Residential Project
Aim:
To broaden experience through involvement with others in a residential setting.
Ethos:
The Residential Project gives participants a shared purposeful experience with
people who are not their usual companions, working towards a common goal. It
should be an experience that broadens the participant’s outlook and horizons
Benefits:
The specific benefits to the participant will obviously depend on the type of
residential experience chosen. Some general benefits include:
• Meeting new people
• Experiencing an unfamiliar environment
• Building new relationships
• Working as part of a team
• Accepting responsibility
• Developing communication skills
• Showing initiative
• Learning new skills or enhancing existing ones
• Enjoying living and working with others
Requirements:
This is only required at Gold level.Participants are required to undertake a shared purposeful activity, with people who are not their usual colleagues or friends, in an unfamiliar residential setting. The activity should take place over a period of at least four nights and five consecutive days. In exceptional circumstances, the commitment may be spread over two weekends.In these circumstances, the same activity must be pursued over both weekends and must take place within the same 12 month period. The Residential Project may be related to activities followed in other Sections of
the Award.
The Process:
Plan Initial planning with Award Leader to agree choice of Residential Project and Assessor
Do Complete the Residential Project, with interim review
Review Final review of experience Record Book is completed
Plan – Participants should discuss their area of interest with their Award Leader before choosing a Residential Project. It requires a significant personal investment of time, and sometimes money, and the participant should be encouraged to choose wisely from suitable opportunities. Participants should choose an activity that interests them, make the necessary enquiries and arrangements, and inform the organisation that they wish the experience to count towards their Gold Award. A suitable Assessor should be agreed with the Award Leader. This should usually be the course instructor, leader, or facilitator, who can assess the participant throughout the experience and complete the Record Book.
Do – Before starting the residential experience, participants should remind the
chosen Assessor that they are undertaking the activity as part of their Gold Award.
Review – Participants should have the opportunity to review their experience with
the Assessor at an interim point of the residential activity and at the end.
The participant should be assessed on:
• Personal standards (application, punctuality, and so on)
• Relationship with others on the activity
• Willingness to show initiative and take responsibility
• Development of skills throughout the activity
Once this review is completed, the Assessor should complete and sign the Record
Book, adding positive comments.
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RESIDENTIAL PROJECT
Examples
There are many different opportunities for completing a Residential Project. Some suitable categories and examples are listed below. It is worth re-emphasising that the activity must be purposeful – it is not a holiday!
• Personal training courses: residential language courses; leadership training; skills development; ecology study course; Award leadership course; youth camps; youth parliaments etc.
• Environment and conservation projects: environmental clean up; volunteer work with national parks; research on habitats and ecosystems; restoration of buildings
• Service to other people and communities: provision of facilities; construction projects; assisting as a leader at an annual camp for young people; working with overseas aid charity; working in a care home or hospital
• Activity based: outdoor adventure courses; sports coaching; sport skills
development; tall ships race etc. There are a huge range of organisations offering residential experiences.