Norwich Union shine:awards

The Norwich Union shine:awards, which have been delivered to more than a million children across the UK are about to get even easier to use. Feedback from current users has led UK Athletics to change the format of the popular awards programme, which gives children the opportunity to try athletics through fun physical challenges, from a CD-ROM to a web-based resource. The site will be launched on 1 February 2008 - www.norwichunionshineawards.com

It will:

• Allow data to be entered away from the restrictions of the school network
• Provide downloadable activity cards
• Enable children to view their results from home
• Facilitate updates to the activities and events
• Ensure all data is collected – which will lead to an accurate reassessment of the performance tables
• Provide a comprehensive set of reports on a range of specific topics
• Allow all existing data to be uploaded from schools to the secure server
• Facilitate regular and accurate communication

We will also take the opportunity to update and develop some aspects of the scheme, such as revising the range of awards.

The shine:awards version of the Assistant Official will no longer be a route by which a young person can receive the UKA Level 4 award.  After a recent reorganisation of their awards structure, the UKA Officials Education committee are keen to ensure that all officials reach the required standard in terms of event knowledge and experience.

Currently there is potential to create a two-tier system, whereby a young person could go through a well delivered school or club-based officials course and have a different range of knowledge and skills from someone who has attended a course delivered by a UKA accredited tutor.  So in the interest of maintaining standards, the decision has been taken to only allow young people who have attended a course delivered by an accredited tutor to gain the full UKA Assistant Official award.