JAI: Supporting Young People
The Award in Northern Ireland and providing choice to young people
The Award is available to young people in Northern Ireland from all backgrounds. The Joint Award initiative (JAI) was established in 1999 following the Good Friday Agreement and through the JAI, The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award and Gaisce: The President’s Award work in partnership to offer Award participants in NI a choice of recognition for their achievements.
14-24 year olds can do the Award programme at one of three progressive levels which, when successfully completed, leads to a Bronze, Silver or Gold Award and with the JAI, participants in Northern Ireland can choose their choice of certificate: DofE, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award or Gaisce: The President’s Award.
Everyone follows the same programme, but participants choose which certificate is the best fit for them!
The vision of the JAI and DofE Charity is to make the Award accessible to all young people in Northern Ireland, regardless of their background and circumstances and as a result, they are offered a number of choices (not just what certificate they get!)
When a young person is enrolled onto the Award programme, they can choose which certificate and badge they would like to receive. They can change their mind throughout their Award journey by entering their choice on eDofE, notifying their leader or contacting the JAI Office.
Young people can choose from:
DofE Certificates and Badges – signed by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
Gaisce Certificates and Badges – signed by The President of Ireland
DofE International Award Certificates and Badges – signed by HRH The Duke of Edinburgh
When a young person is enrolled, they have the opportunity to choose which Welcome Pack they would like to receive.
Young people can choose from:
DofE English Language Welcome Pack
JAI English Language Welcome Pack
JAI Irish Language Welcome Pack
When recording progress for their Award, young people can directly use the online system eDofE or they can choose to give their information to their leader to input on eDofE on their behalf. If you have young people who choose Leader Recorded, contact your Operations Officer or the JAI office to obtain permissions on eDofE to do this on their behalf.
Young people who complete their Gold Award can choose to attend an event at one of the following locations:
Buckingham Palace, London
The Palace of Holyroodhouse, Edinburgh
Hillsborough Castle, Northern Ireland
Dublin Castle or Áras an Uachtaráin, Dublin
(only available for young people who choose a Gaisce: The President’s Award Certificate)
