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 New Brookhouse Club on 15 October 2009 when they described their experiences to their Rotarian host. Please click here for a full report

PICTURED : Wakefield's 2009 RYLA girls: (from left) Vikki Lang and Beth Evans

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.

At the special meeting at the Chasley Hotel they explained the mental and physical challenges they had to deal with on the outdoor course at Hebden Bridge, backing up their presentation with a Powerpoint presentation.

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/

On the 29th October 2009 the club received a report from an attendee at an International RYLA course. Please click here to see more details.

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.