What is JAS?

The Join in Award Scheme, or JAS, is an entry-level self-guided award scheme to encourage, capture and celebrate personal achievement. Its freedom and flexibility to choose activities encourages a wide range of learning experiences. Use it to bring out the best in participants and start them on their awards journey. 

Who is it for?

Designed as a ‘first award’ for children and young people, JAS also works well with older pupils with support needs and with adults who have learning difficulties. The Join in Award Scheme can be used in schools, outdoor centres, home education, as well as residential, family and youth work settings. It just needs a Supporter/responsible adult to monitor and gauge completion. 

How does JAS work?

It has 3 Levels – White, Green, Gold – each with a different time commitment. Whichever level you choose, complete activities across 4 Sections: 

My Interests – a new hobby, interest or skill, or an existing one which can be developed further  

Get Active, Stay Active – regular involvement in a sport or physical activity  

Me & My World – a community or nature-basYou can find examples of activities for each Section within the JAS Participant Booklet and at the end of this FAQ page. 

Adventure – involvement in outdoor activity 

You can find examples of activities for each Section within the JAS Participant Booklet and at the end of this FAQ page. 

Sections can be worked on in a sequence, one at a time, or more than one at once. See what works best for you and your group. 

As a Section is completed, present a Section Certificate (page 29 of the Booklet). 

Once all 4 Sections are completed, present a White, Green or Gold JAS Certificate (and badge, optional).

You need a JAS Participant Booklet for each participant, for each Level. The participant (with help from a Teacher, Mentor, Club or Group Leader, Parent, Carer as is appropriate) uses this to help plan and record activity. There’s plenty of space to capture progress in creative ways and to reflect on learning and achievements.  

Is there a time limit?

There’s no set time limit for starting and completing the Join in Award Scheme. This can be at any time to suit participants, Supporters and settings.  Go at your own pace. 

There is clear guidance for the time participants should spend on each Section for each of the 3 coloured Levels: 

White 1-2 hours on each of the 4 Sections  

Green 4-6 hours on each of the 4 Sections  

Gold 8-12 hours on each of the 4 Sections 

Is JAS just for schools? Where is it used?

It’s for any setting. The change of name and simplified revision in 2024, from Junior Award Scheme for Schools/JASS to Join in Award Scheme/JAS, reflects this. JAS is used in education settings, outdoor centres, residential bases, youth clubs and uniformed youth organisations and at home. From local parks and school grounds to National Parks and remote landscapes, any location can have something to offer. 

Do participants need to do the same activities at the same time?  

In a classroom setting it may be easier to manage everyone doing the same activity at the same time. Or it might be suitable to split into smaller groups if there is a choice of activity. JAS is flexible – do what suits your situation and works best for you.  

What evidence do we need?  

The Join in Award Scheme is self-guided and self-managed – there is no requirement to submit evidence. What you record and collect for each Section is subjective, it’s what is suitable for each individual participant. 

JAS Participant Booklets have space to record and reference activity for each Section. For some this could be a drawing, for others it might be a more detailed record of what they have done and when. It could be a chart of different types of litter collected, glued-in examples of different leaves found on school grounds or a park walk... Some participants might want to do a PowerPoint presentation, capture sound recordings or make short videos to capture and share what they have done.  

How do we measure achievement? How do we sign off Sections? 

Because it is an individual award, a positive approach to participation should be encouraged but there’s no need to reach a specific level of achievement.  

Each Section is signed off by a Supporter (teacher, parent, carer, mentor, youth leader...). There’s no need to submit anything for approval. Be clear on participation time guidelines and use judgement to gauge when participants have met the requirements for each coloured Level. 

Mini Sectional Certificates, found towards the back of the JAS Participant Booklet, can be awarded for each completed Section. This means that participants don’t have to wait too long before gaining recognition for personal achievements.  

Is the Join in Award Scheme accredited? Is it on the SCQF? 

No, JAS is not an accredited award. This is because – as a simple, entry-level award scheme - it is set up with no need for external evidencing. 

As JAS does not have any outside accreditation or external quality assurance it is not suitable to be included on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework. It is possible to link JAS activity with other awards that are on the SCQF e.g. Youth Achievement or Hi-5 Award or similar. You are welcome to do this in-house to gain credit points and formalise achievement. 

How do we measure achievement? How do we sign off sections?

Because it is an individual award, a positive approach is expected but there’s no need to reach any particular level of achievement. 

Each section is signed off by a teacher or mentor. There’s no need to submit anything to JASS for approval. Mentors can be school teachers, youth group leaders, parents or carers. They should read the participation time guidelines and use their judgement to gauge when participants have met the requirements.

Mini sectional certificates, found in the back of the Participant Record Book, can be given for each completed section. This means that participants don’t have to wait too long before gaining recognition for their efforts.

How do we order? 

Order via the website. Just click on the Order button at the top right of the menu bar.  

Alternatively email admin@jasschools.org.uk with your order and we can organise it directly with you.  

JAS Participant Booklets, JAS Certificates and enamel badges are posted out together (so you will need to keep badges and certificates safe until needed), within 5 working days.  

What is the cost?

£5 per participant for each JAS Level. This includes JAS Participant Booklet and JAS Certificate (specify which coloured Level) as well as postage.  

An optional coloured badge costs £1 per participant if ordered at the same time (P&P applies otherwise). 

(Northern Ireland & International - please contact us before placing an order).  

Is there an online version?

We ran an eJASS version for a number of years. Due to technical issues and the way the platform interacts with newer technology this is no longer available to new customers.  

Is the old JASS version still available?  

While we have stock we are happy to fulfil orders of the old version of the booklet and certificates. Contact us directly to order these. Please note this is just while stocks last: as coloured certificates run out we will not be reprinting them. These are offered at £3 per participant. 

Can I see a sample booklet? 

Click on each link to see a sample JAS Participant Booklet and JAS Certificates. Please contact admin@jasschools.org.uk if a hard copy is required. 

Is there any information for parents?

Click here to see a two-page summary of information about the award. A copy of this is included in your delivery.

Who do we ask for more information?

Please contact our JAS team on admin@jasschools.org.uk if you have any more questions.

IDEAS, INSPIRATION, EXAMPLES

Where can we find ideas and inspiration for activities? 

Ask colleagues…explore ideas with pupils…

Try these links:

Creative STAR Learning | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here! | I'm a teacher, get me OUTSIDE here! (explore the Index)

LtL Scotland | Learning through Landscapes Scotland  

OWLS – Outdoor and Woodland Learning Scotland (owlscotland.org) 

Play Scotland, the national expert in Play 

Ideas & resources | John Muir Award 

Examples of activities for each JASS Section

Get Active, Stay Active

Walk to school, do the Daily Mile individually or as a group, step count, football/training sessions, lunchtime dance class, seated stretching exercises, yoga, swimming, weekly Parkrun.

My Interests

Baking, pet care, art & craft, music, research a topic of interest (e.g. dinosaurs, flags of the world, history of a football club, anything at all that grabs interest).

Adventure

A school camp, team treasure hunt in the park or school grounds, a walk, orienteering, canoeing, geocaching, using Mission:Explore activities.

Me and My World

Visit an old folk’s home, organise and drop off a collection to a food bank, a school nature project, a litter pick in the playground, visit a local place of interest and find out about it, make contact with past school pupils and find out what school was like for them, find out about local emergency services.