What is the Discovery Award?
It is an achievement Award offering challenges to individuals in the 50+ age range, presenting them with possible new heights to scale. It enables and encourages people to make choices about their own lives and to increase their contribution to life around them. By meeting a range of new personal challenges, as well as some new people, it offers the possiblity and bonus of new and lasting friendships.
The History of the Award
The idea was first mooted in 1987 during an Adventure Week for the over fifties, organised by the Tayside Region's Outdoor Education Division of the Community Education Service. With the local Duke of Edinburgh's Award and an Outdoor Community Education Worker, an enthusiastic group of six women and four men in Dundee, developed a National programmed activity scheme called The Discovery Award.
Who Will be Interested?
The Discovery Award is open to anyone over the age of 50, regardless of state of health or degree of disability. There is no upper age limit and at present the oldest Discoverer is over 80 years old!
Aims
The overall objective is to enable participants to experience the joy, fun and excitement of meeting challenges by:
* discovering new interests
* discovering hidden talents
* re-discovering old or neglected interests or talents
* discovering new and interesting people
* discovering the warmth and value of new friendships
* discovering the sense and joy of achievement
* discovering what the Award means to them as individuals
Why Discovery ?
Emphasis on discovery and self-discovery is the main theme of the Award. This together with the commitment of 'service to others' - develops the concept that members of all communities have responsibilities for each other.
The Award
The Discovery Award has three stages, Bronze, Silver and Gold. Each stage has four sections. These are:-
All you have to do, whatever your challenge, is to keep a record of your preparation and of what you did.
Service in the Community
Any volunrary service which helps others is acceptable: for example, Red Cross, meals on wheels, playgroups, visiting the sick, helping in a charity shop or office, typing at home, committee work, youth organisations, conservation - the demand for volunteers is endless.
Hobby or Interest
You may either take up a new interest or develop an old one. Again, the list is endless: writing, gardening, collecting, reading, theatre, cinema or TV, music, languages, knitting, sewing, painting, drawing, photography, old buildings, crossroads - you only have to name it.
Recreational Pursuit
This should involve some physical activity, even if it is only propelling your own wheelchair, but the limits are set by you. You may like to take up, for example, archery, cycling, badminton, table tennis, hill walking, swimming, golf, gardening, dancing or if these are too strenuous, what about snooker, darts or even tiddlywinks!
Journey of Discovery
You can travel anywhere, in your mind at home, in the comfort of your own armchair, through books, pictures, films, TV; or abroad, on foot, by bicycle or car, by train, ship or plane. Some Discoverers have travelled to China or to the Western Isles of Scotland, some around local churches, castles, or libraries.
Time scales for the four sections:
Bronze Award
Service in the Community - 24 to 30 hours over a period of 12 weeks
Recreational Pursuit - 24 to 30 hours over 12 weeks
Hobby / Interest - 50 to 60 hours over 26 weeks
Discovery Challenge - A journey, physical or of personal research, exploring and extending knowledge and interests. If a physical challenge is planned, preparation should be followed by a 20 mile journey over 2 days.
Note: All Participants start at the Bronze level
Silver Award
Service in the Community - 48 to 60 hours over a period of 26 weeks
Recreational Pursuit - 50 to 60 hours over 26 weeks
Hobby / Interest - 100 to 120 hours over 52 weeks
Discovery Challenge - A journey, physical or of personal research, exploring and extending knowledge and interests. If a physical challenge is planned, preparation should be followed by a 40 mile journey over 4 days, or two expeditions of 20 miles each
Gold Award
Service in the Community - 100 to 120 hours over a period of 52 weeks
Recreational Pursuit - 50 to 60 hours over 26 weeks
Hobby / Interest - 150 to 180 hours over 78 weeks
Discovery Challenge - A journey, physical or of personal research, exploring and extending knowledge and interests. If a physical challenge is planned, preparation should be followed by a 60 mile journey over 6 days, or two expeditions of 30 miles, or three expeditions of 20 miles
Contact Details
If you would like to find out more about The Discovery Award please write to the Discovery Award Association at St Mary's Hall, Wollaton Hall Drive, Wollaton Park, NOTTINGHAM or The Scottish Office at Ancrum Centre for the environment, Ancrum Road. DUNDEE DD2 3HZ and ask for an application form. Please Check Out website: www.discoveryawardengland.co.uk