Teen strikes gold on Rotary course

Calum Lill receives his award from John Pedley from the Rotary Club of Middleton.

A teenager from Norden has received a gold award after taking part in a week long Rotary Youth Leadership Award (RYLA) course.

Calum Lill, 16, took part in the course held in Petty Pool, Northwich, alongside 13 other students between 14 and 16 years-old from various Rotary Clubs.

Calum’s place on the course was sponsored by the Rotary Club of Middleton following a nomination from Haslingden High School where he is a student.

At the club’s meeting on Monday night (10 October) he was presented with an attendance certificate and to his surprise the RYLA gold award – awarded to the student who showed the most promising potential.

The course aims to give young people an opportunity to develop leadership skills. The students took part in a range of tasks designed to underline leadership and teamworking skills that great leaders display.

Calum, who was 15 when he took part in the course, thanked the Rotary Club for his sponsorship and said the lessons he learned from the course will stay with him throughout his life, in which he hopes to progress on into musical theatre.

The RYLA weeks are held each year in August and are open to students aged between 14 and 16 years old.

Middleton Rotary will be looking to sponsor another student next year. To find out more contact the club or visit: http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/sites/rotary-club-of-middleton