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The Joint Award Initiative

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

£28 Registration Fee

Silver (School Year 11 / 15yr+)

6 months completion (if already achieved Bronze)

1 year if direct entrant

£28 Registration Fee

Gold (16-24 years)

12 months completion (if already achieved Bronze/Silver)

1.5 years if direct entrant

£35 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 (15 yrs+)

6 Months/ 26 weeks completion

€15 Registration Fee

Silver (16 yrs+)

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. GoldMark 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 Sports Leadership Programme delivered through Peace IV Sport Uniting Communities Programme, Ulster GAA Young Leaders Programme, 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.

Expedition/Adventure Journey: Ulster GAA will be organising some expeditions at a later date which participants can apply to participate in. Participants will be required to cover the cost of their expedition. 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