The Bridge Award

The service section of the Bridge Award allows young people to develop a sense of community by helping others or learning about organisations that serve the community.

Depending on the service chosen, young people may have to complete some training. This can range from a simple briefing session through to a specialised training course.

Young people can choose to do either a:

• community service visit
• community service activity.

Requirements for the service section

• Choose a service that reflects individual interests, talents and capabilities.
• Choose something that provides an appropriate level of challenge and encourages personal development.
• Discuss activity ideas with a Duke of Ed Leader before commencing.
• Make sure your service activity is unpaid.

Community service visit

Learn about a community service by either visiting an organisation or inviting someone from that service to talk to a group of people about what they do. Examples of services include:

• police station
• fire brigade
• ambulance service
• animal shelter
• volunteer based organisation
• youth and community support agencies.

Level 1: Spend at least 5 hours in total visiting (or listening to a talk by) at least 3 community service facilities.

Level 2: Spend at least 10 hours studying and developing an interest in 1 community service activity.

Community service activity

Complete a practical community service activity, for example at a:

• library, museum or art gallery
• park, garden or environmental volunteer service
• local sporting club or facility
• Surf Life Saving Association.

Level 1: Spend at least 5 hours on the chosen activity.

Level 2: Spend at least 10 hours on the chosen activity.

The skills section of the Bridge Award encourages young people to develop practical skills in an area of interest.

It could be:

• artistic
• academic
• technical
• another area of interest.

Young people may:

• continue to develop skills and knowledge in an activity they already do
• study a new topic of personal interest
• complete a specific project, such as making a piece of furniture.

Activities should not be a sport or physical activity. Ideas include:

• academic—biology, history, astronomy, extension classes
• communication—braille, debating, foreign language, journalism, sign language
• creative arts—art appreciation, creative writing, drawing, film production, painting, photography, pottery
• design—fashion, jewellery design, web design
• music and performing arts—acting, playing a musical instrument, singing
• practical—computing skills, cooking, gardening, sewing, keeping pets
• other hobbies—astrology, fishing, juggling, meditation, puppetry, stamp collecting.

The physical recreation section of the Bridge Award encourages young people to participate in physical activity and improve physical performance. This may be in the form of individual or team activities. Examples include:

• ball sports and team sports—basketball, football, hockey, netball, rugby, volleyball, water polo
• movement and dance—aerobics, circus sports, dancing, gymnastics, martial arts, yoga
• outdoors and adventure—hiking, orienteering, surfing, skiing
• racquet games—badminton, squash, tennis
• other—athletics, archery, bowling, cycling, equestrian, skateboarding, swimming, walking.

The adventurous journey section of the Bridge Award encourages young people to explore the outdoors, develop a sense of adventure, and learn about the environment. The requirements vary depending on which Bridge Level is being undertaken.

Level 1

Prepare for and plan activities for a minimum of 4 hours over 1 day through a local area.

The journey should be supervised, within 1 hour travel time from the young person's home or Duke of Ed Centre and include a meal break. The journey should have a clear purpose and the young person should be involved in the planning.

Examples of Adventurous Journey activities include:

• navigating a course to a facility such as an indoor climbing gym
• exploring a city, town or historical site
• planning and taking a journey by public transport to another city or town.

Level 2

Prepare and take part in a supervised journey through an unfamiliar area. This is usually beyond 1 hour travel time from the young person's home or Duke of Ed Centre. The journey should include a minimum of 4 hours of activities per day for at least 2 days. It may include 1 night away from home but does not require an overnight stay.

The journey may involve:

• a youth hostel visit
• motorised travel (e.g. bus or train) with a self-directed component
• camping
• an expedition (e.g. walking, cycling, canoeing, sailing or horse riding)
• an exploration (e.g. visiting a historic town, museum or cultural site).

Each young person selects their own activities and personal goals based on their interests and aspirations. Participants may be recognised for extra-curricular activities they are already doing in their own time or choose new activities that interest them. Duke of Ed Leader, instructors, and assessors can provide guidance when selecting activities and setting goals.

Depending on age and experience, they can either start at Bridge Level 1 and work their way through to Bridge L​evel 2 with the goal of transitioning into the Duke of Ed, or begin directly in Bridge Level 2.