RYLA – Rotary Young Leaders Award

The Rotary Youth Leader Award (RYLA) is one of our youth development programme activities.

The aim of RYLA is to give young people an opportunity to discover their potential and develop their confidence and skills in a safe, supportive environment through indoor & outdoor teamwork activities. https://www.rotary.org/en/our-programs/rotary-youth-leadership-awards

Each year, we work closely with 4 local Secondary Schools who nominate students who they feel will really benefit. Dependent on available funding, we sponsor one or two Year 11 students for a place on the week-long RYLA residential course in the Brecon Beacons.

The selected activities on the course are all based on elements of problem solving, communication, organisation, delegation and teamwork etc. Although the tasks are largely centred on outdoor activities which add a physical dimension to the challenges, it cannot be stressed enough that this is not an activity holiday!

RYLA is a rare opportunity for participants to experience and learn things about themselves and about working in a team but more importantly about leading and looking after other people.

CHALLENGING AND EXCITING!

Young people are challenged during the course, they get very be tired, they feel that they are sometimes being pushed to their limits AND they enjoy it.

Being a leader is not just about being confident enough to speak out and knowing what to say, it is knowing when to listen to others and understand. RYLA teaches this, and other soft skills, to help everyone to be the best they can be.

TRANSFORMATIVE

Year after year we are privileged to witness the huge change that a RYLA week can make.

“Before I went to the Brecon Beacons the schedule of activities looked a bit scary and overwhelming. I was worried because I wouldn’t know anyone there. However, everyone running the course was very understanding and supportive and they were really good at helping me when I had a meltdown or two. I made new friends who I have stayed in touch with and met up with after we finished RYLA. I even went on a train by myself for the first time to meet up with them. When I arrived at the Storey Arms I felt scared however the people there were so nice I soon felt better. I particularly liked the night walk, caving, gorge walking. By the end of the course I had gained so much confidence, more self-belief. And lot of new skills”

(short snippet from a presentation made to Cirencester Rotary by a RYLA participant) 

Read this case study here

Would you like to know more or are you interested in sponsoring a young person? Please contact us here Contact