Duke of Edinburgh

All young people involved in DofE activities should follow this DofE Code of Conduct.  You must also be familiar with the steps to be taken in the event of any harm or risk of harm to yourself or other young people (which may include physical, sexual or emotional abuse, or neglect, harassment or bullying).

All young people involved with the DofE should:

• Treat everyone with respect regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexuality or religious beliefs.
• Act as a good role model of appropriate behaviour.
• Attend activities on time with the correct clothing and equipment.
• Obey all reasonable instructions or requests from leaders or other adults in authority.
• Not get involved with any abusive peer activities (e.g. initiation ceremonies, ridiculing, bullying, cyberbullying; sexting harassment etc.).
• Not have any inappropriate physical, verbal, electronic or online contact with others.
• Look after the environment.
• Tell a trusted adult if you feel uncomfortable with any situation or individuals

Bullying and harassment

If you feel you are being bullied (for example in person, on eDofE, by email, text or online) do talk to someone you trust.

• Never bully anyone, or send any bullying or threatening messages.  Anything you do, write or send could be reported to an adult.
• Serious bullying should be reported to the police - for example threats of a physical or sexual nature.
• If you can, make a note of the time and date of any incidents of bullying.
• Keep and save any bullying messages, emails, text messages or images received.  Note any details about the sender.
• Don't reply to bullying or threatening messages or emails - this could make matters worse.  It also lets the bullying people know that they have found a 'live' phone number or email address.  They may get bored quite quickly if you ignore them.
• Don't give out your personal details online - if you're in a chatroom, watch what you say about where you live, the school you go to, your email address etc.  All these things can help someone who wants to harm you build up a picture about you.
• Don't forward abusive texts or emails or images to anyone.  You could be breaking the law just by forwarding them. If they are about you, keep them as evidence.  If they are about someone else, delete them and don't reply to the sender.
• Don't ever give out passwords to your mobile, email or eDofE account.
• Remember that sending abusive or threatening messages is against the law.

Bullying and harassment can be very distressing, and lead to humiliation and embarrassment for both the victim and perpetrator.  It can have serious long term consequences including depression, eating disorders, self-harm and even suicide.  Think very carefully about the possible consequences of your actions.