The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards Scheme

Encouraging and assisting young people to develop their inter-personal team-working skills and leadership abilities is the best way to help them increase their personal self-confidence and to prepare them for entry into careers and vocations

RYLA is a professionally organised residential course, open to young people in their late teen-age years. It is based at a well-equipped centre in the Forest of Dene.

The 5-day course develops an individual's ability to be an effective member of a team, to lead that team in a project, and generally increae their self-confidence. it is also an opportunity to meet others from different backgrounds and personal circumstances.

Each year, Thornbury Rotary has regularly sponsored one or two local school-age young people to participate. Proceeds from the club's general fund-raising have been used to defray the costs, making it possible for members of less well-off families to participates.