13 Sep 2022
The Scottish Countryside Ranger's Association (SCRA) is the latest organisation to join the Awards Network. It's Junior Ranger Award scheme, aimed at young people aged 11 to 18 who are ‘wild about nature, the countryside and conservation’, offers opportunities to take part in outdoor learning; learn more about the work of Countryside Rangers; develop new skills and experience; and spend time with others with shared interests. The Award programme operates through school groups, youth organisations and others, with the support of Countryside Rangers across Scotland.
16 Aug 2022
Newsletter August 2022 What did Results Day 2022 tell us? Where do #youthawards fit in the review of qualifications and assessment? Learn about an environmental focussed youth leadership award in Highland and more
1 Jul 2022
Newsletter June/July 2022 - Read about the launch of our Amazing Things Poster, young entrepreneur award achievers, new resources for youth work and school collaboration, and more
1 Jun 2022
1 June 2022
Shirley Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills, has launched a new Awards Network resource promoting the value of youth awards for key stakeholders in a range of contexts.
Said the Cabinet Secretary:
“I’m delighted to support the launch of the Awards Network’s Amazing Things Poster and welcome its distribution to every school in Scotland. Youth awards are increasingly being recognised and accepted by educators and employers as useful evidence of personal learning, skills development and achievement and it is my belief that they are a fundamental part of the learning and development offer to all young people in every stage of their learner journey. This new resource will help teachers, youth workers, employers, parents and young people to appreciate the range and value of youth awards available to support and accredit learning.”
The Amazing Things Poster resource links by QR code to a wealth of information about youth awards on the Awards Network’s website. The information, tailored for key stakeholder groups, provides details of 80 award programmes, with links to relevant policy, practice and advice.
The new resource is designed as a folded A5 sized ‘map’ that opens to an A1 Poster. Every school in Scotland will receive a copy, marked for the attention of the ‘Wider Achievement Lead’. The Awards Network will distribute the Poster to the youth work sector and more widely through its own members and networks. The Poster complements the Awards Network’s flagship Amazing Things: a guide to youth awards in Scotland.
A digital copy of the Amazing Things Poster can be viewed HERE
To request a copy of the #AT5Poster email contact@awardsnetwork.org
Picture details: Shirley Anne Somerville MSP with Jim Duffy, Awards Network and Graeme Luke, Chief Executive of Awards Network member Scouts Scotland
26 May 2022
Wednesday 25 May 2022
Achieving awards in, through and for nature is a collaborative resource designed to help practitioners navigate learner journeys and progression through nature-based national awards.
Launching the resource during a visit to Awards Network member Scouts Scotland’s Fordell Firs Scout Adventures Centre in Fife, Shirley-Anne Somerville MSP, Cabinet Secretary for Education and Skills said:
“This accessible mapping tool from the John Muir Trust helps people navigate learner journeys through nature-based awards. It shows that from early years to young adults and families, all sorts of people can build skills in and benefit from our wild places. We know that using awards to connect with nature provides essential opportunities for helping tackle the climate crisis and reversing biodiversity loss too.”
Achieving awards in, through and for nature – is the result of a collaboration led by the John Muir Trust, with NatureScot, the Awards Network, RSPB Scotland, Scottish Forestry, Royal Forestry Society, Scottish Countryside Ranger Association and the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
It provides an illustrative pathway for practitioners to navigate and connect diverse nature-based award opportunities available in Scotland. It demonstrates how nature-based awards contribute to national agendas such as building skills for life, learning and work, and inspiring people about the benefits of wild places and nature connection in tackling the climate crisis and reversing biodiversity loss.
The Poster additionally signposts practitioners to the Awards Network’s website and the many learning opportunities available through youth awards featured in the latest edition of Amazing Things, the guide to youth awards in Scotland.
26 May 2022
A new short film from SCQF Partnership, featuring youth awards levelled on the SCQF, with input from Jim Duffy of the Awards Network, The Outward Bound Trust (Adventure & Challenge Award), SSERC (Young STEM Leader Award).
Teachers and pupils of Inverness Royal Academy, Gairloch High School and Calderglen High School and Jamie Hepburn MSP, Minister for Higher Education and Further Education, Youth Employment and Training, talk about the value and benefits of having youth awards credit rated on the SCQF.
26 May 2022
In our April / May 2022 Newsletter read about new resources from SCQF Partnership, John Muir Trust and more illustrating the application and value of #youthawards in different contexts and settings.
22 Apr 2022
YouthLink Scotland has published guiding principles to support the safe delivery of youth work from 18 April 2022.
This advice is to support youth work leaders to continue to make local-level risk assessed decisions and actions regarding delivery of face-to-face youth work, within the context of wider public health advice from 18 April 2022.
From 21 March 2022 the Scottish Government strategic approach to COVID-19 shifted from a focus on legal requirements to suppress the virus, towards recommended approaches to effectively managing and improving our resilience to the COVID-19 virus.
Youth work leaders should consider this youth work sector advice alongside the Scottish Government’s updated Strategic Framework and associated guidance for colleges, universities and CLD
28 Mar 2022
In our March Newsletter: Youth Awards supporting education recovery; Education Reform; DofE Award and Inclusion; job opportunity with Youth Scotland to grow their awards; and more bit.ly/3574roi
11 Feb 2022
Read about recognising achievement, awards and volunteering and more in our first Newsletter of 2022. https://bit.ly/3gEeJi4
