The Skills section provides the opportunity for a participant to either improve on an existing skill, or to try something new. As with other sections, a level of commitment over time to progress in a skill leads to a sense of achievement and well-being, as well as possibly leading to improved employability in line with the Award’s impact measures.

To encourage the development of personal interests and practical skills

Participants should choose an activity which they find interesting and will be able to follow over a sustained period of time.

The time requirements for this section are the same as the Physical Recreation and Service sections. Bronze participants and direct entrants at Silver or Gold level will have to devote some extra time to one section, and they may choose to make up this time in the Skills section.

• Bronze - at least 3 months
• Silver -at least 6 months
• Gold - at least 12 months

The list of possible activities is almost unlimited but participants should be careful not to pick activities that are considered, in Award terms, to be a Physical Recreation or a Service section activity. Examples of Skills are below.

Music

• Playing an instrument
• Learning musical theory
• Singing
• Music event management

Sports related

• Sports officiating
• Umpiring and refereeing
• Sports equipment maintenance
• Sports ground maintenance

Arts and crafts

• Ceramics
• Clay modelling
• Embroidery
• Dressmaking
• Glass painting
• Jewellery making
• Calligraphy
• Drawing
• History of art
• Painting
• Photography
• Sculpture
• Graphic design

Nature and the environment

• Agriculture
• Aquarium keeping
• Astronomy
• Bee keeping
• Bird watching
• Conservation
• Dog training and handling
• Fishing
• Forestry
• Gardening
• Horticulture
• Horse care and handling
• Meteorology

Communication

• Film and video making
• Film studies
• Sign language
• Braille
  
• Foreign languages
  
• Newsletter and magazine production
  
• Reading
  
• Writing
  
• Presentation skills
  
• Public speaking and debating
  
• Digital media
  
• Journalism
  
• Information technology
  
• Website development

Games

• Billiards, snooker or pool
• Card games
• Chess
• Draughts
• Darts
• Backgammon
• Other table games

Life skills

• Business management
• Financial literacy
• Entrepreneurship
• Health awareness

Technical and vocational skills

• Accounting
• Hairdressing
• Vehicle maintenance
• Engineering
• Fashion
• Furniture making
• Furniture restoration
• Metal work
• Tailoring
• Carpentry
• Cookery

Performance skills

• Drama and theatre skill
• Circus skills
• Puppetry