For the Residential section, you need to undertake a shared activity or specific course where the majority of people are unknown to you, in a residential setting away from home and in an unfamiliar environment. Evenings are often as much a part of the experience as daytime activities. The residential section consists of a 5-day, 4-night programme and you should be aged between 16 and 24 plus registered for the Gold Award.
This section offers a high degree of flexibility but it must be done with an organised group, registered charity or Approved Activity Provider (AAP) such as ourselves.
What to expect?
The residential activity week will consist of a number of activities including climbing, abseiling, high and low ropes, zip lines and kayaking, plus an element of team and conservation work which remains in keeping with the ethos of the Award.
A sample programme outlining a typical Gold Residential activity week is shown below to give an idea as to what you will be doing throughout your week:
DofE Gold Residential Activity Week – Sample Programme
The Gold Residential Section
What is included?
- A full time Residential Course Director who will be available to assist with anything before, during and post activity week.
- Comprehensive pre-residential admin pack for participants and schools / parents / guardians, including consent forms, kit lists etc.
- High quality activity week delivered from our Ashdown Forest site with a variety of different outdoor activities to keep you busy!
- Experienced instructors holding National Governing Body qualifications relevant to the environment in which they are working. All of our instructors hold a current and relevant first aid qualification and Enhanced DBS certificate (see Overview page).
- All technical equipment and PPE provided
- All supervision and developmental training throughout the programme. We aim to help young people develop their personal and practical skills as much as possible throughout their experience with us, both as individuals and as part of their team.
- Smiles and encouragement throughout!
We also provide the following equipment:
- Harnesses, Helmets and PPE for roped activities
- Kayaks, Buoyancy Aids, Paddles and PPE for water activities
- Group First Aid Kits
- Hi-Vis Vests (for any potential road walking)
- Refreshments throughout the day
- A budget for all meals
- Insurance (see Overview for full details)
Residential Venue
Our residential packages are run from our site at Blackland Farm on the Ashdown Forest which is situated over 130 acres of woodland and open space. Accommodation will be in Weavers Lodge which features four 8 bedded dormitories plus toilets, showers, a fully catered kitchen and dining room.
Our watersports activities are run from nearby Weirwood Reservoir where we have private access to launching facilities.
The site itself features 19 high roped activities plus zip wires, indoor and outdoor climbing, archery, abseiling, low ropes and team building activities, swimming pool, canoeing and kayaking.
What does the Gold Residential Activity Week package cost?
Probably the most important question!
We have managed to keep this week at an extremely affordable price!
We are offering the Gold Residential Activity Week for £345.00 + VAT per person!
This price includes all activities, food and accommodation, facilities and instructional staff. It also includes a full residential report and the sign-off required to complete this section of the Award.
Kit List
- Adequate clothing for 5 days of outdoor activities / conditions;
- Clothing for travelling and wearing around the centre;
- Comfy footwear / slippers for wearing around the centre;
- Warm fleece or jumper;
- Warm (preferably windproof) jacket;
- Boots – offering good ankle support;
- Warm hat and gloves;
- Waterproof jacket with hood;
- Waterproof bottoms;
- Sun hat and sunglasses;
- Daypack approx. 25 to 30lt;
- Personal First Aid Kit and any other personal medication – Inhalers, Epipens etc;
- Torch / Head Torch & spare batteries;
- Note book and pen;
- Water bottle and/or Flask;
- Sleeping bag, pillow and pillow case;
- Trainers for climbing;
- Wet Shoes or old trainers for canoeing plus clothes you don’t mind getting wet (swimming shorts / costume and t-shirt);
- Sun Lotion and Insect Repellent;
- Wash Kit and 2 x towels.
We will be announcing dates for 2024 in mid December
For further information and to view all of our Residential or Open Expedition opportunities, please look us up on the official DofE Opportunity Finder here: https://www.dofe.org/opportunity-finder/
Alternatively, please feel free to phone us to discuss your requirements on 01342 811327 or email us on opsmanager@4thdimension.co.uk
