Leading the Awards Network

The Awards Network in Scotland is a network of amazing things! For more than 15 years the network has brought together a collective of youth awards providers. These non-curricular learning programmes are designed to make learning more flexible, meaningful and experiential for young people in Scotland.

Tila McDonald took up the role of leading this network in August 2023. The role involves facilitating and supporting network meetings, and promoting the fantastic work and achievements which go on throughout the year.

Interest in the network is growing in response to education reforms and the natural change where more people realise that formal learning is just one of the ways we can all engage in learning and development. In 2022 to 2023 over 133 thousand youth awards were distributed in Scotland which is almost double the number of National 5 Certificates awarded in the same year.

The added value from youth awards is their focus on experiential learning where young people are encouraged to get out of the classroom and beyond the school gates. They discover real-world opportunities and get immersed in solving real challenges which can make a difference to the individuals, their friends and families, their communities, the natural world as well as local and global businesses.

Tila commented:

"I'm delighted to play a part in supporting the Awards Network at such a pivotal moment in reforming education in Scotland."

A key part of the work is supporting the ongoing Profling Achievement work led by Skills Development Scotland. This work seeks to develop profiling tools that give young people more agency and easy access to their skills and achievements. It is important that these include valuable learning which occurs in young people's lives and removes the pressures caused by the overemphasis on exams.

Below is a promotion video to tell you more about the Awards Network in Scotland.