Students taking lead thanks to Middleton Rotary

Asliegh Holt being presented with her RYLA certificate by Middelton Rotary President Jeff Lawton

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Two young leaders of the future spoke to Middleton Rotary Club members, after being sponsored by the club to attend a course.

Laura Doherty, 16, from Haslingden High School and Ashleigh Holt, 15, from St Cuthberts attended a five-day residential leadership course in August.

The Rotary Youth Leadership Course (RYLA) is designed to help develop leadership potential displayed by those selected, and was run at The Petty Pool Trust Outdoor Centre in Northwich.

Laura told the Middleton Club that the seven students on the course had all been nervous before it started, but quickly came to enjoy the week.

“With a few icebreaker sessions the barriers came down,” she said. “Before long we were all getting along really well.”

Ashleigh explained that the course will help her a lot for the future, and she had also gained six really good friends during the week.

Those who attended the course were set various tasks and projects with a focus on leadership qualities, which it is hoped will be of benefit to them in their future careers.

Activities included kayaking, zip-wire, ‘the leap of faith’, camping in tepees, and a river clearance ecology project.

Middleton Rotarian and RYLA coordinator, Keith Trinnaman, explained that it was the fourth year that Middleton Rotary Club had sponsored students to attend.

He said: “Each course the students appear to gain so much confidence and develop more skills that there is no doubt their potential will be realised to guide them to far greater things for the future.”

The project is just one of many that Middleton Rotary Club promotes in order to engage more with the young people in the district.