The Gateway Award

The Gateway Award is open to anyone with a learning disability. The award is offered by the learning disability charity Mencap. The programme is designed to be inclusive of all abilities. This includes people with a wide range of learning disabilities, including those with more complex support needs. Every activity can be adapted to suit individual needs, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to take part and succeed.

This a part of the Scout Top Awards and can be used in place of the challenges for the Chief Scout's Platinum Award, Chief Scout Diamond Award and the King's Scout Award

How to complete the Gateway Award

There are three levels to the award; Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each level of the award has five different sections to complete: hobbies, fitness, volunteering, lifestyle and The Gateway Challenge. You can find more details on Mencap's website.

Participants taking part in the Award progress at their own pace. However, there are some guidelines for how long each award level should take to ensure that participants have the opportunity to meaningfully engage and plan their activities.

Suggested timeframes:

• Bronze - a minimum of 6 months
• Silver - a minimum of 12 months
• Gold - a minimum of 18 months

When a level is completed, participants are proudly presented with a certificate and a medal to celebrate their achievement.

How is the Gateway Award assessed?

When participants register, they receive a folder with five sections to store their evidence. To register talk to your leader or email [email protected].

Each participant’s online profile allows them to register, track progress, and sign off completions, while Mencap uses the system to support participants and Leaders.

For each section, a sign‑off form and at least one piece of evidence must be uploaded to their online profile.

Once all five sections are complete, the Mencap Gateway Award team will verify progress.

Participants receive a certificate and medal, and badges will be available from the Scout Shop upon completion of the Award.

To help measure impact, participants complete a short outcome questionnaire when they register and again at the end of each level.

What level of support is needed for the Gateway Award?

The level of support needed will vary for each individual. In most cases, participants may need some form of support to plan and attend their activities. An assigned supporter can work with the participant to plan their award and record their evidence.

Some participants may require a supporter to complete the online monitoring and tracking of the award.

How does this link with Top Awards and differ from the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award?

The Top Scouting Awards, DofE and Gateway Award share similar sections with volunteering, physical and skill related sections. The Gateway Award has a lifestyle challenge (focused on healthy eating and wellbeing) and Gateway challenge (a tailored personal challenge) instead of the expedition and residential sections. 

The Gateway Award is part of the Scout Top Awards and can used for the Scout Challenges for the Chief Scout Platinum, Diamond and King’s Scout Award.

Participants can still register for and complete sections of the DofE alongside the Gateway Award and receive DofE sectional certificates.

Available resources and support

Mencap have a user guide, Gateway Handbook and Ideas Booklet that are sent out to participants once they have registered to help with navigating the website and help participants come up with activities for each section of the award. Activities can be completed in Scout Group or in the community. They can be completed in an order and simultaneously. 

You can find guidance on writing risk assessments and template risk assessments here  Risk Assessments.

What is the cost for the Gateway Award?

Scouts are registered to deliver the Gateway Award so there is no need for individual Groups with under 10 participants taking part in The Gateway Award to pay the Centre costs. For Groups with over 10 participants there will be a cost. 

A participant’s place costs £26 per level. This includes:

• A colour printed folder with section dividers
• Section and end of level certificates
• An end of level medal
• Moderation and processing by Mencap
• An online Gateway Award profile
• Online resources and handbook
• Postage and packaging of all materials listed above

Further information and registering for the Gateway Award

You can find further information and register for the Gateway Award on the Mencap website.

If you require further support please email [email protected].