Young Leaders Programme

The programme is for young people aged 16 – 25 who are seeking to develop themselves and their personal leadership skills. It is a life changing opportunity to take time out to reflect on their lives, identify their unique abilities, learn new skills, make new friends and gain an award.

We recognise that young people who face critical decisions on their future need to be both informed and to develop greater personal confidence and self-esteem so as to be able to make decisions from a strong, grounded perspective. This programme provides them with the space to evaluate their position with regard to life choices and decisions about their future and the confidence with which to make these decisions.

"I have watched these young people turn from troubled and aggressive into caring and considerate, a move which has astonished me, given the relatively short time we have worked with them on the programme."

Bob Bigland
Senior Support Worker, Young Devon
www.dya.org.uk

We provide a series of physical, mental and emotional challenges throughout the programme which enables the young people to develop greater self-awareness, identify their strengths and weaknesses, learn the value of team work and learn to build trust and confidence in others, enhance their communication skills, improve their life skills and take time out for self-reflection and consider their future.

Starting in June, the 7 month journey takes them on a 2 day teambuilding residential at Embercombe, then a week of sailing in the western isles of Scotland in the summer followed by a week on Dartmoor in the autumn concluding with 4 days of group and individual coaching & activities back at Embercombe.

During their time on the programme they will participate in team building games, a building or garden project at Embercombe, a conservation project on Dartmoor, a creative arts project, devised theatre and outdoor pursuits such as sailing a dutch sailing barge in Scotland, climbing, abseiling, caving, gorge walking and hiking on the moor.

We currently run 3 programmes a year. We are working on 2 of the programmes with year 11 students from 2 local schools, Teign and South Dartmoor Community College, and the third is with a local charity, Young Devon, which supports young homeless people in the Devon area.