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Supporting Young People

Inevitably Covid-19 has had a major impact upon our ability to function at normal levels. We are, however, still functioning 🙂

The Youth Service committee works to help support young people in our local community by carrying out a programme of activities throughout the year.

This years programme is obviously subject to the Covid-19 situation but was planned to include:

Children Singing for Children Concerts


Children singing for children Concerts are normally in early November. This year’s concerts have been cancelled but schools have already expressed their hopes that it will run again in 2021/ It normally takes place over three nights, with up to 20 choirs from local primary schools singing songs from around the world. Each night about 180 children will sing and following individual performances by each school, they join together to form a massed choir for the finale. The children are watched by an audience of up to 500 people each night and the funds raised are donated to both Local and International  Children’s Charities. Because of the pandemic these did not run in November 2020. It remains unclear whether they will be possible later this year (2021)

Crocus Concerts

These are concerts organised specifically to raise money towards the Rotary “purple for polio” campaign to rid the world of polio.

They consist of local secondary schools choirs and again tend to attract big audiences – but sadly the most recent ones had to be cancelled because of the pandemic.

Young Musician Competition

Young Musician

Young Musician of the Year heats are normally held in January and the final in March. For over 20 years our club has organized this competition and it has become one of the highlights of the local music scene. It gives much pleasure and satisfaction to see young people progress from the junior to the senior sections as the professionalism of their playing abilities increases. Many of our winners have gone on to a professional career in Music. Some 120 young musicians enter the competition each year which has 20 categories. In addition to the Young Musician and Junior Young Musician of the year awards there are 21 other trophies awarded. This event receives substantial sponsorship from Banbury Charities.

Young Chef Competition

Rotary Young Chef of the Year – heats from November to March, final in April. The Rotary Young Chef competition was created to give young people the chance: to show off their creative culinary talents; to promote healthy eating; and learn important life skills. The competition is open to students from 11 to 18 years of age. Up to 8 local secondary schools participate before the regional heats and national final in London. This competition is organized in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Banbury Cherwell.

Rotary Youth Leadership Award

The Rotary Youth Leadership Award (R Y L A) selection process runs from Jan to May, course in July. This programme offers young people at the start of their careers or in further education a special opportunity to take part in developing qualities of leadership, team working, initiative and problem solving . Male or female candidates must be of at least average fitness, have already demonstrated leadership potential and be between 18 – 25 years of age on the 1st July. All Candidates are interviewed locally by Rotarians to assess their suitability. The successful candidate will attend an induction day and the week long programme itself in Snowdonia National Park. The successful candidate is asked to give via a short talk and presentation at one of our weekly meetings.

Youth Cricket

The club is hoping to work with other local organisations to run some youth cricket activities.

Again this now seems dependent upon the Covid-19 situation.

Young Photographer

This has been introduced this year in liaison with local schools and clubs on the basis it is an activity that can satisfactorily be carried out even in lockdown. In fact we know some schools have utilised it as a lockdown project 🙂

Finalists may go through to regional and national finals

Banbury wins Thames Valley Final – 24 Feb 2024

Crocus and Snowdrops in People’s Park – March 2024

Speaker Report – Children’s Concerts 2024

Young Musician Results – 19-20 Jan 2024

Young Chef Results – 16 Jan 2024

Young Chef – 16 Jan 2024

Young Musician – 19-20 January

Young Photographer – smartphones?

Young Chef Local Heats – 16 Jan 2024

Alan’s Africa Report – Dec 2023

Young Photographer – March 2024

Young Musician entry closing date – 26 Nov 2023