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What is the Award?

A programme for young people, at three levels, in four sections, with an Award Leader beside you.

The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award is a programme for young people. You choose what to do, set your own goals and record your progress. An Award Leader helps you along the way.

Three levels

There are three levels: Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each one takes longer and asks a little more of you than the one before.

Four sections

  • Voluntary Service: give your time to help others.
  • Physical Recreation: get active and keep it up.
  • Skills: learn something new or get better at it.
  • Adventurous Journey: plan and make a journey with a small team.

At Gold, there is also a Residential Project: spend time away from home with people you do not know.

The rules where you live

The Award in your country is run by the national Award office. The page The Award’s rules shows the rules for each level: your age, how long each section takes and what the journey asks. You keep the rules you start a level under until you finish it.