Chief Scout Gold Award

What Scouts Need to Do

The Chief Scout’s Gold Award is the highest award a young person can earn in the Scouts section. It recognises commitment, adventure, skills for life, and sticking with Scouts right through to the end of the programme.

Challenge Awards

A pre-requisite of anyone achieving their Gold award is having completed all 9 of the challenge badges. Below is a list of the Challenge badges and if you follow the link you'll fine directions on HOW to earn your badge.

World Challenge Award

Skills Challenge Award

• Skills Challenge Award

• Teamwork Challenge Award

• Team Leader Challenge Award

• Personal Challenge Award

• Outdoor Challenge Award

• Adventure Challenge Award

• Expedition Challenge Award

• Creative Challenge Award

Each award involves a mixture of learning, planning, teamwork, outdoor skills, and personal development. Leaders will support Scouts to complete these throughout their time in the section.

Earn at Least Six Activity Badges

Scouts choose any six Activity Badges that interest them — from Water Activities to Chef, Digital Citizen, Survival Skills, Craft, Athletics, and many more.

These badges show personal interests and skills beyond the core programme

Take Part in a Nights Away Experience

To complete the award, a Scout must take part in at least one nights‑away experience (camp, sleepover, expedition, or residential). Most Scouts will have done several by the time they reach the award.

Demonstrate the Scout Values

Throughout the programme, Scouts should show:

Integrity – being honest and doing the right thing
Respect – for others, themselves, and the environment
Care – helping others and looking after their community
Belief – exploring personal beliefs and respecting others
Co‑operation – working well with others

Leaders recognise this through everyday participation, teamwork, and behaviour.

Complete a Personal Reflection

Before awarding the badge, leaders will usually have a short reflection with the Scout about:

What they’ve learned
What they’re proud of
How they’ve grown
What they want to do next (Explorers, Young Leaders, etc.)

This helps them appreciate the journey they’ve taken.

FAQ's

How long does it take?

Most Scouts complete the Gold Award over 2–4 years, depending on when they join the section. It’s designed to be achieved by taking part regularly and trying new things — not by rushing.

What Happens When I Earn It?

You will receive the Chief Scout’s Gold Award badge and certificate at a District or County presentation event (varies by area). After this you can move on to Explorers with a strong foundation of skills and confidence

It’s a huge achievement and something to be proud of

Do I have to do it?

Absoloutley not, going for the Gold Award is a huge test of a Scouts ability. We would happily support any Scout that wanted to work towards this as it is something amazing to be able to say you have earned at such a young age. We will naturally, do some of the work as a group anyway as part of our normal Scouting activites, but we do not make it mandatory to aim for this.

Can I skip some of the criteria?

Nope, the whole point of undertaking this is to challenge and test yourself. We will 100% support any of our troop that decide to do this, but by working on your Gold Award you are making a promise to yourself to commit and push yourself to be the best you can be. We can't undervalue the sense of achievement you'll get from achieving your Gold award.

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