WHAT IS RYLA?

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) 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.

2010 Appliactions

2010 RYLA Appplication Forms now available.

The RYLA 2009 Course

Read full report and view photos on the 2009 RYLA Course.

About RYLA

RYLA stands for Rotary Youth Leadership Awards, which are gained by candidates who complete a one-week residential course held every July at Brimpts Farm, Dartmeet. The course comprises an intensive programme of outdoor activities and tasks aimed at team building skills, along with a series of projects and lectures from eminent, high achieving members of the South West community. Our objective is to inspire and develop the confidence and ability of our candidates, to teach them to become leaders in their communities and to plan for themselves interesting and useful lives.  The learning experience of how to run a meeting, save a life or organise their thoughts before speaking in public can be a life changing experience for many.

The 1290 course selects candidates from Cornwall, The Isles of Scilly, Plymouth and South West Devon. It is regarded within Rotary as probably the most progressive and successful course. The 44 candidates for the course held at Brimpts Farm are selected from young adults between the ages of 18 and 28.  They are selected by members of their local Rotary Clubs, who look for people who are keen and intelligent enough to take advantage of a very intensive and challenging programme and who are deserving of help in enhancing their personal development and leadership potential.  Candidates need to be reasonably articulate but do not need to be extrovert.

After interview, successful candidates will be sponsored, either by their local Rotary Club, their employer or, in some cases, by a combination of both.  Occasionally a candidate will sponsor him/her self.  The reputation of RYLA has spread in our community, and wider, and many of the more enlightened employers in the area recognise the excellent value of the course and the improved performance of the participants when they return to their companies.

The course is held every July, beginning and ending on a Saturday. In 2009 the course will run from 27th June to 4^th July. Accommodation at Brimpts is excellent and consists mainly of en-suite rooms for 4 people. 

The Chief Instructor is Jack Russell. His company, Personal Development Coaching, runs the course for Rotary.  His personnel are well qualified and there is great emphasis on safety. Rotary, Personal Development Coaching (www.pdcinspiration.com) and Brimpts Farm (www.brimptsfarm.co.uk) all carry large third party insurance cover.

There is car parking space at Brimpts Farm, however this is limited and subject to the vagaries of the summer weather!.  Any candidate who wishes to travel by public transport can be picked up from either Tavistock bus station or Plymouth railway station.  They would then be returned to either station on completion of the course.

After selection, candidates must agree to visit their sponsoring or parenting Rotary club as a guest before the course begins and to return afterwards to give a short talk about their experiences.  They will then be presented with their RYLA certificate.

The cost of the course this year is £590 per candidate. This price includes the cost of the final night dinner. Therefore, in effect, the cost of the course has been held once again to virtually the same as in previous years. Most Clubs already pay for their candidates' dinner. The inclusive cost makes it easier for the RYLA committee to administer and pay for such items.  Sponsoring Clubs and companies are requested to pay a deposit of £100 per candidate by the end of January 2009.

On completion of the course, candidates will return inspired with a degree of confidence and organisational ability that should change their lives.  Completion of a RYLA course is impressive on a CV and at job interviews but the self confidence and team leadership skills acquired on the course should speak for themselves.

For further information contact this years Chairman of RYLA District 1290, Peter Berry  peter@berryco.co.uk