The Award framework
The Award is comprised of three levels and four sections and is designed to provide a balanced programme of personal development and challenge. Participants complete all four sections at each level in order to achieve their Award. At the Gold level, participants also complete a Gold Residential Project.
Bronze
For those 14 years and above.
- 6 months minimum participation
- Avg 6 hours per day
- Minimum 12hrs total
At least 6 months minimum participation required.
The Adventurous Journey is two days and one night; average of six hours of purposeful effort per day; minimum 12 hours of purposeful effort in total;
Silver
For those 15 years and above.
- 12 months minimum participation
- or 6 months if a Bronze Award holder
- 3 days & 2 nights (7 hours per day)
- Minimum 21hrs total
At least 12 months minimum participation required (or 6 months if a Bronze Award holder). The Adventurous Journey is three days and two nights; average of seven hours of purposeful effort per day; minimum 21 hours of purposeful effort in total;
Gold
For those 16 years old and above.
- 18 months minimum participation
- or 12 months if a Silver Award holder
- 4 days & 3 nights (7 hours per day)
- Minimum 32hrs total
At least 6 months minimum participation required.
The Adventurous Journey is two days and one night; average of six hours of purposeful effort per day; minimum 12 hours of purposeful effort in total;
Award Activities
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Voluntary Service Section
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Physical Recreation Section
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Skills Section
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Adventurous Journey Section
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Gold Residential Project
Physical recreation
The Physical Recreation section of the Award encourages young people to participate in sport and other physical recreation for the improvement of health, fitness and wellbeing.
Encouraging healthy behaviours has benefits, not only for participants but also for their communities, whether through improved health, or active participation in team activities. This section specifically aims to improve the team skills, self-esteem and confidence of participants, which in turn can help improve both their physical and mental health.
Example of physcal recreation
- Ball sports – football, rugby, volleyball, basketball, cricket, golf, tennis
- Athletics – running, jumping, throwing, decathlon
- Water sports – canoeing, kayaking, swimming, water polo, diving, kite boarding
- Martial arts – karate, judo, kickboxing, boxing, taekwondo, kendo
Skills
The Skills section of the Award encourages the development of personal interests, creativity or practical skills.
This section provides the opportunity for a participant to either improve on an existing skill, or to try something entirely new. As with the other sections, a level of commitment is required over time to improve a skill. It leads to a sense of achievement and well-being, and possibly improved employability through the development of life and vocational skills.
Example of skills
- Music – singing, learning to play an instrument, music event management
- Sports related – sports officiating, umpiring/refereeing, sports ground maintenance
- Arts and crafts – ceramics, embroidery, jewelry making, drawing, painting, sculpture, photography
- Nature and the environment – agriculture, astronomy, bee keeping, conservation, fishing, forestry, gardening
- Communication – film and video, languages, reading, writing, public speaking, journalism, website development
- Games – billiards, snooker or pool, chess, darts, backgammon
Voluntary Service
For this section participants are required to give service (volunteer) over a period of time. This enables them to experience the benefits that their Voluntary Service provides to others in their community.
Examples of Voluntary Service:
- First aid
- Visiting and supporting people in need, such as the elderly, or those with disabilities
- Volunteering at a hospital or local care home
- Sports coaching
- Charity work
Adventurous Journey
The Adventurous Journey section encourages a sense of adventure and discovery while undertaking a team journey. As part of a small team, participants plan, train for and undertake a journey with a purpose in an unfamiliar environment.
The journey can be an exploration or an expedition but must be a challenge. The aim of this section is to provide participants with the opportunity to learn more about the wider environment, as well as to develop their self-confidence, teamwork and health. Participants are taken out of their comfort zone but kept within a safe and secure setting, achieved through suitable training and supervision.
Examples of Adventurous Journeys (explorations and expeditions):
- Exploring the natural world: erosion, geology, coastal studies
- Exploring river valleys, plant studies, exploring human impact: visitor pressure in national parks, pollution
- Carrying out health surveys or health education in remote areas
- Completing a demanding journey by foot, cycle, canoe or kayak
- Kayaking the entire navigable stretch of a river
- An extensive sail across an ocean
Gold Residential Project (or Gold Project)
The Gold Residential Project, completed only at Gold level, aims to broaden participants’ horizons through involvement with others in a residential setting. Participants have the opportunity to share a purposeful experience with people who are not their usual companions and work towards a common goal, set out by the participants themselves. Through the Gold Residential Project participants will meet new people, explore life in an unfamiliar environment, develop new skills and, hopefully, have a life changing experience.
Examples of Gold Residential Projects:
- Residential language courses
- Youth camp overseas
- Voluntary work with national parks, youth parliaments, sports coaching
- Crew member on a tall ship
- Work for an international charity
- Restoration projects
- Time requirements
- The activity should take place over a period of at least four nights and five consecutive days.