When your school, organization, or community group delivers The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, you’re supporting young people to build confidence, resilience, and purpose through experiences that already align with your existing programs. The Award is a flexible, research-backed framework that enhances what you already offer. The Award helps you support wellbeing, deepens engagement and encourages reflection, all while helping you measure meaningful outcomes.
Why Deliver the Award?
By becoming a licensed Delivery Partner, you’ll join a global network of schools, community groups, and youth organizations using the Award framework to expand access to life-changing experiences and strengthen youth development in measurable ways.
Grounded in Research. Proven in Practice.
Today’s young people are growing up in a world of digital distraction, social disconnection, and uncertainty about their future. Education research shows ( OECD, UNICEF, and Canada’s Council of Minsters of Education) that learners need opportunities to build resilience, develop purpose, and apply learning in real-world contexts.
Read our position paper hereThe Award Canada Way provides delivery partners with an evidence-based framework that helps young people:
Build confidence and competence through sustained goal-setting and achievement.
Strengthen connection and community through service, teamwork, and mentorship.
Develop character and purpose through challenge, reflection, and persistence.
Apply learning to real-world contexts supporting both employability and lifelong wellbeing.
Advance global competencies like collaboration, adaptability, and civic engagement through hands-on, goal-driven experiences
By delivering the Award framework, your organization becomes part of an international model for positive youth development, one that’s proven to increase engagement, improve wellbeing, and complement formal education with meaningful, measurable growth.
Learn More about the Framework Here
Who Delivers the Award?
The Award can be delivered by any organization that works with young people aged 14–24 and shares a commitment to positive youth development. If your mission is to help young people grow, connect, and discover their purpose, the Award framework can strengthen and showcase the impact of what you already do.
Schools and School Boards
Integrating the Award into curriculum, specialized programs, leadership development, outdoor education, and guidance initiatives. Schools embed the Award within subjects such as careers, English, financial literacy, physical education, geography, and electives. By doing so, the Award engages learners in meaningful experiences, personalizes learning pathways, and strengthens achievement of academic and personal growth goals while offering external recognition for accomplishments beyond the classroom. Learn more here.
Alternative Education and Experiential Learning Programs
Creating flexible, inclusive pathways that combine hands-on learning with structured support. These programs engage diverse learners through real-world experiences and personalized approaches that strengthen learning goals and build confidence beyond traditional classrooms. Through the Award, participants gain external recognition for their progress and growth, validating achievements that go beyond academics. Learn more here.
Sports Clubs and Teams
Delivering the Award through group activities, mentorship, and collaborative projects. Clubs and teams connect shared interests with personal development, engaging participants in meaningful challenges that encourage teamwork, creativity, goal-setting and reflection. Together, members support each other’s growth while building skills that extend beyond the club environment and earning recognition for their achievements along the way.
Youth-Serving Agencies and Nonprofits
Delivering the Award through programs that promote leadership, life skills, and service. These organizations align the Award with mentorship and experiential learning, engaging youth in purposeful activities that personalize development and strengthen both personal and educational goals. Participants gain external recognition for their contributions and growth, reflecting the organization’s commitment to empowering young people.
Community and Faith-Based Organizations
Incorporating the Award into service projects, youth groups, and values-based leadership programs. These organizations provide inclusive, purpose-driven spaces that engage participants in meaningful experiences, reinforce learning goals, and foster personal growth through cultural, spiritual, and community initiatives while offering external recognition for achievements that reflect their commitment to service and leadership.
How the Award is Delivered
The Award integrates seamlessly into existing programs, from individual clubs to full-school or community approaches. Grounded in the Award Canada Way, a proven model of positive youth development, it helps participants to set goals, build confidence, reflect on their progress, and connect with their community. It also fosters mentorship and gives educators and leaders a clear framework to track and celebrate growth.
Benefits of Award Delivery
Enhance existing programs: Integrate reflection, goal setting, and mentorship into the activities youth are already doing.
Increase engagement: Boost participation, motivation, and a sense of belonging through personalized experiential learning.
Demonstrate measurable outcomes: Use a recognized, evidence-based framework to track and showcase growth in skills, confidence and resilience.
Celebrate success: Recognize achievement through an internationally respected Award that highlights both personal and program excellence.
Award Delivery Partner Types:
The Award works with several types of delivery partners. These organizations help young people access the Award framework in ways that fit their context whether through extracurricular programs, integrated curriculum, or specialized activities.. Larger organizations may coordinate the Award across multiple programs or schools, ensuring that every young person has access to meaningful, skill-building experiences.
A single organization licensed to deliver the Award directly to youth.
Operates under a formal agreement and must have at least two trained Award Leaders.
Receives training, resources, and ongoing guidance to ensure program quality.
Integrated into school or community programming for direct participant engagement.
A larger organization that coordinates Award delivery across multiple sites or programs, often national or provincial in scope.
Holds a formal license to oversee multiple Award Centres under its umbrella.
Provided with centralized training, resources, and quality assurance tools.
Implements the Award via affiliated organizations or chapters.
Integrating the Award into formal education systems to support curriculum outcomes and experiential learning. Check out our Educators Page for more info.
Authorized through a formal agreement to embed the Award within educational programs.
Receives curriculum-aligned resources, training, and implementation support.
Embedded into courses or programs within schools, colleges, or universities.
An organization licensed to deliver and assess one or more sections of the Award (Service, Skills, Physical Recreation, Adventurous Journey and Gold Project.)
Approved to provide supervision and assessment for specific Award sections.
Given guidelines to ensure section delivery meets Award standards.
Offers high-quality activities through expert-led programs or services.
Support for Delivery Partners
Every licensed organization receives comprehensive training, tools and personalized support from Award Canada, including:
Access to the Online Record Book (ORB) – the digital platform where participants record goals and track progress.
Training for Award Leaders and Coordinators – including Level 1 and Level 2 certification.
Dedicated Account Manager – personalized support and guidance for implementation and program growth.
Resource Library and Playbooks – practical tools for recruitment, goal setting, reflection, and recognition.
As a high school teacher and long-time Award Leader, I see the Duke of Edinburgh programme as an incredible opportunity for personal development for young people that will help them be successful throughout their lives.
Dave - Award LeaderJoin a Community Making a Difference
Across Canada, hundreds of schools, youth organizations, and community groups use the Award to bring learning to life. By becoming a Delivery Partner, you’ll help young people discover their purpose, develop leadership, and unlock their potential, while enriching the programs you already offer.
Download our Deliver the Award provider pack for more detailed information, check out our Brochures for why you should Deliver the Award, and fill out this expression of interest form to start the conversation with our office.
Start the application here
