YOUR GUIDE TOTHE GAISCE PROGRAMME

Your Way: Your Award

Gaisce is a non-formal learning programme delivered by 1,200 President Award Leaders (PALs) in 850 Gaisce Awards Partners (GAPs) across the country.

Gaisce provides a structured approach to measuring and recognising a young person’s personal development. It’s not about the additional work but more the additional value Gaisce adds to a young person’s life.

ABOUT GAISCEGaisce – The President’s Award is the most prestigious youth award in Ireland and is a challenge to young people aged 15-25 from the President of Ireland, Michael D. Higgins to dream big and realise their potential.

Make a positive impact in a young person’s life, visit www.gaisce.ie to get started.

@gaisceaward

Gaisce - The President’s Award

To achieve a Gaisce Award, participants need to complete activities for at least one hour a week in each of the three challenge areas which include Personal Skill, Community Involvement and Physical Recreation.

Participants must also undertake an Adventure Journey. Gold participants are also required to complete an additional Residential Project and Portfolio.

HOW IT WORKS FOR PARTICIPANTS

TO BEGIN:Participants must find a President’s Award Leader (PAL): PALs are there to support participants throughout their Gaisce journey. There may be a PAL based in the participant’s school, college, youth group or in a local community based organisation. Participants must have a PAL before registering to take part. If participants are having trouble finding a PAL, contact us at info@gaisce.ie and we’ll help them get started.

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Participants select their activities and discuss these with their PAL to ensure they are appropriate and sufficiently challenging. Participants can choose activities that they are already engaged in or they can start something completely new.

Participants register online at www.gaisce.ie and begin their Gaisce Journey!

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PRESIDENT’S AWARD LEADER (PAL)PALs are adults (18+) trained and vetted by Gaisce to deliver the programme to young people they work or volunteer with. PALs are the lifeblood of the Gaisce programme, supporting thousands of young people through their Gaisce journey each year. President’s Award Leaders develop leadership skills by supporting young people through their Gaisce Journey, and are supported by our dedicated Operations and Development team.

PALS advise, coach, motivate and encourage young people participating in the Gaisce programme from registration to completion. PALs supervise participants as they undertake each of the Gaisce challenge areas ensuring activities are achieved in accordance with Gaisce’s policies and procedures.

• To become a Gaisce PAL, please submit a PAL application form found on Gaisce.ie• Our team will then coordinate a Garda-vetting and reference check• Applicants then attend training run by Gaisce • Once you have completed this process you can begin working with participants!

The Role of the PAL

How to become a PAL

Dylan White, Gaisce Gold Awardee 2018

I really enjoyed doing Gaisce! The best part for me are the fun memories I have. We had some good laughs away with the group on the Adventure Journey and the Residential Project. We still talk about those trips when we meet up.

• Make a difference in the lives of young people in your community• Be part of a recognised national personal development programme for young people• Develop your mentoring and coaching skills

Benefits of being a PAL

Make a positive impact in a young person’s life, visit www.gaisce.ie to get started

Gaisce Award Partners (GAPs) are organisations who deliver the Gaisce Programme and where young people register to complete their award. Throughout their journey young people are supported by PALs who work or volunteer in GAPs.

There are hundreds of GAPs across Ireland supporting young people to achieve their Gaisce Award including youth services, youth cafés and clubs, schools, probation services, Youthreach, third level institutions, disability services, prisons, sports clubs, educational groups and many more. GAPs appoint staff and/or volunteers from within their own organisation to attend PAL training and deliver the Gaisce programme.

Challenge Areas

GAISCE AWARDPARTNERWhat is a Gaisce Award Partner?

Clare Molloy - Patrician Secondary SchoolCivic Merit Award Recipient 2018

“I love being a President’s Award Leader as in my role as a teacher, I have seen my students develop their confidence, become young leaders of the future and carve out their future careers through their involvement in their Gaisce activities.”

Why offer the Gaisce Programme?• Gaisce provides a structured approach to measuring and recognising

a young person’s personal development

• Gaisce celebrates the individuality of each participant and ensures there are many pathways to achieving a Gaisce Award

• Young people in your organisation may already be taking part in activities that could count towards a Gaisce Award

• Gaisce is proven to enhance confidence and wellbeing (research available at Gaisce.ie)

• Support young people to dream big and reach their potential

• Recognition as an official Gaisce Challenge Partner

• Many young people may already be taking part in activities that could count towards a Gaisce Award

• Promote your organisation as a Challenge Partner with Gaisce Award Partners

Gaisce Challenge Partners are organisations or projects who facilitate Gaisce participants in completing one or more of their challenge areas. They act as activity supervisors, signing off on weekly activities for Gaisce participants.

What is a Gaisce Challenge Partner?

Challenge Areas

Residential Project (Gold level only)– broadening horizons on a four-night residential stay away from home

Benefits of being a Challenge Partner

CHALLENGE PARTNERS

Gaisce - Gradam an Uachtaráin, The President’s Award is a company limited by guarantee (CRO 251020) and with a CHY and CRA number (8482 and 20020903 respectively). Our registered address is Ratra House, Phoenix Park, Dublin D08YD62.

@gaisceaward Gaisce - The President’s Award

Community Involvement- volunteering with a charity or community group

Personal Skill – developing an existing skill or trying something new

Physical Recreation- becoming more active through sport or exercise

Adventure Journey – discovering the great outdoors on a team journey

Is your organisation interested in becoming a Challenge Partner? Visit gaisce.ie/challengepartner to find out more.