Introduction to Youth Achievement Awards  

UK Youth launched YAA in 1997 and these awards are demonstrating their significance as one of the leading forms of accreditation for young peopleVolunteer Centre Colchester now offers the Youth Achievement Awards in place of the Millennium Volunteers Award. We believe that YAA provides a more imaginative and flexible way to evidence what you achieve as a volunteer, while gaining a nationally recognised award.  

• You can include both regular volunteering experience as well as participation in one off events. 
• There is no time limit for achieving any level of YAA. Your own time sheet is to help you appreciate your progression and ensure you have undertaken the minimum hours for each challenge.
• If you progress from Bronze, to the next level, you can credit two challenges (30 hours) towards achieving Silver as well.
• Your targets can be personal to you e.g.  “Being more confident” or “Improving my time keeping”.  They may also be stages of the activity e.g. “Learn how to lay out the room” or “Sent out all the invitations”.

THERE WILL ALWAYS BE THE SUPPORT OF THE AWARD GROUP AND THE VOLUNTEER CENTRE TO HELP YOU COMPLETE YOUR AWARD BOOK AND PREPARE YOUR PORTFOLIO.

The Awards:

• Recognise and accredit young people's achievements.
• Encourage progressive responsibility and ownership of learning.
• Provide a mechanism by which to measure the quality of work with young people.
• Reinforce good practice.
• Encourage participation and social inclusion.
• Encourage peer education.

They Enable Young People to:

• Enhance self awareness and self-esteem
• Develop communication skills and resolve differences by negotiation
• Work as part of a team
• Explore and manage feelings
• Understand and identify with others
• Develop values
• Plan ahead
• Produce a quality portfolio to evidence  achievement

Bronze Youth Achievement Award (taking part)

The Bronze Award encourages you to take part in peer group activities. To complete Bronze you need to undertake four 15 hour challenges supported by the Award Group and the Volunteer Centre

Silver Youth Achievement Award(organise)

The Silver Award comprises of six 15-hour challenges and encourages you to help to organise your own activities. By taking an increased level of responsibility and helping to organise the activities you are making a vital contribution to ensuring that the activities take place.  However, you will still be supported by the Award Group and the Volunteer Centre. 

Gold Youth Achievement Award   (plan – organise and lead)

The Gold Award requires  you to complete seven 15-hour challenges and make a presentation. The focus in Gold is on planning, organising and leading activities.   Significant responsibility will need to be demonstrated at this level. You can still expect to have the support of the Award Group and the Volunteer Centre.   

Platinum Youth Achievement Award

Platinum is the highest level of the Awards and, although similar in structure to the other levels, direction is provided on the activities that must take place. The Award includes a total of approximately 120 hours participation. This Award requires you to go through processes that will help you to develop the skills to take on a leadership role - and because of this you need to be over 16 years of age when you start the award. You are required to produce a personal development plan, undertake training, under take placements working with young people, produce an evaluation of their progress, and then prepare for and give a presentation. Whilst this award is more prescriptive in content than any of the other awards, if successfully completed it will have prepared you with the skills and background to make an active and positive contribution to youth work.  You will, of course, have the support you need from the Award Group and the Volunteer Centre.