Young Cumbria brought together 17 budding young leaders aged 15-18 from across the county to join an exciting Young Leaders Training Course.

The group, from a number of youth clubs across the county, spent three days at Young Cumbria’s residential centre; Isthmus Cottage on the shore of Derwentwater, exploring what it means to be a Young Leader.

During the residential they also became the first young people in the North West to complete the new nationally recognised Clubs for Young People Level 2 Developing Leadership Skills course. This continues to builds on Young Cumbria’s 75 year history, being celebrated this year, of working with and developing young leaders.

Skills that the young people have now developed include:

• Identifying leadership qualities
• Experiencing teamwork and leadership
• Creating a positive learning environment
• Demonstrating the ability to;
  • Communicate
  • Cooperate
  • Discuss
  • Give feedback

Rachel Smit h, from Clubs for Young People, said ‘

‘The whole submission is evidence of well structured and excellent practice. Students clearly understand leadership concepts and this is evidenced through individual log books.’

Following the training they have returned to their local youth clubs enthused to give hours of their time volunteering.

One young person who has done this is James Krukowski, who has begun volunteering in the Penrith area. The youth worker for the projects said ‘James has bought his enthusiasm from the training to the youth group and is being a great help!’

In the future, we are planning to continue and grow this work, by hold this training course again, also opening it to other young people and youth clubs/projects across the county.