You can start the Gold award at 16 years of age and you have until you are 25 to complete it.  We do try and get the award finished in the 2 years that you are with us, but many frequently finish off one or more of the sections after they have left.

There are minimum timescales to complete each of the sections are:

• Volunteering section: 12 months

• Physical and Skills sections: One section for 12 months and the other for 6 months

• Expedition section: 4 days/3 nights

• Residential section: A shared activity in a residential setting for 5 days and 4 nights.

If you are undertaking Direct Gold (that is you haven't completed your Silver award) you must undertake a further 6 months in either the Volunteering or the longer of the Physical or Skills sections.

These though, are minimum timescales and also, you don’t have to do them all at once.  A typical scenario is that you try to complete the expedition, residential and one other section in your first year with us and the other sections in your second year, or even after you have left the college.  It all depends on you and your personal circumstances.