About the Award
The Award is a personal development programme for young people aged 14-25. It is achieveable by most young people regardless of ability.
The are 3 levels of Award:
- Bronze (for those aged 14 and over)
- Silver (for those aged 15 and over) and
- Gold (for those aged 16 and over).
Each level of Award has 4Sections:
- Volunteering (helping people in the community)
- Skills (covering almost any hobby, skill or interest)
- Physical Recreation (sport, dance and fitness)
- Expeditions (training for, planning and completing a journey on foot or horseback, by boat or cycle)
- Residential Project (Gold Award only) (a purposeful enterprise with people not previously known to the participant)
The delivery of the Award is entrusted to over 400 organisations (Operating Authorities) in the UK licensed to run the Programme through Award Groups in, for example, youth clubs, voluntary organisations, Open Award Centres, schools, colleges, young offender institutes and businesses. Operating Authorities include local authorities and national voluntary organisations and they authorise Awards once applicable conditions have been met.
Award Groups are run by adults, many of whom are volunteers, including youth workers, teachers, employers, trainers, Instructors, Assessors and individuals from the community, all of whom wish to share their skills, enthusiasm and organising abilities to help young people reach their potential.
It would usually take a participant between 6-12 months to complete a Bronze Award; 12-18 months for a Silver Award and 18-24 months for a Gold Award. It may take less time for completion of the Silver or Gold Awards if the participant holds the preceding Award. All Awards must be completed by the participant's 25th birthday.
To find out more visit www.dofe.org
