Faith in Action Award

CYMFed National Catholic Award

Recognising, rewarding and celebrating the active faith and service of young people

About the Award

Faith | Service | Reflection

The Faith in Action Award encourages young people through recognising, rewarding and celebrating their active faith lived out through service and reflection. The Award helps them connect their life and faith in a tangible manner.

In journeying through the Award, young people should experience a deepening of their relationship with God and find themselves exploring that relationship. It is hoped that through their relationship and action, others will see God's love through them.

Vision

Overview

Faith is a gift from God. He invites all of us to deepen our relationship with Him. Through the Faith in Action Award, we aim to enable young people to respond to that invitation in active faith through service to others and reflection on that service.

Service and Reflection

What's Involved?

The Faith in Action Award rewards young people's active service to others in their local and wider community. Young people accrue credits of service and reflect on that service in the context of the teachings of the Catholic Church throughout their award journey.

Young People

Who's it For?

Young people aged 10-18 years old (Year 6 - 13) can take part in the Faith in Action Award through their school, parish or organisation. The Faith in Action Award is accessible to, and inclusive of, all young people, regardless of academic ability.

About CYMFed

CYMFed, the Catholic Youth Ministry Federation of England and Wales, seeks to help shape and support Catholic Youth Ministry in England and Wales.

The Federation is represented by the Catholic Dioceses of England and Wales, religious orders, organisations and movements. CYMFed is recognised and supported by the Catholic Bishops' Conference of England and Wales (CBCEW).

As an organisation, we recognise that it takes the whole Church to minister effectively to our young people. CYMFed seeks to help shape and support Youth Ministry through the Federation working together, providing encouragement and opportunity to deliver our shared vision for Youth Ministry and best practice for the benefit of young people across England and Wales.

The 4 Award Levels

There are four levels to the Faith in Action Award - from Pin through to Gold.

The progression of the Award reflects the spiritual and personal growth of the participants through acquiring more credits of service and showing a greater level of commitment and leadership.

Pin - Discovery

Pin - Discovery

At Pin Level, participants will begin a journey of discovering what it means for faith to be active. They will come to know more about how their faith and relationship with God has an outward and visible effect on them and those around them. This level is designed to be completed as a group / class at Year 6 age, instilling...

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Bronze - Service

Bronze - Service

Participants at Bronze Level take the initial steps in responding to their faith by serving. At this stage, participants will begin to gain a deeper understanding of how faith is interlinked with service. The Bronze Award encourages participants to become involved in their parish / school / wider community, helping them...

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Silver - Leadership

Silver - Leadership

The Silver Level encourages a maturity of faith which is expressed in terms of leadership and initiative. Participants recognise that serving others is a direct consequence of their faith and their desire to do God’s will. In addition to meeting the criteria required for the Bronze Award, participants should be making...

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Gold - Innovation

Gold - Innovation

The essence of the Gold Award is found in the participant’s desire to develop and establish new ideas in terms of outreach and missionary work on behalf of the Church community. Participants will be required to complete acts of service outside of existing parish / school structures, which demands a greater level of innovation....

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The Faith in Action Award encourages young people to actively develop their relationship with God, deepen their faith and put that faith into action.

How the Award is Run

The Awarding Authority, which is usually a diocese, is the link between CYMFed and those running the award at a local level, in participating organisations.

Award Leaders within participating organisations are responsible for the day-to-day running of the award and the interaction with participants.

Awarding Authority

The Awarding Authority is usually a diocese, be that a Youth Service or Education Department. Awarding Authorities enable the participation of schools and parishes and co-ordinate the award collectively at a local level.

Participating Organisations

Participating Organisations are schools and parishes running the award. Participating Organisations should register with their local Awarding Authority, who will offer help and advice on running the award.

Award Leader

Award Leaders are responsible for the day-to-day running of the Faith in Action Award in a school or parish. It is the Award Leaders who spend time and have a relationship with the young people taking part in the award. Award Leaders will support and guide young people in their service and coordinate the guided reflection points and completion of their final piece of work.