Youth today tends to get a bad press, but there are many out there doing a lot of valuable voluntary work. What we want to do is to show our appreciation and support for the work they do, to recognise their value to the community we all live in.

The aim of our Lions Youth Award Competition is to give such recognition to young people who are taking an active role in helping their local community. Young people who by their actions help others who may not be able to help themselves.

This could take the form of

• Helping to run a youth group...
• Caring for younger children, maybe in a Family Centre...
• Assisting the elderly through gardening, shopping and other projects...
• Working in homes for the disabled, the handicapped or in hospices...

This only scratches the surface of what constitutes a worthwhile candidate.

So if you think you, or someone you know, may fit the profile, then get in touch - unsung heroes (and heroines) are OK, but a pat on the back never hurts!

The annual competition started some 25 years ago, and has gone from strength to strength ever since. It is sponsored by Reuters News Agency and by donations from Lions clubs all over Britain and Ireland.

The competition is run annually and starts at a local level in September/October with suitable candidates being interviewed by a panel of judges. A representative is selected to go forward to the Region heat in November.

From there the successful candidate will take part in the District Final in January, the winner then going on to the UK & Ireland Final held in Birmingham each February. Travelling, meals and hotel expenses are paid for by the Lions.

The District winner gets £500 to spend on projects or charities of their choice. The Multi-District winner receives a further £1,000 for their nominated causes and an all-expenses-paid break at the Lions International Youth Centre, meeting other youngsters from all over the world. Most clubs also give smaller token awards to all the competitors taking part at club and region level.

And it's a useful extra on the CV or Personal Profile when applying for a job ;-)

Entry is open to anyone aged between 15 and 19 in the competition year. For more information, contact us.

Here's our Youth Award mascot 'LEROY' whose name stands for :

		Lions
		Encouragement,
		Rewards and
		Opportunities for
		Youth