"U" Choose

The destination of the "U" Choose programme is the same as when young people use the traditional ASDAN log books for the Bronze/Silver Award.The journey, however, is quite different as the "U" Choose programme is designed for young people who need additional support, encouragement and motivation. So that the young people get a clear picture of what is expected of them, they use colourful target/score cards. Structured writing frames are used to help them collect appropriate evidence and build their portfolio. (The evidence collection sheets can be printed from the programme disc or loaded onto a PC and completed on screen).

The aim of "U" Choose is to gain 2000 points by completing a series of single/double challenges, worth 100 or 200 points respectively. 1500 points are then awarded for challenge completion. Young people also need to complete three ActionPlan/Reviews, for 100 points each, a Summary of Achievement for a further 100 points, and finally to organise their folders to complete the 2000 points. As long as a minimum of 60 hours work has been completed, folders are then moderated and submitted for the ASDAN Bronze Award. Moderation is in accordance with ASDAN procedures and certificates are dispatched directly from them.

The "U" Choose programme is very flexible, providing a good framework for inter-agency work. It can easily be customised to suit the needs of particular young people, or a particular client group. Working closely with the National Children’s Bureau, we have recently updated it to bring it into line with the “Every Child Matters” agenda. "U" Choose is suitable for use by Teachers, Learning Mentors, Residential Workers, Behaviour Support personnel, Youth Offending Team workers, Youth Workers etc.

The "U" Choose programme is centred on the young person who is encouraged to choose their own challenges and set their own targets. Their portfolio can be centred on their own needs and interests. Work is structured around our user-friendly writing frames which have been designed to build a sense of achievement. More than 60 hours of work is needed for the full ASDAN Bronze Award, but there is provision for an ASDAN Interim Award at the half-way stage, which might better meet the needs of agencies offering shorter intervention programmes.

Young people can use the Bronze Award to progress onto other awards, i.e. the award can be used as 6 credits towards the ASDAN CoPE Award.  Challenges can also be double accredited for awards validated by various other Awarding Bodies. Please look at the Awards Network website for further details of awards that are suitable for informal educational settings e.g. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Award, Sports Leaders Award, etc.