You can start at Gold but it takes longer.
As stated, simply having it on your PS is pointless.
As I have said many times

the PS is about why you want to the course and why you would do well at it.
Thus it is primarily related directly to the studying - demonstrating interest and ability.
Extra curricular activities is a very small part of it and only to demonstrate relevent skills - maturity, knowing how to keep going when it gets tough, time management etc.
Obviously there are some courses where specific practical experience is relevant ( medicine etc).
D of E should be undertaken because of what you get out of it.
For any of these kinds of activities you need to think about the transferable skills that have been learned. In any case they are more likely to be applicable to job applications than university ones.
D of E was started to give young people new experiences to develop their skills and character. It's one of my pet hates when schools set up groups just to get pupils the awards to 'look good'. ( Rant over....)