Part of the “International Agreements” enshrined within the IAA MoU. The Operational Principles are that:
Participants must be between 14 and 24 years of age
 The basic structure of the Award consists of the four mandatory sections: Voluntary Service, Adventurous Journey, Skills and Physical Recreation
 The three levels of Award are: Bronze (for those over the age of 14), Silver (for those over the age of 15) and Gold (for those over the age of 16)
 The minimum period of participation for direct entrants to qualify for an Award is six months for a Bronze, 12 months for a Silver and 18 months for a Gold
 At Gold level participants undertake a Gold Residential Project away from home