Duke of Edinburgh Award team wins camping law change

• 6th Nov 2013

More young people could get into camping as a result of law changes secured by bosses of the Duke of Edinburgh Award, dofe.org reports.

New legislation been put in place to provide more camping space for those young people working towards a Duke of Edinburgh (DofE) Award. It means that landowners who offer to put up campers on the scheme will not need planning permission or a site licence from their relevant local authority in order to do so.

As such, schools and young people that are working towards the qualification could soon have a great deal more choice in where they end up camping.

It is hoped that this experience will be a positive one for all young people involved and will fire up a lifelong love of camping and of spending time in the great outdoors.

The new legislation has been put in place until October 2018, when it will be reviewed and extended, if possible. The legislation covers DofE Award participants, as well as their adult leaders who run the course and who will camp with the children to keep them safe.

Camping is already an integral part of obtaining a DofE Award, with those working toward the qualification being required to go on an expedition of between two and four days - with at least one night spent under canvas.

Commenting after the law change was unveiled, a spokesperson for the DofE Award told grough.co.uk: "This should prove to be of great benefit to a number of campsites that solely accommodate DofE groups, enabling them to welcome more groups to their sites across the year.

"At this stage it should be noted that the exemption currently only covers England. A second exemption application for Wales has been submitted, while in Scotland there is no requirement to hold such a licence."