NI Challenge Award Launched!
May 1, 2025The NI Challenge Award scout badges bring an innovative refocus on local culture and heritage, whilst encouraging young people to explore local museum collections and develop real-world skills through hands-on, interactive learning.
Along with our partners Scouts NI, NI Museums Council are excited to announce the launch of the NI Challenge Awards, which took place on Wednesday, 30 April 2025. These new challenge awards, featuring a badge for each section from Squirrels to Network, were officially launched at the historic HMS Caroline in Belfast, an accredited museum with NI Museums Council. The launch marked a new chapter for these historic badges, which were refreshed for a modern audience with a new syllabus and look.
Sponsored by NI Museums Council with funds from Department for Communities, an intrinsic element of these badges is to encourage young people to visit, volunteer, and learn at local museums across Northern Ireland. Ten accredited museums are offering activities for Scouts to complete as part of this redesigned badge programme, with further museums planning to join and develop new activities as time goes on. Whether it is via interacting with exhibitions, to gaining hands-on experience, the NI Challenge Awards provides young people with the chance to develop new skills, discover new interests, and connect with their local community. From Downpatrick, to Armagh, up to Ballymoney and Derry/Londonderry there are accredited local museums ready to welcome everybody!
Attending the launch of the new Scouts NI Challenge Badge, Communities Minister Gordon Lyons said: “This NI Challenge Award is a fantastic initiative that encourages young people to engage with and explore the incredible stories held within our local museums, enriching their education and fostering a greater appreciation of our cultural heritage. I am pleased to support this innovative collaboration with NI Museums Council which will spark curiosity, learning and a deeper connection to our shared history and community.”
Jonathan Gracey, Chief Executive of Scouts NI, who was also present, along with young Scouts and leaders, said:
“These updated badges highlight just how valuable it is for young people to connect with the past to shape their futures. Thanks to the support of the Northern Ireland Museums Council, we’re giving young people across Northern Ireland exciting new ways to explore local heritage-through fun, hands-on experiences that are both meaningful and educational.”
Benjamin (Cub from Londonderry) said,
“I’m really excited to earn my badge by visiting a local museum and learning new things. It’s a great way to get out there, have fun, and discover more about where we live. I can’t wait to start the challenge!”
We’re looking forward to this initiative having impact in communities across NI, and developing further!
Further details of the NI Challenge Award and museum activities can be found here.