Accreditation Options Booklet For Web

Youth Achievement Awards These awards are recognised by and accredited by the awarding body ASDAN. They are designed to encourage young people to take a more active role in the youth work activities that interest them. There are 4 levels of award: Bronze - where young people take part in activities, Silver – where volunteers help to plan and organise activities with others, Gold – where volunteers take complete responsibility for planning, organising and leading activities and Platinum – where volunteers take a leadership or peer education role. You will be able to set your own challenges that fit your interests, and develop your confidence, planning and leadership skills as well as many more depending on the challenges you choose. You will also develop a portfolio of evidence of your skills and experience which you could use for college or job applications.

South Glos Volunteering Award The award has been designed specifically to recognise young people’s achievements benefiting other people for young people aged 11-25. Young people can choose to volunteer for 15, 30 or 50 hours. Young people need to complete a planning sheet and then review and evaluate their volunteering. You will receive an accredited award from the South Glos Youth Service.

Assistant Coach Apprenticeship Scheme The Assistant Coach Apprenticeship Scheme is a programme of accreditation and mentoring for sports and fitness orientated volunteers aged 14+. At the end of the scheme apprentices will be appropriately qualified and experienced as assistant coaches/ instructors. The scheme is an excellent starting point for young people and adults in the field of coaching. The scheme offers the chance to develop new skills, build on confidence and is the first step on the ladder to becoming a coach. You will gain the training and qualifications needed to become an assistant coach or instructor. The scheme costs £140 but this is refunded when you complete the course.

For more information on awards and volunteering opportunities please contact: Carla Thomas Vinvolved Development Worker Young Bristol t: 01454 862227 m: 07528421460 e: [email protected]

Awards for Volunteers in South Gloucestershire Information on the awards available to volunteers across South Gloucestershire

v Thank You Award

Young Bristol 100 and 200 hour awards

The v thank you award is an award for volunteers who have taken part in a one-off volunteering experience of at least half a day. The award recognises the skills you have gained, the benefits of your volunteering for your community and includes a reference from the project coordinator.

This award recognises young people who have volunteered 100 or 200 hours of their time. There is a simple log sheet to complete which will need to be signed by a worker at your project. You can volunteer across as many projects as you wish. There is no need to collect any evidence. Just complete your hours, and the log sheet.

v50 award The v50 Award is available to volunteers aged 1625 who complete 50 hours of volunteering in less than a year. It is designed to recognise and celebrate the time and effort you have invested, and to show colleges, universities and potential employers the positive impact you have had on your community. To receive a v50 Award you will need to complete a simple log book and collect evidence (e.g. certificates, photos, posters, letters, newspaper coverage, etc.) of your volunteering.

vimpact award The vimpact is for those volunteers aged 16-25 who have already completed their v50. It is designed to recognise the impact of your volunteering. To complete the award you will need to do an additional 100 hours of volunteering within a 12 month period, reflect on your skills, think about the impact of your volunteering on the community, the project and on yourself and tell other people what you have done. You will need to complete an award booklet and collect evidence.

Duke of Edinburgh Award The Award is a challenging programme of activities which will help you to learn new skills, help others and experience adventure and it will give you a great sense of achievement. What’s more many organisations such as employers and universities take a good view of the Award and what it says about the person who has achieved it. There are three levels – Bronze, Silver and Gold and for each you complete activities in four sections – Service (volunteering) (your current volunteering can count towards this section), Skills, Physical Recreation and Expeditions. At the Gold level you also take part in a Residential Project. In each section there is a wide range of options you can choose from or you can find similar activities which interest you. The good news is it’s not an exam and you can’t fail!

The Certificate in Community Volunteering This is a recognised vocational qualification, accredited by the awarding body ASDAN. It is equivalent to two GCSEs at Grade B. The course is delivered by the City of Bristol College but can also be studied online. The award is made up of 5 units: Preparing to Volunteer (thinking about the skills, experience and interests you have, and helping you to find the right volunteering opportunity), Skills for Self Management (helping you to reflect on where you are at the moment and the goals you would like to set for the future, as well as improving skills such as time management), Dealing with Meetings (preparing for meetings, taking part effectively and following up on action points and issues discussed), Working to Good Practice Standards (looking at the policies and guidelines that affect your work) and Understanding Needs and Issues (looking at your work and how it relates to the aims of the organisation and how it makes a difference to the local community). The course involves building a portfolio of evidence to demonstrate your skills and abilities, it does not involve an exam.