International, Community and Values (ICV)
International, Community and Values (ICV)
What your ICV projects should look like
ICVs are meant to grow with you. As you move through Platinum, Diamond and then the King’s Scout Award, the level of challenge, responsibility and independence should increase too.
As a general guide, Platinum ICVs suit Explorers aged around 14–16, Diamond around 15–17, and King’s Scout Award ICVs 16 and over. These aren’t fixed rules, but they help set expectations for what’s reasonable at each stage.
Chief Scout's Platinum Award ICV Requirements
Complete two activities from the International, Community and Values list.
The two activities should come from different areas of the Platinum ICV list.
Chief Scout's Diamond Award ICV Requirements
Complete four activities from the International, Community and Values (ICV) list. This should include at least one from each area of the list, and can include activities you completed for the International, Community and Values list for your Chief Scout's Platinum Award'.
King's Scout Award ICV Requirements
Complete six activities in total, two from each topic area of the ICV activities list. View the ICV list for the King's Scout Award. A minimum of two must be from the KSA ICV list and the others from any of the KSA, or Chief Scout Platinum or Diamond ICV lists.
If you have completed your Chief Scout’s Platinum Award, you will have already done two activities and will only need to do a further four activities.
If you have completed your Chief Scout’s Diamond Award, you will have already done four activities and will only need to do a further two activities.
Guidance
As they move from Platinum, to Diamond, and finally to the King’s Scout Award, the level of challenge, responsibility, independence and personal ownership should increase.
As a general guide, Platinum challenges suit Explorers aged around 14–16, Diamond around 15–17, and King’s Scout Award challenges those aged 16 and over.
Progression through the awards can be shown by a number of factors listed below, which are relected in the challenges in each list.
The minimum expected time for each challenge would be:
- Platinum - 4 to 6 hours
- Diamond - 8 to 10 hours
- King’s Scout Award - 12 to 14 hours
Other awards such as Explorer Belt (10 days) and Scout of the World Award (80 hours) can demonstrate progression as you move through the levels
The wording of the ICVs isn’t accidental. It shows the level of input that’s expected.
There’s a big difference between taking part in a project and running an activity or organising programmes. Higher awards expect more leadership, planning and ownership.
It’s also worth remembering that words like complete and present mean exactly that. If the project hasn’t been finished, or the presentation didn’t happen, the ICV isn’t complete. You should always be able to point to a clear outcome, not just ongoing effort.
Progression can also be shown through location.
Platinum ICVs are more likely to be UK based and locally focused, while Diamond and King’s Scout activities may involve national or international elements. This isn’t essential, but where an activity is international in nature, it should clearly demonstrate increased challenge, independence, or responsibility.
The audience for the activity is another way progression is demonstrated.
- Supporting your own unit is often appropriate at Platinum level
- Supporting another section or a wider group fits well at Diamond level
- King’s Scout Award ICVs are more likely to be personal projects with broader impact
While Platinum ICVs may be run by Explorer Units, Diamond and King’s Scout Award ICVs are usually individual in nature. That said, accessibility needs may change this, and some awards, such as the Explorer Belt or SOWAs, are designed to be completed in groups. In these cases, it must be clear who did what, with defined responsibilities and logged hours.
We encourage King’s Scout Award participants to ensure that the programme they undertake is a challenge to them.
A typical journey through the awards would see someone complete two ICVs at Platinum level, two more at Diamond, and two more at King’s Scout level, with a natural increase in challenge each time.
People can choose activities from different lists to ensure the programme is challenge for them - this could include more challenges from a different ICV list.
You should clearly indicate in the logbook where a challenge has been adapted or a different list has been used for a participant with additional needs.
ICVs don’t sit in isolation. They can link really well with other awards and roles, including DofE, the Gateway award, the Young Leader Award, the Explorer Belt, SOWAs, or leadership and Wood Badge learning.
For example, an Explorer might start volunteering with a section for their DofE. They could then complete Young Leader missions with that section, and later go on to organise and run programmes for them as part of their ICVs. This shows clear progression in confidence, responsibility and leadership.
Final Thoughts
All top awards work the same way: you get out what you put in. Taking the time to challenge yourself, put real effort in, and go beyond the basics will always make the award feel more worthwhile. The King’s Scout Award especially should reflect your growth as a person, not just a list of completed requirements.