BSAC Membership Information - Duke of Edinburgh Award
The Duke of Edinburgh's Award
and the BSAC as an Access Organisation
What is an Access Organisation?
An Access Organisation is a group, club, society, organisation or business that already provides an activity to young people aged between 14 and 25 (although not exclusively) that is recognised by The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award as being suitable for a Section(s) of the Award Programme. Access Organisations can operate locally, Regionally and some are licensed to operate Nationally. Access Organisations issue Credit Notes to young people that have been on their courses/undertaken their activities and who are not already undertaking the Award.
What does this mean for The British Sub Aqua Club?
Young people between the ages of 14 and 25 who are already interested in diving or snorkelling, whether they are competent or are just learning, can count the time they spend diving/snorkelling towards their Duke of Edinburgh’s Award. They may never have heard about The Award before and probably didn’t realise that they could count activities that they are already into!
The Branch Diving Officer should advise The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award of their branch’s involvement with the Award. The Diving Officer can then issue Access Credit Notes and Certificates of Prior Learning for the Physical Recreation Section of the Award to young people who have regularly participated in diving/snorkelling training for the required period of months (the average time commitment is about an hour a week).
See how much time commitment is required
Most probably Branches will also get participants (young people who have already joined the Award), asking the Diving Officer to sign their Record Book for the Physical Recreation Section.
What next?
When a young person receives their Credit Note and Certificate of Prior Learning, and if they are interested in starting the full Award Programme, they have 6 months in which to make contact with an Operating Authority and enrol in the Award. Once they have enrolled they will obtain a Record Book Pack. Young people should be signposted to one of our National/ Regional Offices or their Operating Authority (details available on the web site (www.theaward.org) when they are given their Credit Note and Certificate. The Office will be able to provide them with details of the appropriate contact for their area.
Information Packs
We have produced Information packs:
- For Branch Officers, detailing how to administer the process
- For candidates who want their training to be considered.
These Packs are available from BSAC HQ
Order a Duke of Edinburgh's Award Information Pack - FOR BRANCH OFFICERS
Page last modified: 23rd Nov 2006 - 15:51:14