the discovery award
An Achievement Award for the over 50’s!
Did you get the opportunity to do the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in your youth or did you miss out on the joys of this adventure? Well, now’s your chance to rectify the situation or be challenged again.
There are three levels, Bronze, Silver and Gold and the awards are divided into four quadrants: Service in the community, Recreational Pursuit, Hobby or Interest and Journey of Discovery. The award can be undertaken by anyone aged 50 or over.
How much time would I need to give if I decided to start working for my Bronze Award? Well, if you are working in GB, then this could easily be counted as your Community Service. You will need to give between 24 to 30 hours a week over a 12-week period. I’m sure we all have a hobby or two and
this requires 50 to 60 hours over 26 weeks.
The Recreational Pursuit can be as physical as you want to make it, from tiddly-winks to running a marathon and this will be 24 to 30 hours over 12 weeks.
The journey of Discovery is the most exiting part of the Award as this can be just about anything. If you want to do an expedition across Dartmoor then you are quite welcome to do so but your Journey of Discovery could be a journey in your mind, researching something that you have always wanted to know more about and is just as acceptable as a physical journey.
Here are some subjects you might like to consider for each quadrant.
Service in the Community:
Girls’ Brigade, Meals on Wheels, Red Cross/St John’s Ambulance Brigade, Playgroups, Parent & Toddlers, Visiting Sick/Lonely/Housebound, Working in a Charity Shop, Helping at School.
Recreational Pursuit:
Swimming, Sport, Keep Fit, Horse Riding, Badminton/Tennis, Cycling, Golf.
Hobby/Interest:
Knitting/Crochet, Card/Rug Making, Gardening, Reading/Writing, Collecting, Signing, Music, Languages.
Journey of Discovery:
Travel (either in body or through books, TV, pictures), Tracing your Family Tree, John Wesley’s Tercentenary, Walking the Wall of China, Hadrian’s Wall, Pennine Way. The lists are endless.
If you require more information about The Discovery Award please contact Margaret Taylor on 01273 832286 or
email: margaret@taylor24.plus.com
This award is made up of 4 stages in the Bronze, Silver and Gold award.
Service: Bronze Stage: Explorer Officer at the 1st East Peckham Company.
Silver Stage: Preparing craft work for the Boys Brigade
Gold Stage: GB and BB craft. Holiday club craftwork for 60+ children. Chaplain for a week at ‘Holcot’.
