The impact of digital badges at KICK Start
KICK Start is a community-based organisation that has been operating for 15 years, offering a range of programs aimed at supporting youth development. The organisation runs two key youth groups: 'Roots,' which caters to 11-14-year-olds, and a group for older youth aged 16-25 with Education, Health, and Care Plans (EHCP). In addition to these groups, KICK Start offers kickboxing classes, mentoring, and mental health programmes in schools.
The adoption of digital badges at KICK Start was motivated by their involvement in the National Citizens Service (NCS) project. As part of the NCS contract, the organisation was required to run 180 sessions covering life skills, social skills, and employability. Upon completing specific tasks, the youth participants received badges. These badges were issued as part of the NCS scheme, along with volunteer and employability badges. Digital badges became an extension of this existing system, providing a modern and digital means to track and celebrate achievements.
KICK Start began using digital badges 18 months ago, integrating them into their youth programs and mentoring services. The platform used for issuing the badges is Navigatr, which allows KICK Start to track and award badges to participants as they complete various activities. The badges cover achievements such as completing life skills workshops, participating in kickboxing and volunteering. Each youth participant is encouraged to check their email and claim their badges, which they can then use to showcase their accomplishments.
Support from the Region of Learning Team
The Region of Learning team provided crucial support in the roll-out of digital badges within KICK Start’s programmes, the team helped to clarify how badges were earned, their value, and how they could be shared. This guidance helped make the system more accessible to both the participants and staff.
To ensure that employees and participants knew how to earn and use their badges, KICK Start integrated badge-related tasks into their weekly programs. Youth participants were made aware of the specific tasks that would earn them badges, and staff explained the significance of these awards.
Impact and benefits
The introduction of digital badges had a positive impact on the participants’ engagement with the programs. By completing tasks and earning badges, young people became more involved in community work, volunteering, and personal development. This process also strengthened the relationships between staff and participants, as it provided tangible milestones for both to celebrate.
In conclusion, KICK Start’s experience with digital badges has been a valuable learning journey. The integration of digital badges has helped improve engagement, foster skills development, and strengthen relationships within the organisation. The experience provides useful insights for other organisation’s considering the adoption of digital badges, particularly in community-based youth programs.
Testimonial:
Eve Richards, KICK Start Project Coordinator, said:
"Introducing digital badges at KICK Start has been a game-changer for our youth programs. Over the last 18 months, the integration of badges has provided a modern, engaging way to recognise the hard work and achievements of the young people we support. The digital badges, particularly through our involvement with the National Citizens Service (NCS), have helped our participants take ownership of their development, whether it’s through life skills workshops, volunteering, or kickboxing.
The support we received from the Region of Learning team was invaluable. They helped us make the process clearer for both staff and participants, ensuring that everyone understood how the badges worked and why they were important. This has significantly improved engagement and strengthened the relationships between our staff and youth.”
