Name: Awards Network Annual Event - 10 March 2026
Start: 2026-03-10T12:30:00+00:00
End: 2026-03-10T16:20:00+00:00
Location: The Royal Society of Edinburgh

Awards Network Annual Event - 10 March 2026
About this Event

Please note: Your booking won't be accepted until you provide all your details. We need all your information, to be able to ensure we have a space for you.

Awards Network Annual Event

Afternoon Programme

The purpose of the afternoon session is to invite stakeholders and education partners in schools and youth work settings to explore the youth awards opportunities on offer. There are opportunities to meet awards providers and sample some activities. The rooms are organised into four themes (see below). Each provider will have a table for a showcase and/or activity.

12:30 -13:00 Registration of new attendees

There will be an information table provided by the following:

o Awards Network – VR headsets, visit our virtual youth awards pathways

o Arts Award: Meet Sarah Hughes from the Trinity College Arts Award to find out ways to gain recognition for engaging in a wide range of vibrant arts experiences.

o RSPB: Meet Brock Lueck to discuss the range of opportunities available as part of the Wild Challenge Award and the Nature Leaders Award.

o SCQF: This stall will provide information on the SCQF Ambassador Award Scheme.

o Disclosure Scotland – information on the disclosure/PVG requirements for supporting young people’s engagement in youth awards.

13:00 – 13:45 | Keynote Address – Theatre (up to 144 max)

Tila McDonald, Awards Network, Introduction to the afternoon session and keynote speaker
Professor Ken Muir, Education and Qualification Reform – is it time to make way for youth awards?
Q&A interaction with the audience

13:45 – 13:55 | The Awards Network’s Facts and Figures

A presentation of the annual data gathered by Awards Network members
Presented by Tila McDonald and Awards Network representatives.

14:00 – 14:50 | Workshop Session 1

Four themed workshop rooms, participants choose one table

1.Nature-Based Awards – Workshop Space 1

1A -Heritage Heroes: A taste of the types of activities you can do for your Heritage Hero Award. Discover new ways to investigate your local heritage and archaeology using maps, hands on and creative activities and games.

1B - Youth Scotland: An example of nature based activities which can be used as part of Hi5, Dynamic Youth Award and Youth Achievement Awards.

1C -RSPB Scotland: Learn about our Wild Challenge Awards which celebrate the curiosity and achievements of primary aged pupils who take action for nature. For older students, our new SCQF Level 5 & 6 Environmental Leaders Qualification harnesses young people’s optimism and determination, by equipping them with the skills to make real impact.

1D - Get a taste of the Out There Award - a free, 2 day, outdoor skills award for 18-26 year olds run by the Ramblers. We'll brush up on your map skills and get you thinking about where and how to explore amazing walks. We'll give you a flavour of the fun activities we run to build young people's confidence. In 2025, 100% of our participants said they'd recommend the award to a friend - so come along and find out more.

2.Industry Experience Builders – Workshop Space 2

2A - STEM Leaders: The Young STEM Leader Programme aims to inspire participants to develop leadership skills through engaging with STEM. This workshop will showcase some leadership activities from the programme.

2B- Young Enterprise: We shall explore the impact of enterprise education through an interactive and fast-paced group session. You'll hear about our award programmes for primary, secondary, ASN and CLD.

2C - Daydream Believers: Creative Innovation is an SCQF Level 5 & 6 qualification (24 credits) that empowers learners to turn bold ideas into real world solutions. Join this workshop to sample some of the activity ideas. Blending creativity with business thinking, it helps students explore, innovate, spot opportunities, and design ideas with impact. It’s a space to think creatively and commercially, and to gain the tools and confidence to lead change and develop essential skills for the future.

3.Rights, Equality & Youth Voice – Workshop Space 3

3A - Youth Voice – a workshop on using the Youth Voice toolkit developed by the CLD team, Education Scotland and its links to the Participative Democracy Certificate by YouthLink Scotland.

3B - Comedy & Confidence - This interactive taster workshop introduces participants to practical techniques for building communication confidence through comedy-based and laughter yoga exercises. Using accessible vocal techniques, positive body language and playful performance activities, participants will explore how humour can support self-expression, presence and employability skills. The session showcases a selection of creative techniques drawn from the Resilience Through Creativity – Comedy & Confidence Awards, giving a flavour of how confidence, teamwork and communication are developed in accredited programmes. Participants will also hear about the flexible and versatile delivery models available, including school, youth work, community and targeted group settings.

4. Adventure & Leadership – Workshop Space 4

4A - Gen+: An interactive workshop helping participants identify their personal skills & core values, explore how these shape leadership behaviours, and develop confidence to lead authentically and with purpose

4B- Outward Bound Trust – Steve Mackenzie from the Outward Bound Trust will present on how the Outward Bound Trust and the Mark Scott Award approach deliberate learning through adventurous outdoor residential programmes. The presentation will touch on models of assessment with respect to running courses requiring reporting to funders on outcomes, and to delivering SCQF recognised courses at Levels 5-7, whilst illustrating how outdoor education can be so much more than “going into green spaces”.

15:00 – 15:50 | Workshop Session 2