Young Cumbria are an Operating Agency for the Youth Achievement Awards, and work in partnership with UK Youth who have developed the Awards nationally. Organisations wanting to deliver the Award in Cumbria are able to do so by registering as a ‘Participatory Unit’ under Young Cumbria’s Operating License.
The Awards provide a framework with which young peoples learning in an informal setting can be accredited, receiving a nationally recognised Award for their achievements. The Awards are based on a Curriculum Development Model, and are designed to encourage young people to progressively take on more responsibility in selecting, planning and leading activities that are based on their interests.
The Award structure enables children and young people from 7yrs upwards to record and review their learning:
- Junior Achievement Awards – for children aged 7 – 11yrs
- Youth Challenge Awards – for young people aged 11 – 14yrs
- Youth Achievement Awards – for young people aged 14yrs upwards
All Awards are based on common principles, that they are:
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Peer Led with young people supporting, reviewing and assessing each others challenges
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Flexible allowing existing youth work activities to be enhanced and accredited
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Progressive in terms of the level of responsibility and time commitment demonstrated by the young people involved
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Externally Accredited by ASDAN to national standards
(Junior Achievement Awards & Youth Challenge Awards are accredited by UK Youth)
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The Awards utilise a portfolio building approach which involves young people collecting evidence of their activities along the way – this might be pictures, posters, art work, music etc. Portfolios provide evidence of the planning, doing and reviewing processes involved in an activity.
Young people work as part of an Award Group (two or more young people) and are supported by an Award Group Worker to progress through their Award at a pace which suits them.
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