Oxfordshire Youth parties with its first Young Leaders since the pandemic

A very special celebration took place this month with the first participants to complete Oxfordshire Youth’s Young Leaders course since it was put on pause by COVID-19. Ten young people were joined by our staff and their friends and family for a party at Oxford Works to honour this huge achievement and present them with their certificates.

Every one of them has put in a lot of hard work to get to this point and receipt of the prize – a  Level 2 Award in Leadership and Team Skills, accredited by the Institute of Leadership & Management. They now have a nationally recognised qualification, highly regarded by employers, colleges and universities. 

The group was formed on a Friday evening back in October 2022 at an introductory session to learn more about the course and get to know one another. Within a week they were bunking down together for a residential at Scout Adventures Youlbury, just outside Oxford city. ‘It was so good meeting new people and learning how to work with them and build a team with them in just a few days’, said Leo Royall.

The weekend was crammed with team activities and workshops on leadership, interspersed with bursts of intense physical activity that had everyone wall climbing, catapult building and scavenger hunting. Every second of the two days was designed to develop teamwork skills and provide opportunities to practice being a leader. Zak Luker felt that, ‘Being able to be a part of the group was great. We all clicked straight away and I had a great experience with everyone over the weekend’.

This is the first residential Oxfordshire Youth has run for the young leaders programme since the pandemic and Hayley Reynolds our Youth Work Training Manager was thrilled, ‘It was fantastic to see young people coming together and sharing this experience in person. After the residential we all met up again for a study session to complete log books and I am so happy that all of them have now got their qualification and that it will lead them onto new challenges’. Maddie McKnight gave a great example of where the course can help young people, ‘I want to join the police force and the things I’ve learnt will definitely help me if I get in. I feel like I’ll be a better leader now I’ve done it – thanks to Hayley obviously!’.

The Oxfordshire Youth Young Leaders Programme is a bespoke leadership programme, the first of its kind, and welcomes young people aged 14 – 21 years old. To find out more or take part in the next Young Leaders programme, please contact hayley.reynolds@oxfordshireyouth.org