Case Studies || Awards Network

Case Studies

Bringing Bikeability to Scotland’s Highest Village Awards Network Members, Schools, Volunteers

I’m Anne French headteacher Leadhills Primary. I've been headteacher at Leadhills now for 12 years. We are the highest school in Scotland, or one of the… Read More

Closing the Attainment Gap in Carluke Schools, Volunteers, Young People, Youth Work

Carluke Universal Connections sits proudly within South Lanarkshire Council's 'Youth, Family & Community Learning (YFCL) Services' which is part… Read More

Creating a Pond with Linnvale Primary School Awards Network Members, Schools, Young People, Nature-based

Linnvale Primary School created an amazing pond as part of their LEAF activities. They faced barriers along the way but hopefully the story of how they overcame… Read More

FUSE Youth Cafe Young People, Youth Work

This case study highlights the experiences of youth workers and young people from Fuse Youth Cafe, which has been using Youth Scotland awards to accredit their… Read More

Heritage Heroes in Renfrewshire Reflect on Scotland’s Slave Trade Connections Awards Network Members, Parents, Schools, Young People

Inspired by their S3 History as part of their Atlantic Slave Trade topic, pupils at St Johnstone High School decided to take a closer look at local links… Read More

Hi5 Awards in Castle Douglas Primary School Parents, Schools, Young People

Castle Douglass Primary School is a large rural school of 360 children, who are also the resourced learning centre provision for children with additional… Read More

Impact of YPI Grants on Young Carers Awards Network Members, Schools, Volunteers, Young People

Funds secured by YPI students at East Dunbartonshire’s Boclair and Douglas Academies provided much-needed respite experiences for local young carers. In the… Read More

Learning How Pitlochry High School Won the Scotland’s Finest Woods Award Awards Network Members, Parents, Schools, Young People, Nature-based

In 2021 Pitlochry High School won the 'Scotland's Finest Woods Award'. This case study explains all of the elements which helped the school get recognised by… Read More

OYCI and Alva Academy Help Young Leaders Gain Accreditation Awards Network Members, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

In 2017, a group of young people from Alva Academy in Clackmannanshire set out on a special youth-led research project. Their goal was to find out what life was… Read More

Prince’s Trust Achieve Programme Awards Network Members, Employers, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

The Scotland Partnerships and Volunteering team look after all things education. We coordinate our 5 education programmes: Achieve, Achieve for Younger… Read More

Promotion Video Awards Network Members, Employers, Parents, Schools, Volunteers, Young People, Youth Work

Watch our new promotion video. Share with friends and colleagues. Get in touch to find out more. Read More

Pupils in Levenmouth beaver away to tackle climate change through the John Muir Award Schools, Volunteers, Young People

Fife-based John Muir Award group gets hands-on with flooding, biodiversity and land management. Pupils from Levenmouth Academy in Fife worked with Bat’s Wood… Read More

Scout Leaders Remove Barriers to Achieving the Gold Chief Scouting Award Volunteers, Young People, Youth Work, Leadership

The Scouts is an organisation known worldwide for its adventurous programme and leadership opportunities. Yet, there are still barriers which Scouts Scotland is… Read More

West Dunbarton’s Adult Training Centre Heroes Explored their Local Heritage Employability

This inspiring project brought together a diverse group of participants from West Dunbarton’s Adult Training Centre to explore local heritage. Through… Read More

Wick HS, West Calder HS, and New Struan School Share Their Experiences of Engaging in Youth Awards Programmes Awards Network Members, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

This video is a good example of the flexibility of schools embracing youth awards as a way of widening the learning offer whilst retaining access to recognised… Read More

Young STEM Leaders in Edinburgh Awards Network Members, Employers, Young People, Youth Work

This case study video is an example of the Young STEM Leader award taking place in a community youth work setting at the Citadel Youth Centre in Edinburgh.… Read More

Youth Work in Schools Partnership Awards Network Members, Parents, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

Youth Link Scotland's Youth Work in Schools Partnership has produced an evaluation of case studies reflecting on examples of youth work in schools. The report… Read More

Aiden - a different way of learning Young People

"School wasn't the best for me". Aiden shares his experience of learning post-school and how youth awards can help develop skills for employment, add to the… Read More

Alice’s adventures with the new Queen’s Guide award Awards Network Members, Volunteers, Young People, Youth Work

The Queen's Guide award is the highest award you can work towards in Girlguiding. To achieve it, 16-30 year old members complete 5 challenges – personal… Read More

An employers view on DYW, youth awards and skills for work Employers

Sandy Begbie, Global Integration Director at Standard Life Aberdeen plc and Chair of DYW Edinburgh, East Lothian and Midlothian, outlines why it is important… Read More

Angus - #MyLearnerJourney Young People

Left school with few qualifications. Joined a heritage related emplolyment training programme - Canal College®. The programme recognises achievement with… Read More

Baqar’s Journey as a New Scot, supported by the Prince’s Trust Employers, Entrepreneurship, Schools, Young People, Youth Work, Employability

Baqar, 16, from Glasgow, suddenly found himself two years ago transported from Iraq to Scotland, unable to speak any English. Shy and reserved, Baqar struggled… Read More

Bethan - Volunteering and Leaderships with Gurlguiding Scotland Young People

Bethan outlines how she has benefitted from participating in Girlguiding's awards programme. Having gained a Girlguiding Young Leader Qualification, she is now… Read More

Carers Trust Scotland and the Participative Democracy Certificate Volunteers, Young People

Rccognising Achievement: Why Carers Trust Scotland is using the PDC - Nicola Bell, Youth Engagement Officer For young carers taking part in Carers Trust… Read More

Company Programme: Owen McCarrey - Tee’d Up and Ashleigh Coghill - Social Eyes Employers, Entrepreneurship, Young People, Youth Work, Employability, Leadership

Here Young Enterprise Scotland (YE Scotland) speak to Ashleigh from Social Eyes, their 2023 Scottish Company of the Year and Owen from Tee'd up, the… Read More

D of E - Shawlands Academy Schools

Shawlands Academy pupils share their experience and impact of achieving the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Read More

Daniel’s JASS journey - a parent’s perspective Parents, Schools, Young People

Why JASS?I came across JASS on an internet search. I wanted to be more involved in his preparation for transition into High School but I also knew I had… Read More

Developing Leadership Skills as a Guide Leader Volunteers, Young People, Employability, Leadership

Lauren, 18, is working on her leadership qualification to become a Guide Leader with the 295thGlasgow Guide Unit. She’s also a member of Girlguiding… Read More

Developing leadership skills with the RED Programme Employers, Schools, Volunteers, Young People, Youth Work

Jake has volunteered with the British Red Cross for just over 18 months. Jake is from Elgin and is part of the local Emergency Response team. Whilst… Read More

Developing transferable skills with the RED Programme Employers, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

The best piece of advice Cyrus, a 24 year old Emergency Response volunteer from Dundee, received was from a retired firefighter who was a fellow volunteer:… Read More

Dumfries and Galloway Council Employers

Dumfries and Galloway Council are using SQA's employability award to help young people enter the workplace. Read More

Emmie - My Youth Award Journey Young People

Emmie, a Trustee of Youth Scotland and a former MSYP, relates how completing a Youth Achievement Award led to a change of direction in learning and career. Read More

Enjoy Your Learning by Adding Some Comedy Skills Awards Network Members, Employers, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

Anna Devitt created Comedy & Confidence DirectDevitt Awards to instil confidence in participants while using comedy as a creative tool. Find out why the… Read More

Giving young people’s achievements recognition by others Youth Work

Willy Barr, Manger of Citadel Youth Centre in Edinburgh, tells us why it is important for youth workers to be aware of youth awards and the opportunities they… Read More

Glasgow LIfe Young People, Youth Work, STEM

Watch this video where Tricia shares her experience of using Young STEM Leaders Awards in her youth work role. Read More

Graeme Young People

The Queen’s Scout Award is the top Youth Award in Scouting. The award recognises leadership and teamwork and requires high standards of discipline and… Read More

Growing Natural Leaders: a Learning for Sustainability Youth-led Partnership Schools, Youth Work, Nature-based

Natural Leaders’ is a two-year action research project being piloted in three areas of multiple deprivation in Scotland. Its purpose is to develop a… Read More

How Rachel from Kirkaldy forged a new career with support from the King’s Trust Young People, Employability

After struggling with her mental health and self-confidence, along with being a full time carer for both her parents during the Covid-19 pandemic, Rachel from… Read More

How Youth Awards Models Could Transform Qualifications and Assessment in Scotland

An opinion piece by James A DuffyIn March 2023, the Independent Review of Qualifications and Assessment (IRQA) led by Professor Louise Hayward published its… Read More

Impact of Youth Achievement Award

Darren shares his Youth Achievement Award journey, from Bronze to Silver, and the difference it has made to him. Read More

Joe’s Journey Back from School Exclusion through Youth Achievement Awards. Schools, Young People, Youth Work, Employability

Joe was referred by his school to the Pupil Support Service in Fife due to his refusal to follow basic school rules. He had a history of multiple exclusions and… Read More

Learner journeys blending youth awards and the traditional curriculum Schools

Mike Irving, Head Teacher of Leith Academy, explains how his school harnesses youth awards to support individual learner journeys Read More

Parents/Carers should encourage take up of youth awards Parents

Eileen Prior, Executive Director of Connect (formerly Scottish Parent Teachers Council) encourages take-up of youth awards and reminds us that wider achievement… Read More

PDC - Looking Forward Not Back Awards Network Members, Schools

Twenty-eight young people were trained and supported in 5 communities to conduct research on the issue of sectarianism. To recognise the contribution of their… Read More

Powering Futures Awards Network Members, Employers, Entrepreneurship, Schools, Young People, Employability

Find out more about the benefits of the Powering Futures programme which is accredited at SCQF Level 6. Read More

Robbie - youth awards changed my career Young People

Robbie has progressed through Boys' Brigade from youth to volunteer leader and says youth awards are as important as academic qualifications. Learn how his… Read More

Roman Heritage Encourages Pupil Attendance in Perthshire Schools, Young People

A pupil lead project exploring the Romans in Scotland. The project was used for a pupil, previously struggling with attendance to help integrate them back into… Read More

RSPB’s Wild Challenge Awards Network Members, Parents, Schools, Volunteers, Young People, Youth Work, Nature-based

When working for a charity dedicated to taking action for nature, it can be easy to focus exclusively on all things wild and leafy if you’re not careful. The… Read More

Scouts Scotland’s Young Leaders’ Scheme Young People, Youth Work

The Young Leaders' Scheme is just one of the exciting programme elements of being an Explorer Scout. All leaders in the Beaver Scout, Cub Scout and Scout… Read More

Social Enterprise Schools in the Highlands Awards Network Members, Employers, Entrepreneurship, Schools, Young People

Hear from the teachers, young people and organisations that attended the Social Enterprise Schools Awards 2023 Highlands in Inverness and get a glimpse of the… Read More

Sports Leaders UK Awards Network Members, Schools

Sports Leaders UK is an Awarding Organisation that creates leadership skills for life. Our vocational awards and qualifications aim to equip young people with… Read More

Stephanie’s journey of discovery with Outward Bound Trust Awards Network Members, Employers, Schools, Young People, Youth Work

"I'm Stephanie and I'm from Glasgow." Stephanie is a carer for her housebound Mum. Introduced to Outward Bound Trust by her Carer Centre's… Read More

Tain and North Highland YMCA SCO Parents, Youth Work

In Ross-shire in the Scottish Highlands it’s been a busy time at Tain YMCA with a number of awards recently being completed by young people. In fact, since… Read More

The Benefits of Accredited Youth Awards Schools, Young People, Youth Work

This film was made by SCQF with Partners from Awards Network, Outward Bound Trust, teachers and pupils from Inverness Royal Academy, Gairloch High School,… Read More

Volunteering develops vital work skills Employers

CBI Scotland Director, Tracy Black, outlines why skills acquired through volunteering - a key component of youth awards - are highly prized by employers. Read More

What I’ve learned through the Boys’ Brigade awards journey Awards Network Members, Parents, Young People, Youth Work

Members of the Boys' Brigade in Scotland share their stories of skills development and personal achievement from progressing through the Boys' Brigade… Read More