Youth Beatz Festival is once again delighted to invite young people to take part in the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award Gold level residential. The residential is aimed at young people aged 16+ who are currently going through their Gold level Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
Participants are invited from across Dumfries and Galloway and the rest of Scotland to undertake their Gold residential section at Scotland’s largest free youth music festival. Young people will work alongside the Youth Work team to work on-site at Youth Beatz 2026, helping to build, deliver and take down the event, and providing vital support in the delivery of the Festival.
The Duke of Edinburgh Gold level residential will run from Tuesday 23rd June until Tuesday 30th June. The residential is free for young people residing in Dumfries and Galloway, and £130 for those who live out with Dumfries and Galloway (cost includes all meals and accommodation).
If you are interested in taking part in the Youth Beatz Duke of Edinburgh Gold Residential, please complete an application form by Tuesday 9th June To apply, please visit:
APPLY HERE
If you would like more information, please contact Zoe Nix:
Telephone: 01387 260243
Email: [email protected]
DofE Residential FAQS
What is Youth Beatz?
Youth Beatz is a free youth information and music festival, delivered in partnership with Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Youth Work Team and the Oasis Youth Centre Events Team and supported by hundreds of volunteers. The festival is aimed at providing experiences for young people 12-25 but it is a whole community event. It is a free festival with attendees requiring tickets to enter – this year the event sold out in under 24 hours, that’s 40,000 tickets!
Youth Beatz is an alcohol free event, meaning that alcohol is not permitted to be brought on site and it is not sold on site. It is a unique event to Dumfries and Galloway and has grown since it was first delivered in 2009. The 2-day event does not have camping available to the public
There has been a DofE Gold Residentials delivered yearly since the Festival expanded in 2018.
Who is the Residential for?
The Youth Beatz Residential is for young people undertaking their Gold Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, and looking for an opportunity to complete their residential section. The residential programme meets the requirements of the award section, with supporting staff completing the assessors report after the residential is completed.
This residential programme will have elements where participants will be self-directed, or where they will be expected to complete work independent of staff supporting the residential. Participants should be comfortable travelling independently and be willing to engage and socialise with other participants in the group.
What will I get out of it?
The residential is a combination of social and recreational activities, volunteering, workshops and manual activity appropriate to the young person’s individual abilities. Over the course of the programme, participants will have the opportunity to gain key skills to do with leadership, independence, and an insight into running a large-scale event.
We ask that participants get involved and come along ready to push themselves out of their comfort zone. The group will be made up of 15 people from across Scotland from Dumfries and Galloway to Aberdeenshire, Inverclyde to Edinburgh, to the Ayrshires! It is a great opportunity to meet new people and develop on communication and team working skills.
When is the residential taking place?
The residential will take place from Tuesday 23rd June- Tuesday 30th June 2026. The start and finish point for the Gold Residential is the Oasis Youth Centre, Newall Terrace, Dumfries, DG1 1LW.
Let us know how you are travelling to Dumfries, and we’ll arrange to pick you up from the bus stop or train station (Dumfries or Lockerbie Stations) and transport you to the Oasis. This is the same for drop off. Participants are also able to drive and self transport between locations. Lockerbie Train Station is more accessible for those travelling via Edinburgh, get in touch if you’re unsure on the best way to travel.
Arrival should be between 11am – 2pm on Tuesday 23rd June, and departure can be anytime between 11am – 2pm on Tuesday 30th June.
What is the accommodation?
The Residential accommodation is at a campsite approximate 18 miles from the Festival Site. All participants will be camping for the duration of the residential, with the campsite having access to shower/toilet blocks, and a laundry/dish washing area. In the sign up form we will ask you for your preferences on tent-sharing etc. Participants will spend time on the first and last day setting up/taking down the campsite.
Participants will be camping as a group of young adults participating in a volunteering and training programme. There will be expectation that while on site, all campsite rules are adhered to, and that participants remain respectful of other customers on the site. Campsite rules will be shared in advance of the residential taking place.
What are the costs?
For participants from out-with Dumfries and Galloway, there is a £130 cost associated with the residential. We have put 100% of these costs into our programme to deliver a unique and memorable experience for participants. The costs for Dumfries and Galloway participants are being contributed by Dumfries and Galloway Council.
Payment will be asked to be made via bank transfer or cheque and information will follow in the coming weeks. All of your meals, activities and training costs are being provided and so if you decide to bring spending money, it is entirely your choice.
What will the transport be during the programme?
This year, due to the location of the campsite, there will be a mix of transport arrangements. There will be occasions where young people will need to travel independently using the local bus network, with a pick up point near the main festival site. Staff supporting the residential will make sure that the local bus timetable and bus stops are accessible and known to young people.
Where bus timetables do not align to the planned activities taking place on the residential, transport will be provided. A detailed programme will be provided, including bus times and locations.
Transport will be a no cost to the participant, utilising the NEC Entitlement for those under 22. For any participant over the age of 22, a bus pass will arranged.
What does the programme look like?
A more detailed programme will be provided to participants nearer the time.
| Tuesday 23rd June | Arrival, orientation, camp set up and welcome dinner |
| Wednesday 24th June | Volunteering on site
Leadership and events workshop |
| Thursday 25th June | Volunteering on site
Volunteer celebration night |
| Friday 26th June | Volunteering on site
Quiz night and team building |
| Saturday 27th June | Event support role on site OR attending the festival |
| Sunday 28th June | Event support role on site OR attending the festival |
| Monday 29th June | Volunteering on site
Residential celebration night |
| Tuesday 30th June | Campsite pack-away and departure |
Any other information?
All participants taking part in the Residential are aged 16 and above and are participating in the experience as an individual with their own backgrounds, experiences and confidence levels. Our ask is that participants get as involved as they can in the experience which is set to challenge and encourage those taking part.
Alcohol is not permitted to be brought on site, or consumed by any participant taking part, irrespective of their age and/or parental permission.
The Youth Workers supporting the residential will be your main point of contact throughout the week. They are responsible for participants safety whilst taking part in the residential, there will be a few ground rules whilst on site and in the campsite relevant to the well-being of participants. If instructions are ignored or disregarded, participants may be asked to leave the residential, costs associated with an early departure will be met by the young person and/or parents or guardians.
