Youth Achievement Awards

History

The Youth Achievement Awards are a peer education approach to recognising and accrediting young people's achievements. They are designed to encourage young people to take a more active role in the youth work activities that interest them. The Awards were launched by UK Youth and ASDAN (the awarding body) in 1997, with Lifetrain holding the operating license for Surrey since that time.

How It Works

Young people come together and form an Award Group. Members of the Award Group are (with support from their Award Group Worker) responsible for supporting each other to set and plan appropriate challenges and identify the learning targets within them. Once a young person has completed a challenge they review what they did, how they felt and what they go out of it with their Award Group. Young people record their experiences in their challenge booklets and collect evidence of their challenges to organise in a portfolio.

The Awards are available to young people in year 9+ at four, progressive levels:

BRONZE: young people take part in activities that have been organised by other people.

SILVER: young people get involved in helping to plan and organise activities where their contribution and responsibilities within the challenge is evident.

GOLD: young people take complete responsibility for planning and organising activities. They will also need to give a presentation about their Award.

PLATINUM: a leadership or peer educator's Award. Complete responsibility for organising and leading. Challenges are pre-set and include a personal development plan, training, a placement working with young people, an evaluation and a presentation.

Why bother?

Workers benefit from:	Young people get:	Assets for all:
Measurable value to your work Portfolios can be used for monitoring/evaluation (funding, OFSTED etc) Flexible structure - can fit round existing programme Ongoing support, training and networking opportunities User-friendly paperwork	Achievable goals - set by self and peers Raise self awareness/self esteem Life Skills: communication, teamwork, negotiation, etc Study Skills: portfolio building, planning, reviewing, etc Ownership of learning and pride in achievement. Nationally recognised accreditation	Progressive Responsibility Tried and tested framework Reinforces good practice Encourages participation Peer education approach ...An excuse to celebrate!

Costs & Commitments

Register as a Participating Unit:£45 April - April pro rata @ £3.75/month

Re-registration: £30. Annual feedback is provided with re-registration.

Min 1 Worker to do Introductory Training: £20 through Lifetrain or £55 through UK Youth

Booklets:
Bronze = £8.00
Silver = £8.50
Gold = £9.00
Platinum = £11.00
Keep regular contact with the Operating Authority (Lifetrain).

See the UK Youth website for more information about the Youth Achievement Awards on a national level, including latest news, events and down-loadable materials

For further information on our services please contact Laura Quinn on 01306 730929 or email us at info@lifetrain.org.uk

The YAA recognise and accredit young people's learning and achievement through the youth work they take part in.