Ulster GAA is pleased to offer its young volunteers the opportunity to achieve Bronze, Silver, Gold in either Gaisce – the President’s Award, Duke of Edinburgh or Duke of Edinburgh International Award; through the Joint Award Initiative.
The Joint Award Initiative (Six Counties)
The Joint Award Initiative offers participants living in the six counties (Antrim, Armagh, Derry, Down, Fermanagh and Tyrone) to achieve three levels of award – Bronze, Silver and Gold. All participants work towards these awards and on completion they can choose which of the three awards are most relevant to them (Gaisce – the President’s Award, Duke of Edinburgh or Duke of Edinburgh International Award).
Bronze (School Year 10 / 14yrs+)
6 months completion
£33 Registration Fee
Silver (School Year 11 / 15yr+)
6 months completion (if already achieved Bronze)
1 year if direct entrant
£33 Registration Fee
Gold (16-24 years)
12 months completion (if already achieved Bronze/Silver)
1.5 years if direct entrant
£40 Registration Fee
Gaisce – The President’s Award (Three Counties)
Gaisce – The President’s Award offers participants from the three counties (Cavan, Monaghan and Donegal) the opportunity to achieve three levels of award Bronze, Silver and Gold.
Bronze (15yrs+)
6 Months / 26 weeks completion
€15 Registration Fee
Silver (16yrs+)
6 Months / 26 weeks completion (if already achieved Bronze)
1 Year/52 Weeks if direct entrant
€20 Registration Fee
Gold (17-25 years)
12 months / 52 weeks completion (if already achieved Silver)
1.5 Years/78 weeks if direct entrant
£25 Registration Fee
Examples of activities for each section
Volunteering/Community Involvement: Any volunteering work undertaken in your GAA club. Sports Inspire Award participants will already be volunteering and can count this towards this section. Most activities within a GAA club are volunteering, everything from helping out with coaching teams, mentoring, pitch maintenance, helping out at events, making tea, setting out pitches, participating in club committee, fundraising, participating in a fundraising event, stewards, operating scoreboard, assisting with social media etc.
Physical: All Gaelic Games are eligible for this section so any young member playing or training for Gaelic Football, Camogie/Hurling, Rounders, or Handball. Any young member not playing sport can count other physical activities towards this section e.g. gym, walking, running, keep fit classes, swimming etc.
Skills: Any skills development outside of school can count towards this, so any young members undertaking coaching courses, refereeing courses, first aid, live saving skills can all be counted towards this, as well as anyone undertaking the Ulster GAA Young Leaders Programme, the Dermot Earley Youth Leadership Initiative, Learning Irish, Participation in Scór, Club Officer Leadership Programme. GAA members can also count any other skills development they are undertaking outside their GAA club for example; learning to drive, learning a musical instrument, developing baking skills etc. and online skills development programmes. IBM Skillsbuild is also eligible for the skills section for those struggling to find a suitable skill.
Expedition/Adventure Journey: Ulster GAA is organising two expeditions in June/July 2026 which participants can apply to participate in. Participants will be required to cover the cost of their expedition £80pp for 1 night, 2 days to include 2 hikes and 1 overnight. Any GAA member undertaking an expedition/adventure journey with their school/club should get in contact with Ulster GAA to check if it is eligible to be counted for this section. For those undertaking Silver/Gold, participants have to organise their own expedition as Ulster GAA does not deliver Silver/Gold expeditions but will provide advice and guidance to help complete this element.
Registration/Get Involved
To apply for this programme, please email sharon.haughey.ulster@gaa.ie / ashelene.groogan.ulster@gaa.ie for an application form or complete our online registration form.
Ulster GAA will keep in regular contact with all participants and support them on their journey.
