The Award is a four-Section programme with three levels:

* Bronze (for those aged 14 and over)
* Silver (for those aged 15 and over) and
* Gold (for those aged 16 and over).

The Sections involve:

* Service (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.

From: http://www.theaward.org

Letter to Parents

Parent Consent Form

Sport – Improve yourself at football, juggling, rugby, aerobics, karate, dance, hockey

Service – First Aid course, police & fire courses, coaching junior sport or community help

Skill – Almost any hobby, skill or interest, playing an instrument, DJ-ing etc…

Expedition – you need to plan, prepare for and undertake a venture

How long do I do these at Silver Award?
- A Service for 6 months
- A Skill or Physical Recreation for 6 months and the other for 3 months
- An Expedition – you need to plan, prepare for and undertake a 3-day, 2-night venture

Or if you have not done the Bronze Award, you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Service or longer of the Skills or Physical Recreation Sections.

These pages are under development, but eventually you will be able to find out all you need to know about DoE at Ross High.

Watch this space!