Citizens Information

Information

The President's Award is the National Challenge Award given by the President to young people in Ireland between the ages of 15 and 25 years. Recipients of the award get a medal in a presentation box, a certificate signed by the President and a lapel pin.

The purpose of the award is to reward young people who have set and achieved a demanding challenge for themselves in each of four different areas of activity:

Community involvement, e.g., helping the elderly or learning first aid or lifesaving
Personal skill, e.g., learning a musical instrument, computer skills or driving
Physical recreation, e.g., swimming, football or tennis
Adventure activity, e.g., a cycling, canoeing or hiking trip.

Once you have achieved your personal challenges under the guidance of a President's Award Leader, you will earn your award.

Rules

Levels of award

There are three levels of award that reflect different levels of time and commitment:

Bronze - the minimum age at which you can take part is 15 years and your activity must completed within 6 to 9 months.
Silver - the minimum age at which you can take part is 16 years and your activity must be completed within 12 to 15 months
Gold - the minimum age at which you can compete is 17 years and your activity must be completed within 18 to 24 months.

It is not necessary to undertake the Bronze Award before attempting Silver, or undertake the Silver award before the Gold.

What is expected of you in each section

The activities that you must carry out in each section depends on the level of award.

Community activity

You must select one activity and the minimum requirement is:

Bronze - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 15 weeks
Silver - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 30 weeks
Gold - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 60 weeks.

Personal skill

Bronze - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 26 weeks
Silver - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 39 weeks
Gold - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 52 weeks.

Physical recreation

Bronze - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 12 weeks
Silver - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 15 weeks
Gold - you must carry out the activity for one hour per week for 18 weeks.

Venture section

You must choose one activity, e.g, a foot or cycling expedition. The minimum requirement is:

Award	Foot expedition	Cycling expedition	Canoeing expedition
Bronze	2 days - over 24 km	2 days - over 113 km	2 days - 20 to 30 km
Silver	3 days - over 48 km	3 days - over 193 km	3 days - 40 to 50 km
Gold	4 days - over 80 km	4 days - over 274 km	4 days - 60 to 80 km

Rates

It costs €5 to enter for a Bronze or Silver award and 10 euro to enter for a Gold award.

How to apply

Each participant needs to agree the challenge in writing with a President's Award Leader. The challenge is agreed once the participants have explored all the activity options in each section of the Award. More information is available on the The President's Award website.

President's Award Leaders include teachers in schools, employers, youth leaders, Gardai and designated individuals in third-level colleges.

You should contact The President's Award office if you are having difficulty locating a President's Award Leader locally.

Download application forms and President's Award Leader Forms. Alternatively, you can request the forms by e-mail from the address below.

Where to apply

The President's Award

Page updated: 22 September 2009

President's Award - Gaisce