What is a FOTA?

A FOTA (Friends of the Award) group aims to be just that; a ‘friend’ to support and enhance the local delivery of the DofE (Duke of Edinburgh Award). The relationship is much like that of a parent council to a school. Throughout the country there are various award associations, not all calling themselves FOTA, but the idea is the same.

A local FOTA group can:

Enhance – local DofE delivery by providing additional services across the Operating Authority area. This could be a specialist Expeditions Co-ordinator or a kit hire service. A working partnership between the local DofE Unit and the FOTA group can deliver on aspects of the local Council’s Single Outcome Agreement with regard to youth achievement and personal development, introducing the DofE to more marginalised groups of young people (e.g. those involved with Youth Offending Services, mixed ability groups, young people with mental health issues)

Support – by seeking additional grant funding that Council departments often cannot apply to. This is especially true of FOTA groups that become registered charities. (see Guide to ‘Setting up a FOTA’ ) (www.oscr.org.uk)

Develop– a local business/delivery plan for the DofE that can give wider access to all young people by setting up partnerships with key youth agencies (e.g social work, mental health (CAMHS) units, alternative curriculum units within schools) (see Guides to ’DofE and the Youth Offending Service’ and ‘DofE within CAMHS’)

Share – examples of good practice and ideas for partnerships that all work to raise the profile of the DofE as the youth personal achievement award.