Victoria and the Youth Achievement Awards
Youth Achievement Awards
Youth Achievement Awards are an activity-based approach to education, available through youth organisations, schools and educational projects. In order to gain an Award, young people must begin a project which requires them to take on increasing levels of responsibility. The Awards are offered through a personal development and employability skills curriculum framework, providing opportunities for students to learn the skills involved in managing their work, lives and relationships.
Victoria's Story
“Last year I decided to start work towards my gold youth achievement award. I already had silver so I thought ‘this should be okay’. Boy was I wrong! My challenges were: to be the minutes secretary of ‘On The Move Travel Group’; to organise a race night; to organise and conduct a Halloween themed evening; to create a health leaflet using information gathered from young people; and to organise and continue a healthy eating campaign. The final challenge, which was compulsory for the award, was to create and do a presentation about what I had done. The award has helped me in many ways as a lot of the skills needed for the award are used in my course at university. Also the award has developed my organising skills and has shown me that if I put my mind to it and have the right help I can organise great events and fundraisers. Each of the tasks had to use at least 15 hours so it took a lot of my time and effort to finish, but it was worth it.”
Victoria Murrell, 19
A New Start with Bronze
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The KRAN Riverside Project offers Life Skills education for 16-18 year old unaccompanied asylum seeking children (UASC). The course has boosted the students’ independent living skills, and gradually improved their English. These young people are now living independently within the community.
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Alasdair's Story
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With the help of Edge, the independent education foundation, Alasdair was able to realise his ambition to become a diamond-setter.
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Carly's Story
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BTEC Performing Arts student Carly Cook explains why she chose to study for a diploma at college.
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Claire's story
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Claire didn't realise how rewarding volunteering could be until she started volunteering at her local primary school through Worldwide Volunteering.
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Conor Smith
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Connor Smith, 14, is studying the Higher Diploma in C&BE at the Construction Design Centre.
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Dan's Story
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Dan Evans is a 19 year-old from Kent whose life changed when his school joined CCE's 'Schools of Creativity' programme. Dan began to realise he had an interest in dance and this became a channel for his emotions.
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Fran's Story
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Fran Matthews recently completed her Bronze and Silver Youth Achievement Awards.
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Jade's Story
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Jade was one of the first girls to be referred to South Park Enterprise College because of her challenging behaviour.
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Janine's Story
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How work experience in a dental technology lab inspired one student to make it her career, combining paid work with a part-time BTEC
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Karl's Story
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Karl Francis has been working with 'Personal Best', using the prospect of working at the 2012 Olympic amd Paralympic Games to allow disadvantaged young people to learn and develop new skills.
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Kat and the Youth Achievement Awards
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Kat undertook the Platinum Youth Achievement award which had five challenges, including training, volunteering and taking ownership of a project.
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Kayly and the Youth Achievement Awards
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Kayly recently completed her Gold Youth Achievement Award. She says, "From all of my challenges I feel I now have more confidence and have gained new skills". Find out what she did here.
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Kyle's Story
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Kyle joined the South Park Enterprise College in June 2004 following severe bullying in his mainstream school.
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Laura's Story
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South Park Enterprise College's work-related learning programme gave Laura the opportunity to work in a nursery for a year whilst taking a Diploma in child care. At the end of the year Laura was offered a job at the nursery because of her success.
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Lynne's Story
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Lynne McAlpine struggled with school until she began the Youth Achievement Awards Scheme.
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My Success Story by Jane Berry
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The Youth Achievement Awards helped Jane gain confidence and find a career path.
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Niall's story - Salford Lads and Girls Club
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Niall Armsden has organised weekly activities for more than 200 young people and campaigned to raise £1,000,000 to keep the Salford Lads and Girls club running,as part of his ASDAN Certificate of Community Volunteering.
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St Benet Biscop School in Lesotho
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Students from Sutherland School in Shropshire and St Benet Biscop School in Northumberland helped to run a student co-operative conference in Lesotho. Zoe and Charlotte from St Benet Biscop talk about their experience.
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The Bloomer Family
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Helen, Sam and Eve Bloomer all left school without qualifications. They have 18 children between them, and already had four grandchildren when still in their thirties. The Innovation Unit's Communities for Learning project has helped to transform their lives.
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Victoria and the Youth Achievement Awards
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Victoria Murrell recently completed her Gold Youth Achievement Award. She says, "I already had silver so I thought ‘this should be okay’. Boy was I wrong!"
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More on Victoria and the Youth Achievement Awards