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Awards

4b.12.1.1 Sectional Top Awards
There are Top Awards for each section, with criteria specified by
UK Headquarters.

The Sectional requirements for awards and badges are linked here:

  1. Squirrels
  2. Beaver
  3. Cubs
  4. Scouts
  5. Explorers
  6. Scout Network

4b.12.2 The King's Scout Award

4b.12.2.1 About the Award
The King’s Scout Award is the highest Top Award available. It is available for Explorers once they have reached their 16th birthday and for Scout Network members. 

Follow this link to the Award details. 

4b.12.2.2 Notification and presentation
Except in Scotland, on completion of the Award, UK Headquarters must be notified, and the badge and certificate will then be sent to the relevant King’s Scout Award Parcel Recipient to arrange presentation or, if none appointed, to the relevant Lead Volunteer. 

In Scotland, the completed application should be sent to Scouts Scotland who will notify UK Headquarters and send the badge and certificate to the relevant King’s Scout Award Parcel Recipient or District Lead Volunteer. 

4b.12.3 The Explorer Belt

4b.12.3.1 About the Award
The Explorer Belt is designed to enable Explorers, Scout Network members and members of Ranger Guides aged 16 or over, working as a team, to plan, train for and undertake their own expedition abroad. 

Participants aged 16 or 17 years old, they may only participate in an organised expedition supported by an in-country leadership team, rather than being self-led. 

Follow this link to the Award details. 

4b.12.3.2 Registration and presentation
The young person must register with UK Headquarters to begin working on the award and must then be assigned a mentor locally.  

On completion of the award, UK Headquarters must be notified and the badge and certificate will be sent to the relevant Lead Volunteer for presentation. 

4b.12.4 The Scouts of the World Award

4b.12.4.1 About the Award
The Scouts of the World Award aims to encourage Scout Network members with their personal development and development of life skills as well as to support projects within society, locally, nationally and globally. 

Follow this link to the Award details. 

4b.12.4.2 Completion and presentation 
On satisfactory completion of the award, UK Headquarters must be notified, and the badge and certificate will be sent to the relevant District 14-24 Team Leader.

4b.12.4.3 Delivery
The award is delivered by members who have been trained by UK Headquarters as trainers for the award, according to the requirements set out by WOSM. UK Headquarters provides support to those members wishing to become mentors who support Scout Network members through their award journey.

4b.12.5 The Duke of Edinburgh's Award

4b.12.5.1 About the Award
For England and Wales, The Scout Association is a Licenced Organisation for the Duke of Edinburgh's (DofE) Award. 

The Country Headquarters of Northern Ireland and Scotland are each separate Licenced Organisations. England and Wales are managed by UK Headquarters. 

Follow this link to the Award details.

British Scouting Overseas and the Overseas Territories use the Duke Of Edinburgh’s International Award. 

4b.12.5.2 County/Region coordination
In England and Wales, each County should identify a member of the County Programme Team to act as the link to UK Headquarters in respect of The DofE Award.

In Scotland, each Region should identify a member of the Region Programme Team to co-ordinate support for the DofE Award.

This person(s) must:

  1. participate in a DofE Verifier Training before being given verifier permissions.
  2. participate in a County DofE Adviser Induction within 3 months of appointment (in Scotland this induction is delivered by Scouts Scotland).

Except in Northern Ireland and Scotland, where such a person is not in post, the Programme Team at UK Headquarters can adopt responsibility for the County as an interim measure.

The County Programme Team must coordinate the support for the DofE Award within the County.

4b.12.5.3 Scotland volunteers aged 16 and 17
In Scotland, any young person aged 16 or 17 undertaking a regulated role as part of their DofE Award must have a criminal record check (Scouts PVG disclosure) which has been cleared to volunteer by the UK Headquarters Safeguarding Team before they commence their volunteering. They must be recorded on the membership system as a Young Helper. It is the responsibility of the Region Programme Team to ensure that this is completed.

4b.12.5.4 District support
Except in Scotland, the District Programme Team may appoint one or more of its members to coordinate the local support for the Award.

Such a person must participate in appropriate training for the role within one year of appointment. This training should include attendance at the Foundation and the Delivering the DofE courses.

4b.12.5.5 Assessors and Expedition Assessors

  1. The assessors for the various sections of the Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards must be in line with the guidelines on the DofE website.  
  2. Except in Scotland, all DofE expedition assessors must hold the DofE’s Expedition Assessor accreditation and must have The Scout Association listed as a Licenced Organisation on their DofE training record.  
    In Scotland, all Expedition Assessors must be members of the Region Programme Team (or, normally, one of its sub-teams) and have The Scout Association or Scouts Scotland listed as a Licenced Organisation on their DofE training record. 

4b.12.5.6 Verification of Awards

  1. Bronze and Silver Awards may be verified by a person showing as an appointed verifier on their DofE record 
  2. Gold Awards in England, Wales, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man, are verified by UK Headquarters 
  3. Gold Awards in Northern Ireland are verified by Northern Ireland Scout Headquarters 
  4. Gold Awards in Scotland are verified by Scottish Scout Headquarters 

4b.12.5.7 Badges and Certificates
Each award has a cloth badge for wearing with uniform, a lapel badge and a certificate. 

Bronze and Silver Awards are to be presented locally by the District or County Lead Volunteer ([NI] Country Chief Volunteer) or their nominee. 

Gold Award Badges: 

  • Except in Scotland, Gold Award Badges are presented locally by the County Lead Volunteer ([NI]Country Chief Volunteer) or their nominee. 
  • In Scotland, Gold Award Badges are presented locally by the District Lead Volunteer or their nominee. 

Gold Award Certificates and lapel badges are posted directly to participants by the DofE and recipients are invited to a reception arranged in one of the Royal Palaces.