Supporting Local Youth

The Rotary Club of Cranleigh has supported the young people of Cranleigh and involved them in many different activities over the years.

Each year, local schools are invited to enter the national Youth Speaks competition, in which three students speak on their chosen topic in front of an audience. The 2011 final will be held in Cranleigh School (see separate page). Other national Rotary competitions include Young Photographer, Young Musician, Young Chef and Young Writer.

The talents of young people are also tested in the 'End Polio Now' poster and painting competition.  The 2011 winners were Sophie Thornton-Wood and Lily Mitchell, both from Cranleigh Preparatory School (photo at right). The competition advertises Rotary’s campaign over the last 25 years to rid the world of polio: every £1 donated enables 5 children to be immunised against this crippling disease.

The Cranleigh Club has made a number of donations to young people who are raising funds to help with development projects in developing countries. It has also donated hundreds of illustrated disctionaries to students of local junior schools (see separate page).

Each year, two students are sponsored for the week-long Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA), a leadership training programme for teenagers (see separate page).

Rotarians have also helped youngsters with reading in local junior schools, taken part in “mock interviews” at Glebelands School to assist students with future job interviews, led a school chess club, donated funds to various sports clubs and sponsored a poetry prize at Glebelands School.