Duke of Edinburgh's Award

The Shore offers the Duke of Edinburgh's Award through The Shore Open Award Unit. The unit is run by volunteers who want to give up their time to come and help you achieve your potential.

The Duke of Edinburgh's Award has three levels Bronze, Silver and Gold, all three awards have different requirements you have to meet to achieve each level. At each level there are four sections you must complete to gain your full certificate, Service (giving something to the community), Skill (learning something new), Physical (taking part in a sport) and an Expedition (wild camping). At Gold there is also a Residential Project (take part in an activity away from home)

You can start taking part when your 13 1/2, but can't get your award until your 14 1/2 and you've got until your 26 birthday to complete.

There is loads you can get out of it from self-belief and self-confidence to building new relationships and the ability to lead and work as part of a team.

If you're under 13 1/2 but like the sound of this then Natural Connections may be for you. Check out the Natural Connections section for more details.

Youth Achievement Awards

Young people can be accredited with a Youth Achievement Award through taking part in any activity at The Shore or with any of the city's youth work teams. For example if you come attend an art group or attend a Friday night event.

Youth Achievement Awards are all about working with your peers to complete a number of challenges which are achievable for you at your own pace.

There are four levels of Youth Achievement Awards - Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum. To qualify to start the award you can be just under 14, but you must be 14 when you complete.

There's also more good news as you can now count your Youth Achievement Awards are part of the SCQF. This means that when you applying for university you can use your Youth Achievement Award for more points.

Your Bronze Youth Achievement Award will gain you 7 points and is on the same level as a General Standard Grade, Silver (11 points) is on the same level as a Credit Standard Grade), Gold (14 points) on the level as a Higher and Platinum Youth Achievement Award will gain you 16 points and is on the same level as an Advanced Higher.

Don't if you are under 14 we also offer another kind of award similar to Youth Achievement Awards called Dynamic Youth Awards (DYA) which are for young people aged 10 to 14. Once you have completed a five star DYA (30+ hours) you only need to do two challenges for a Bronze Youth Achievement Award.

Natural Connections

Natural Connections is open to young people under 14. It has an outdoor and environmental theme based around six elements - Discovering Nature, Working Together, Adventure Skills, Finding your Way, Journeying, Help the Environment and Making Connections.

There are three levels all requiring different time commitments.

If you are over fourteen but like the sound of these elements then the Duke of Edinburgh's Award may be for you. Check out the Duke of Edinburgh's Award section for more info.

Other Accreditation

The Shore regularly nominates young people for other forms of accreditation and awards including Millennium Volunteer Awards, Young Scot Awards, Diana Awards, Young Quality Scot Awards and the Dundee Awards for Youth Volunteering.

Young People are usually nominated for these awards when the do something a bit extra within The Shore, like for example, volunteering to help and with activities organise with band nights or other special events.