Gaisce–The President's Award

Gaisce is Ireland’s national youth award and is a personal development programme for young people aged 14–25.

The word Gaisce means great achievement. If you achieve an award you get a medal in a presentation box, a certificate signed by the President and a lapel pin. If you achieve the Gold award the president presents it to you at a special ceremony.

To achieve a Gaisce award, you set a series of challenges for yourself in different areas of activity.

The challenge areas are:

• Community involvement–for example, following a volunteering program with a charity or spending time with people in your community
• Personal skill–for example, learning a musical instrument, computer skills or driving
• Physical recreation–for example, team sports, going to the gym or dance classes

You must also do an adventure journey, for example, a cycling, canoeing or hiking group trip.

Visit Challenge Partners for suggestions on what to do for each Challenge Area.

To achieve the top level of award (Gold) you must also take part in a residential project, such as a residential Irish-language course, a residential sports course or a work placement in a care home.

You need the help of a President's Award Leader (PAL) to apply for a Gaisce award.

President's Award Leaders (PALs)

You will need a President's Award Leader (PAL), an adult supervisor, who will support and mentor you along the way to your Gaisce award.

A PAL is someone who works with a youth-centred organisation and who has applied to the programme and been accepted. As well as providing training for PALs and verifying their references, Gaisce ensures that they are Garda vetted.

PALs can:

• Help with choosing challenge areas and registering
• Offer support and motivation
• Sign-off on completed challenges
• Organise the adventure journey
• Present awardees their certificates and medals

There are 3 levels of award: bronze, silver and gold. Each award requires a different level of time and commitment.

You don’t need to achieve the Bronze Award before attempting Silver, or to achieve the Silver Award before trying for Gold.

Bronze Award

To achieve the Bronze Award you must:

• Give at least 1 hour a week for 13 weeks to each challenge area
• Give at least 1 hour a week for another 13 weeks in 1 of the challenge areas
• Undertake a 2-day, 1-night adventure journey

Silver Award

To achieve the Silver Award you must:

• Give at least 1 hour a week for 26 weeks to each challenge area
• If you do not have a Bronze Award, you must give at least 1 hour a week for another 26 weeks in 1 of the challenge areas
• Undertake a 3-day, 2-night adventure journey

Gold Award

To achieve the Gold Award you must:

• Give at least 1 hour a week for 52 weeks in each of the challenge areas
• If you do not have a Silver Award, you must give at least 1 hour a week for another 26 weeks in 1 of the challenge areas
• Undertake a 4-day, 3-night adventure journey
• Take part in a residential project for 5 days and 4 nights
• Prepare a portfolio about your Gold Award experience

For Gaisce applicants

You need to find a President's Award Leader (PAL) before applying. You may find a PAL through your school, college, youth group or community organisation. If you can’t find a local PAL, you should contact Gaisce.

When you have decided which activities you would like to attempt in each section of the Award, you can agree the challenge with your PAL.

When the challenge is agreed, you apply and pay the fee online:

• €15 for a Bronze Award
• €20 for a Silver Award
• €25 for a Gold Award

The PAL will then activate your application, so that you can begin the agreed activities.

If you are under 18 you will need a signed consent form from your parent or guardian.

Your PAL will monitor you during your Gaisce challenge and sign off at the end, if you have carried out your agreed challenges and met the standard of the award.

For PALs

If you work with a youth-centred organisation, you can apply to register as a PAL.