will be presented to you at the start of the training/expedition. Please be aware that all equipment issued must be returned on completion of the expedition, and must be in the same state that it was issued. If any of the equipment issued is not returned, lost or damaged through misuse, then BPE will charge the full replacement cost at RRP, plus a 30 admin fee ( 25+VAT). 9

10 How to pack your equipment There is a right way and a wrong way to pack a rucksack! The general rules to follow are: Pack lighter, bulkier items at the bottom (such as sleeping bag), and heavier items at the top. Items that are needed on the journey should be in pockets or close to hand (e.g. waterproofs). Avoid packing solid items next to your back which might dig in and cause you discomfort. Ensure your rucksack is evenly balanced so that one side isn t heavier than the other. Adjust all your strips so that the rucksack fits comfortably. Your hips should take most of the weight. The diagram below provides a guide as to where items should be packed. Your Supervisor will check your rucksack at the start, including adjustments of straps, to help you on your journey. Participant Tip Weigh your rucksack before the expedition. Remember to allow approximately 2kg for the share of group camping equipment that you will be carrying too! 10

11 Food & Fuel Not eating enough of the right food will mean you have little energy reserves. At best, this can mean that you ll find the journey harder (especially when climbing hills); at worst, a lack of energy can lead to poor judgment, increasing the risk of getting lost, or suffering from hypothermia or exhaustion. Energy - This is strenuous activity, and you will burn calories during the day. Efficiency - Plan as a team; you only have a single burner - save time and fuel. Taste - Plan your menu with care, ensure you have plenty of the right food, and that you like it! Drink plenty of water min 2 litres of water per day. You can fill up at points along your journey. Breakfast: Need plenty of carbohydrates especially quick-release for the day. Having muesli or porridge? Try mixing in milk powder at home and add raisins or sultanas. Pitta bread or oatcakes, with honey, jam or marmalade make a good addition. Lunch & Snacks: Graze during the day. Light lunch, high in quick-release carbohydrates to top-up energy levels. Flat breads (pitta bread or wraps) with chocolate spread, peanut butter or Nutella. Dried fruit (raisins, sultanas), malt loaf, Jaffa Cakes, Peperami all suitable for lunch & snacks. Evening Meal: 3 Course Meal with plenty of slow-release carbohydrates. Starter soup, tea, coffee, hot chocolate Main meal Pasta or rice with Bolognese sauce, curry or casserole/stew. Dessert Cake & custard, chocolate, Add pinch of salt, pepper, herbs or spices to enhance flavours even packets of ketchup! Quick cook will reduce fuel consumption & time. Boil in the bag reduces waste & washing-up! Expedition Foods are also a good food source, designed for this type of activity. Avoid: Heavy/breakable items glass bottles, jars, and tins must not be carried. Low energy foods avoid Pot Noodles as they have little energy content. Fizzy drinks (e.g. Coca-Cola) will impact performance & make you want to go to the loo! Food needing refrigeration (fresh meat & dairy produce) will go off, leading to food poisoning. Specially designed Expedition Foods such as Beyond the Beaten Track, BeWell, Wayfarer etc provide a great balance of nutrients and very high calories. However, they can be expensive and sometimes not be to your taste. If you are planning to use these, please try them out before the expedition. Participants will be using Trangia Spirit Stoves on your expedition, which use Methylated Spirits as the fuel. Each tent team will need to bring a 500ml bottle of Methylated Spirits, which can be bought from expedition stores (e.g. Cotswold, Millets etc) or the paint section of DIY stores (e.g. Homebase, B&Q, Wilkos etc). Participant Tip Try before you arrive! Check that you like the food that you are planning to take on the expedition by trying it out at home. Add pinches of salt, pepper, herbs and spices to improve the flavour. 11

12 Factsheets We have developed a range of Factsheets on Equipment, including Kit Lists, Rucksack Packing diagram, and Menu Ideas which complement our training workshops. These are single page documents with tips and useful information, and have been published on the BPE web site. Joining Instructions Joining Instructions contain all the necessary facts regarding the training or expedition dates, time of arrival, start & finish locations, BPE Expedition Leaders, and Emergency Contact details. These tend to be issued 3-4 weeks prior to each event, and are sent to the school who will then distribute these to the participants. What happens at the Start and Finish of an Expedition? In order to ensure that the Expeditions we deliver run smoothly and safely, there are a number of tasks that our leaders perform at the Start and Finish locations. Start Meet the team, making sure all participants have arrived. Introductions and set expectations. Check any updates to medical information. Check any prescribed medication, inhalers etc. Check that all participants have brought all the vital items of equipment. Issue group camping equipment. Check all rucksacks for weight, balance and adjust straps. Discuss and review route and agree checkpoints. Discuss and agree emergency contact procedures and numbers. Observe them as they set off to make sure they take the right direction / path. Finish Undertake a debrief with the team and discuss what they have learnt and gained from the experience. Collect group camping equipment and check that it is all returned and in good condition. Handover to school or parents. All of these tasks are vital in ensuring the safety and success of the expedition. If you are providing transport, we do ask that you give the leader and the team some space and time at the start and finish locations to ensure that they are able to deliver these tasks with the full concentration of the participants. They do take time and we do ask, and thank you, for your patience, especially if you are dropping off or collecting participants. Location and time of start and finish locations are included in the Joining Instructions. We do ask that those providing transport are familiar with these arrangements, so that the waiting time for the participants is kept to the minimum, especially when collecting them at the finish. When the team arrives at the finish and stops, after a period of physical exertion, then their bodies tend to cool down very quickly, and we are mindful of the heightened risk of them developing signs of hypothermia and exhaustion. A friendly face at the finish is also very welcome to the participants! Participant Tip Be organised with your equipment throughout the expedition and especially on camp. Look after all the group camping equipment that you are personally issued with, including any tent bag, poles and pegs, and the individual items of a stove. This will improve your safety, make the return of the kit easier and quicker and save you from any expensive replacement bills! 12

13 BPE DofE Expedition Code of Conduct We do operate a participant code of conduct and all participants are requested to abide by this throughout the training and expeditions: All participants must follow instructions provided by BPE Leaders at all times - these are for everyone s safety and well-being. Mobile phones must not be used at any time during the training or expeditions unless in an emergency. Participants are asked not to call home without first discussing the reasons with your BPE Leaders. BPE Leaders are fully qualified and will handle any medical and safety issues, and will also co-ordinate any communications with parents through the BPE DofE Co-ordinator. All participants must be fully aware of the DofE s 20 Expedition Conditions. All participants must treat all parties on the expedition with respect, including fellow team members, BPE Leaders and members of the public. Abuse of any kind will result in that participant being asked to leave the expedition immediately, and excluded from any future activity with no refund being provided. BPE reserves the right to defer any participant who the BPE Leaders feel need further training during any part of the programme. Further training will then be offered but this will be at the participant s own expense. It is our duty to respect the area where we deliver the expeditions, by following the Countryside Code and being polite to landowners and farmers. Please remember that it is their land we are using. Expedition Aims & The Presentation One of the conditions for the expedition is that participants have to have an Aim, and they will then need to deliver a presentation following the Expedition. The Aim defines the destination/environment, mode of travel, and theme of the Qualifying Expedition, so it is important to discuss and agree this at the start of your planning. It will also provide a guide as to how long you will spend journeying. The presentation is part of the 20 Expedition Conditions, and will need to reflect the aim. It should also include what has been learnt from the experience and how these skills can be used in their everyday lives. The Presentation is usually delivered at school and observed and assessed by members of the teaching staff. Some schools invite parents to watch the presentation or use it as a way of promoting the Award to the next set of students. Participants are encouraged to take the opportunity to take photos or videos, but they may also wish to include song, poetry or dance how the presentation is delivered is up to them. Some ideas for expedition aims include: Impact of human activity on the land: leisure, pollution, erosion, economic, farming etc. Meteorology Villages & Hamlets Flora & Fauna Geology Lichens Fungi Vegetation Birds (Moorland Bird Survey) Mosses (Big Moss Survey) Animal Tracks & Habitats Glacial features Wild food resources Forestry Wainwright s journey (Lake District) Historical significance and landmarks. Video diary / imovie of your experience. 13

14 Frequently Asked Questions Q. How far will I walk? A. That is up to you & your team. You must satisfy the 20 Expedition Conditions, which state that each day must include a set amount of hours of Planned Activity, and that a minimum of 50% of this must be spent journeying. However, we would expect that any nonjourneying time is spent productively gathering evidence towards your aim and post-expedition presentation. Q. Do I have to climb lots of hills? A. Again, this is up to you & your team. You will be in charge of your route planning, which will take place during your training. Some teams choose to spend a lot of their expedition in higher terrain, whilst others choose to spend more time in the valleys. Both options are fine, so long as the route chosen is in the environment appropriate to that level and contains a suitable challenge. The emphasis is on solitude, not altitude, and you should be aiming to be away from civilisation in remote areas of the countryside, but this can be achieved just as well in lower valley areas. Q. Do I need to have done my Bronze before moving onto Silver, or my Silver before moving onto Gold? A. No, although this experience does help. Our programme will meet the needs of Direct Entrant Golds as well as those who have done previous levels of the Award. However, if you have enrolled to do Bronze or Silver, then it is advisable to complete the entire Award before enrolling to do the next level. Many Operating Authorities are now looking to see you completing all 4 sections of your Award, including uploading your evidence onto edofe, before allowing registration for the next level. Q. What equipment do I need? A. You will need to provide your personal clothing and equipment suitable for a the expedition. You will also need food and fuel (methylated spirits). BPE will provide tents, stoves, fuel safety bottles, maps and map cases. Please refer to the kit list for full details. You should weigh your rucksack before the expedition, and this must not exceed ¼ of your body weight. Ideally, it should be even lighter, and we will provide further support and advice during the Training & Practice Expedition so that you are fully prepared for your Qualifying. Q. What food should I take? A. Food needs to be lightweight and high calorific. Ideally, you should consider dehydrated foods available through Expedition Food Suppliers, such as BeWell, Beyond the Beaten Track or Wayfarer. There are links to various suppliers on the DofE web site. Whatever you choose, make sure you like it try it before the expedition! Q. What team will I be in? A. Teams will be formed either at school prior to the Training, or on the first day of the Training. We aim to ensure everyone is comfortable in their team, with a mix of male and female participants in each team. These teams will then work together throughout the programme, doing their Practice and Qualifying Expedition together as a unit. It is good to have a mix of people you know really well and also some that you don t know as well. Be aware that being part of an expedition team means that you will need to work closely with each other, support and encourage one another. You may also have to overcome challenges and manage conflict. We wish all the participants every success for their Expedition and their DofE Award. The first point of contact regarding any aspect of the DofE should be your school and we ask that you raise any questions initially with them. Any information required from BPE will then be communicated between the school and ourselves. However, if you do need to contact us directly then please send an to our DofE Manager, Steve Wilkins: stevewilkins@bullexpeditions.com or contact the office on