Young Leaders Award Scheme: Kaydian’s Story

Kaydian is 14 and a Young Carer, she completed the Young Leaders Award with Action4Youth in 2018 after being nominated by her youth group. She felt unsure initially about taking part in the course but she knew she wanted to become a youth leader and run her own group, so decided to give it a go.

“I was a bit scared about meeting new people from different clubs and I worried that I wouldn’t get along with anyone. But I found I had things in common with some people and had a good time.”

Kaydian

The Young Leaders Award gives young people the opportunity to learn important skills needed to run a youth group, including First Aid, Kaydian says: “I learnt a lot of skills on the programme. Things like if someone collapses, to check if they’re breathing and to put them in the recovery position, and make sure you tell someone to call the ambulance. Also, if someone was upset and angry and there was a row I would take them aside to somewhere quiet and find out what was happening and get both sides of the story. I would make a note and then report to my leader.”

The course also offers young people the opportunity to learn how to work together with new people through teambuilding activities and outdoor education: “I really enjoyed the canoeing and having fun shaking the boat. But the best bit was when we got attacked by geese, it made us laugh and scream but we looked after each other. I really like the trust games. Holding hands and looking into each other’s eyes…It was really like getting to know somebody. I haven’t done anything like that before and would definitely use it as a game for the juniors at my club. It breaks the ice and makes everyone smile and laugh.”

Overall, Kaydian would recommend the Young Leaders Award to others as it helps develop social and interpersonal skills as well as leadership skills, she explains: “I used to start arguments with people easily but now I can talk with people and it doesn’t end up in a row. I find it easier to tell people what I want and what I need.

“I liked the programme because it showed me it’s okay at times to give orders, but also that I can change what I say to give direction and help encourage others instead of just telling them what to do. I learned this in the teamwork games and the classes that helped everyone to work things through.”

The Young Leaders Award offers a sound grounding to young people who need a boost in self-confidence and life-skills, Kaydian believes the course has helped help her future prospects; “I’m in Year 9 and I want to go to 6th form college. I want to be a social worker and I think I need to get a degree. Doing young leaders will help me get into college because I can tell them what I did and all about the young leaders. I think it’ll help me cope with college when meeting new people.”