Youth Activities 2026
In this section you will find guidance on the various youth activities happening around the District.
RYLA 2025 is fully booked and the National results of the 2025 Youth Competitions are now available on the RGB&I website.
Youth Activities in Rotary North East 2025-26
Youth Competitions
Please note that entries for the 2025 Youth Competitions are now closed. Look out for details of the 2026 competitions which will be published here as soon as they are released by RGB&I.
Here are the 2025 results:
9 Clubs submitted entries this year and 8 of these (Hexham. Alnwick, Morpeth, Chester-le-Street, Cleveland, Blyth, Middlesbrough Erimus and Newcastle Gosforth) had winners at Distict level:
District 1030 Results of Rotary Young Writer Competition 2025
|
Junior (up to 10) |
|||||||
|
WINNER |
J1 |
Wonderful Water |
Hexham |
Jennie Williamson |
Prose |
10 |
Corbridge Middle School |
|
Intermediate (11-13) |
|||||||
|
WINNER |
I1 |
Wonderful Water |
Hexham |
Florence Broadfoot |
Prose |
12 |
Corbridge Middle School |
|
Senior (14 - 17) |
|||||||
|
WINNER |
S1 |
A Mermaid's Tale |
Alnwick |
Katherine Rose Deacon |
Prose |
14 |
Duchess |
District 1030 Results of Rotary Young Artist Competition 2025
|
Junior (up to 10) |
|||||||
|
WINNER |
Tap flowing with words |
Morpeth |
Angharad Gunn |
Coloured Pencil |
9 |
Chantry School |
|
|
Intermediate (11-13) |
|
||||||
|
WINNER |
Jellyfish |
Chester-le-Street |
Lucy Swift |
Coloured Pencil |
13 |
Park View |
|
|
Senior (14 - 17) |
|||||||
|
WINNER |
Narcissus |
Cleveland |
Layla Brunetti |
Collage |
16 |
Direct Entry |
|
District 1030 Results of Young Photographer Competition 2025
|
Junior (up to 10) |
|||||
|
WINNER |
Iced Mushrooms |
Blyth |
Archer Gaines |
6 |
New Delaval Primary School |
|
Intermediate Age Group (11-13) |
|
|
|||
|
WINNER |
Sister's Reflection |
Cleveland |
Emily Westgarth Graham |
12 |
The Kings Academy |
|
Senior Age Group (14-17) |
|||||
|
WINNER |
Sunrise Reflections |
Middlesbrough Erimus |
Beth Ayre |
16 |
The Kings Academy |
District 1030 Results of Young Chef Competition 2025
|
WINNER |
Newcastle Gosforth |
Elva Green |
12 |
Westfield School |
District 1030 Results of Young Musician Competition 2025
|
Instrumentalist WINNER |
Middlesbrough Erimus |
Kaiden Guan |
Piano |
10 |
Yarm School |
|
Vocalist WINNER |
Middlesbrough Erimus |
Lily Robinson |
Vocals |
14 |
The Kings Academy |
RYLA 2025
The 2025 RYLA courses will again take place at our purpose-built site alongside Hannahs Meadow and the Hury reservoir in August 2025. Entries for this year's camps are now closed.
What Is RYLA?
Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership development programme run by Rotary for young people. The RYLA programme will provide you with the opportunity to experience and learn things about yourself, about working in a team, but more importantly about leading and supervising other people. These are skills employers look for in the workplace.
What's Involved in RYLA?
The selected activities on the RYLA programme are all based on elements of problem solving, communication, organisation, delegation and teamwork. Whilst many of the activities take place outside, alongside The Pennine Way, it is not an outward bound course! We use a variety of activities to develop you as an individual, as a team member and as a leader of a team, in a safe and enjoyable environment. There is no assessment, and no pass or fail, on this course. There are no limits on your development and we aim to help you realise your potential.
The courses are open to young people who are between16 and 21 years old and take place at Wilderness Outdoor Education Centre, Low Birk Hatt Farm, Baldersdale, near Barnard Castle and alongside Hannah’s Meadow. This has been the centre for our District RYLA camps since 2023 and is a purpose-built outdoor activity centre ideally located for watersports and outdoor activities.
The first camp commences on Monday 4th August 2025 and the second on Monday 11th August 2025 with each week able to take up to 24 young people. There is a selection process run by local Rotary Clubs and this year's RYLA attendees have already been confirmed.
We hope to run the Technology Tournament in Spring next year, if resources permit. We are always looking for volunteers to help us to run this very popoular event. AG Terry Bolton has agreed to lead for the 2026 event.
Please visit the pages below to find out more about Rotakids, Interact, Rotaract, Youth Competitions, RYLA, and Rotary Youth Exchange (STEP and Long-term programmes).
Speakers available:
I am available to speak face-to-face (or on Zoom) to Clubs or Club Groups about Youth Competitions and RYLA.
Jean and Keith Best are happy to do Zoom presentations on the Peace Project they have developed. Please let me know if you would like Jean and Keith to do a presentation at your club meeting.
Peter Chandler - District Youth Services Chair
Contact Peter Chandler about this page:
Youth Activities 2026 pages:
Youth Competitions 2026
more Entries for the 2025 Youth Competitions are now closed and 2026 Competitions are not yet open for entries (8 pages below this)
Rotary Youth Exchange
more No incoming Youth Exchanges are expected to be organised by RGB&I this Rotary year, though we are pleased to report that our District supported two young people participating in a STEP (Short Term Exchange Programme) Youth Camp in 2024, and one in 2025.
RYLA 2025
more RYLA 2025 will take place in August 2025 (one camp 4th-8th and the alternative week 11th-15th) at the same site as last year, alongside Hannah's Meadow in Baldersdale, on the Cleveland Way. Up to 40 young people from across the District. (1 page below this)
Rotakids
more Rotakids in Rotary North East
District Youth Webinar Recording 2024
more This is a recording of our District Youth Webinar on Fri 10 May 2024.
Rotaract
more Our Rotaract Clubs are in Tyneside, Durham and Darlington.
Interact
more Our District now has eight active Interact Clubs, with more in the pipeline for chartering later.