Bronze Award

You can apply for the Bronze Gaisce Award once youre aged between 15-25.

An application fee of 15 applies for the Bronze Award

The Bronze Gaisce Award programme consists of 4 challenge areas:

Community Involvement
Personal Skill
Physical Recreation
Adventure Journey

With exception to the Adventure Journey, each challenge area requires a minimum
participation of 1 hour per week for 13 weeks

An additional 13 weeks must be completed in a challenge area of your choice. This

could be an activity you really enjoyed or an activity in which you feel you could improve
on. E.g. Physical Recreation.

The Bronze Adventure Journey takes place over a minimum of 2 days and 1 night.

It will take at least 26 weeks to complete your Bronze Award, however everyone is
free to complete the award at their own pace.

Starting Your Award

Talk to your PAL before registering and agree the activities you want to do for your
award.

Your PAL will be a key support for you through your whole award as well as helping to
choose activities. All Gaisce PALs have been trained and screened by us as that they
can give you the support that you need.

Its important to keep in regular contact with your PAL once you have started your
activities.

If you do not have a PAL yet but want to take part in the award, contact us by phone or
email and we will do all we can to find you a PAL in your area.

Before you can begin your chosen activities you must fill out a registration form on our
online system and download and print your record card.

Connect with Gaisce on Facebook and Twitter for all Gaisce news.

Silver Award

You can apply for the Silver Gaisce Award once youre between the ages of 16-25.

An application fee of 20 applies for the Silver Award.

The Silver Gaisce Award programme consists of 4 challenge areas:

Community Involvement
Personal Skill
Physical Recreation
Adventure Journey

With exception to the Adventure Journey, each challenge area requires a minimum
participation of 1 hour per week for 26 weeks.

An additional 26 weeks must completed in a challenge area of your choice. This

could be an activity you really enjoyed or an activity in which you feel you could improve
more on. E.g. Physical Recreation.

The Silver Adventure Journey takes place over a minimum of 3 days and 2 nights.

It will take at least 52 weeks to complete your Silver Award, however everyone is
free to complete the award at their own pace.

If you hold a Bronze Award you may avail of our Merit System (see below).

Starting Your Award

Talk to your PAL before registering and agree the activities you want to do for your
award

Your PAL will be a key support for you through your whole award as well as helping to
choose activities. All Gaisce PALs have been trained and screened by us as that they
can give you the support that you need.

Its important to keep in regular contact with your PAL once you have started your
activities.

If you do not have a PAL yet but want to take part in the award, contact us by phone or
email and we will do all we can to find you a PAL in your area

Before you can begin your chosen activities you must fill out a registration form on our
online system and download and print your record card

Connect with Gaisce on Facebook and Twitter for all Gaisce news

Additional Weeks
If you do not hold a Bronze Award, you will have to do an additional 26 weeks in any
challenge area of your choice in consultation with your PAL.
In the example below the participant uses the additional hours in the Physical Recreation
challenge.

Merit System
If you hold a Bronze Award, you may complete the Silver Award in a minimum of 26 weeks;
A minimum of 1 hour a week is required in each of the first 3 challenge areas. You wont
have to complete the additional 26 weeks in one of the challenge areas:

Community Involvement - 26 weeks

Personal Skill - 26 Weeks

Physical Recreation - 26 Weeks

Adventure Journey - 3 Days & 2 Nights

Gold Award

You can apply for the Gold Gaisce Award once youre between the ages of 17-25.

An application fee of 25 applies for the Gold Award

The Gold Gaisce Award programme consists of 5 challenge areas;

Community Involvement
Personal Skill
Physical Recreation
Adventure Journey
Residential Project

For the Gold Gaisce Award, a Gold Project Portfolio must be compiled and handed to
Gaisce when you have completed your award. This is a reflection of your Gold Award
Experience.

With exception to the Adventure Journey and the Residential Project, each challenge
area requires a minimum participation of 1 hour per week for 52 weeks.

An additional 26 weeks must completed in a challenge area of your choice. This

could be an activity you really enjoyed or an activity in which you feel you could improve
more on. E.g. Physical Recreation.

The Gold Adventure Journey takes place over a minimum of 4 days and 3 nights.

The Residential Project requires commitment of 5 days and 4 nights.

It will take at least 78 weeks to complete your Gold Award, however everyone is free
to complete the award at their own pace.

If you hold a Silver Award you may avail of our Merit System (see below).

Starting Your Award

Talk to your PAL before registering and agree the activities you want to do for your
award.

Your PAL will be a key support for you through your whole award as well as helping to
choose activities. All Gaisce PALs have been trained and screened by us as that they
can give you the support that you need.

Its important to keep in regular contact with your PAL once you have started your
activities.

If you do not have a PAL yet but want to take part in the award, contact us by phone or
email and we will do all we can to find you a PAL in your area.

Before you can begin your chosen activities you must fill out a registration form on our
online system and download and print your record card.

Connect with Gaisce on Facebook and Twitter for all Gaisce news.

We suggest that you start preparing your Project Portfolio before you complete all of you
activities.

Additional Weeks
If you do not hold a Silver Award you will have to do an additional 26 weeks in any
challenge area of your choice in consultation with your PAL. In the example below the
participant uses the additional hours in the Physical Recreation challenge.

Merit System
If you hold a Silver Award, you may complete the Gold Award in a minimum of 52 weeks as
follows:
A minimum of 1 hour per week is required in each of the first 3 challenge areas. You wont
have to complete the additional 26 weeks in one of the challenge areas:

Community Involvement - 52 Weeks

Personal Skill - 52 Weeks

Physical Recreation - 52 Weeks

Adventure Journey - 4 Days & 3 Nights

Residential Project - 5 Days & 4 Nights

Residential Project (Gold Award Only)

The Residential Project offers participants unique experiences that truly broaden horizons
and challenges their outlook. The project gives participants a shared purposeful experience
with people who are not their usual companions, working towards a common goal. Adding
to this, the young person is also outside their usual place of residence, often in an unfamiliar
environment.

Benefits
The Residential Project rewards Gold Award participants with a sense of personal
achievement, enhanced social connection with new people and an opportunity to have a life
changing experience. Some other benefits include:

Broadening your experiences through involvement with others

Experiencing an unfamiliar environment
Experiencing a sense of shared purpose with people who are not your usual
companions
Working towards and achieving a common goal
Developing the attributes of determination and perseverance

Requirements

Must be undertaking the Gold Award

Reside away from your usual place of residence for a period of no less than five days
and four nights
In exceptional circumstances, the Residential may be spread over two separate
weekends in the same calendar year
Be in the company of others who are, in majority, not your usual companions
Undergo briefing and/or training (if required) prior to the residential period
Be a residential experience of your own choice, freely made and without any financial
gain other than assistance with transport, accommodation and/or meals.

Time Requirements
Level

Days

Nights

Gold

Examples of Residential Projects

This project requires a shared activity with a group in a residential setting for 5 days and 4
nights. For example:

Irish Language Course (Gaeltacht)

Other Language Courses
Skills & Leadership Course
Residential Youth Camp
Residential Sports Course
Youth Parliament
Overseas Camp
Overseas volunteer in a Care Facility or Hospital
Mountain Leaders Course
Children's Camps (Barretstown / Sunshine House)
Overseas Charity Volunteer
Environmental/ Conservation Projects
Volunteer in a Care Home
Assisting Pilgrimages (Lourdes/ Knock)

Gold Project Portfolio

The Project Portfolio is a record of your Gold Award experience which you can complete
during your award or when you complete all of the activities. When you have prepared your
portfolio and it is ready to send to Gaisce, review it first with your PAL so that they can
approve your award application. Weve put together some suggestions to help you prepare
your project portfolio. This is just a guideline, you are welcome to include as much as you
wish.

Introduction

Introduce yourself (where you were born, grew up and where you went to school etc.)
Mention if you are a holder of a previous award/awards. If so, do you have the same
PAL?
Why you decided to go for the Gold Award?

Your Award Experience

Write a piece on each section of your award, Physical Recreation, Personal Skill,
Community Involvement, Adventure Journey and Residential Project. Tell us what
you gained most from doing these activities.
Wed also like to hear about any obstacles you had to overcome to complete them,
and what you gained from doing and completing your award.
What were your memorable moments, did you have any particular highs and lows
that you would like to share?

Conclusion

What would you like to tell other young people about your experience doing the
Presidents Award?
What is the next step for you? What are your goals for the future and how will
achieving your Gold Award help you do this?
If you could remind yourself of one part of your experience in doing the award in 20
years time what would that be?

Digital Media

We would love to see any photos and videos that you made along the way so do
include these in your portfolio or connect with us on Facebook.
You can also include copies of certificates, brochures, routes etc. in your portfolio. Be
as creative as you like this is a record of your achievement!
Gaisce would also like your permission to use these images in our PR campaigns