Advanced Award
The Caledonian Advanced Award for young people & adults aged over 18 who have left school.
Within each Award there are two bands of understanding & therefore certification
Participatory – the participant understands that the activities they are undertaking are for The Award i.e. The Award is the goal.
Experiential – the participant participates in or experiences the activities gaining from the experience but does not understand that the activities they are undertaking are for the Award.
There are three levels of the Award – Bronze, Silver & Gold.
Within each level there are four sections:
- Personal Skill
- Community Service
- Physical Recreation
- Residential
Most activities undertaken are geared to independent living including constructive use of leisure time.
A much greater emphasis is put on effort & achievement than on attainment.
The Advanced Award can be linked with Higher Still & can also compliment many other Awards schemes. It is structured to match with the continuing education strategy (circular 4:99, section 4.4) within Scotland.
Each level will normally take one year to complete.
The variety of activities undertaken increases annually as does the number of statutory & voluntary organisations offering to help the participants with one or more sections of their Award.
A certificate and badge is awarded on achievement of all sections at each level with A6 section certificates available to those who are unable to complete all four sections or those who require additional motivation. The participatory & experiential badges are similar with the colours reversed. The certificates have subtle differences, which are recognisable to the leaders & professionals but not too obvious to the participants.
The Award programmes are based on increasing the independence of the participants as well as broadening their experiences thus enriching their lives.
The programme is individually designed, with no two young people having the same goals or targets.
Community links are required in The Caledonian Advanced Award.
At present The Caledonian Family of Awards are used throughout most areas of Scotland. We have five members of staff, two work experience adults with special needs and two volunteers working from the office in Bearsden. There will also be at least three development officers working from home in other areas of Scotland as soon as funding allows. We have an advisory committee made up of seven volunteers.
