The International Award
for Young People

The primary aim of the Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award for Young People (IAYP, or IA) scheme is to foster a spirit of adventure, discovery and community responsibility. Students all over the world take part and it is a qualification that universities and future employers value highly.

There are three levels of Awards, based on the age of the participants: Bronze (14-15), Silver (15-16) and Gold (16+). Most students in the programme take up the challenge of the Award at the age of 14 (Year 10) with the Bronze level and work through to their Gold Award when they are 16 or older, but in fact students may join the scheme at any level.

At each level, there are four sections for participants to complete: Service, Skill, Physical Recreation and Expedition. The Gold Award also includes a five-day residential project.

Practice expeditions take place in the Kuwaiti desert. Students learn about navigation, camp craft and teamwork. All final expeditions, which are assessed, and the Gold residential, take place overseas. These include expeditions to India, Oman, Thailand and Nepal.

Participation in the IA helps students develop their self-confidence and independence, and broaden their horizons and interests. BSK’s IA participants have organised fundraising events, taught at local schools and hospitals, taken up new languages, new sports and new musical instruments in order to achieve their awards. It isn’t easy, as our past participants will tell you, but it is fun, rewarding and those who are determined will inevitably succeed.

Want to find out more?

To learn more about the IA programme, please visit www.intaward.org. You may also wish to speak with the International Award Coordinator, Mr Oliver Millar, or the Assistant IA Coordinator, Dr David Williams.

IAYP newsletters

Issue 1 - 26 September 2011 (1.32Mb PDF file)
Issue 2 - 22 November 2011 (346kb PDF file)

Press releases and reports

Gold expedition to Nepal - press release by Aakash Ravikrishnan, 24 May 2011
IAYP 2010-11 - annual report by Shigraf Shahid and Simran Bhatia, 06 June 2011
Bronze expedition to Mutla Ridge - press release by Mr Alek Zikic, 06 December 2011 (22kB PDF file)
Gold residential activity in Thailand - press release by Mr Oliver Millar, 06 December 2011 (14kB PDF file)
Silver practice expedition to Mufla - press release by Ms Jane Welch, 27 March 2012

Image Gallery