Rotary Youth Leadership Award
Students are selected and sponsored each year by the city's two Rotary clubs - Wakefield and Wakefield Chantry - to take part in the tough course at Hebden Bridge during the summer. They faced another challenge at the Chasley Hotel on 27 September 2007 when they described their experiences to their Rotarian host
PICTURED : Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) students Jack Rollinson, Jenny Harrop, Katie Jones, Claire Kay and Claire Lockwood with (from left) Wakefield Rotary Club Youth Opportunities chair Sue Parkin, Ken MacDonald of Wakefield Chantry Rotary Club and their two presidents, Richard Jones (Chantry) and Peter Gallivan.
The annual course in the rugged countryside at Hardcastle Crags is designed to put youngsters who display leadership qualities through their paces with a series of mental and physical challenges. This year's students have topped their efforts by pledging to raise cash for the Laura Crane Trust. The ball was set rolling at the Chasley Hotel presentation with a raffle which made £130, boosted to £200 by a further donation by the Wakefield club.
The five teenagers who took part in 2007 were Jenny Harrop, from Durkar, and Claire Kay, from Royston (Kettlethorpe High School), Katie Jones, from Pontefract (Wakefield Girls High School), Claire Lockwood, from Stanley (Outwood Grange College) and Jack Rollinson, from Thornes (Thomas a Becket).
With the help of a Powerpoint presentation, they described what they had been through from the first interviews to completion of the course, which they said was run in an ‘active, fun and friendly atmosphere'. Benefits included improvements in their communications and listening skills, confidence, commitment and their ability to contribute as a member of a team.
Rotarians from Wakefield regularly attend the courses to provide hands-on help as leaders and mentors.
This is a link to the West & North Yorkshire RYLA site where their is lots of information and many photographs: http://www.ryla.org/
WHAT IS RYLA?
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards is Rotary's investment in the leaders of tomorrow.
Across the Rotary Districts in Great Britain and Ireland , RYLA courses are an intensive training programme in leadership development and teamwork for young people aged between 14 and 30 - though age ranges differ according to the specific RYLA course being offered by a particular Rotary Club or District.
Talented young people are invited by Rotary Clubs to attend a RYLA course which can be a seminar, camp or workshop of three to ten days in length. Most courses are a blend of physical activity and cerebral activity producing a unique experience and learning environment.
In West and North Yorkshire students are aged 16 - 18 and the training takes the form of a six day residential course.
The RYLA programme enables young people to debate issues of professional responsibility, improve leadership and communication skills, learn about businesses, institutions, and meet Rotarians while having fun making friends.
For young adults, RYLA provides the opportunity to refine skills and explore pertinent topics with their peers and elders.
It is not uncommon to hear a young RYLA awardee describe his or her RYLA as "The best week of my life!". Another said "I went to RYLA as a boy and came back as a confident young man!".
For Rotarians, RYLA offers the chance to help develop leaders, share valuable expertise and bridge the gap between generations.
The link below takes you to the Rotary RYLA site for Great Britain and Ireland
http://www.rotary-ribi.org/districts/committee.asp?DistrictNo=1250&DistCtteeID=277
