ASDAN is a British charity organisation with awarding body status, founded in Bristol

Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West England, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,070,000 residents in 2007...

. It provides education

Education

Education in its broadest, general sense is the means through which the aims and habits of a group of people lives on from one generation to the next. Generally, it occurs through any experience that has a formative effect on the way one thinks, feels, or acts...

al opportunities for young people, helping learners to develop their personal and social attributes through its award programmes and qualifications.

Managed by teachers, lecturers and training providers, ASDAN's courses are delivered by more than 6000 school

School

A school is an institution designed for the teaching of students under the direction of teachers. Most countries have systems of formal education, which is commonly compulsory. In these systems, students progress through a series of schools...

s, college

College

A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...

s, training providers and youth centres. As well as supervising the moderation and verification of its courses, ASDAN is for disabled people publishes more than 100 publication titles, and develops new qualifications based on the needs of the profession.

The stated purpose of the charity is:

"The advancement of education, by providing opportunities for all learners to develop their personal and social attributes and levels of achievement through ASDAN awards and resources, and the relief of poverty

Poverty

Poverty is the lack of a certain amount of material possessions or money. Absolute poverty or destitution is inability to afford basic human needs, which commonly includes clean and fresh water, nutrition, health care, education, clothing and shelter. About 1.7 billion people are estimated to live...

, where poverty inhibits such opportunities for learners."

The charity has a relief of poverty fund to help students access its qualifications.

ASDAN award programmes and qualifications accredit skills for learning, skills for employment and skills for life, focusing on personal skills development, PSHE

Personal, Social and Health Education

Personal, social, health and economic education has in various forms been part of the national curriculum for schools in England since 2000. Some aspects, but not all, have been compulsory...

, work-related learning, foundation learning, volunteering

Volunteering

Volunteering is generally considered an altruistic activity, intended to promote good or improve human quality of life, but people also volunteer for their own skill development, to meet others, to make contacts for possible employment, to have fun, and a variety of other reasons that could be...

 and special educational needs.