History - Youth Service
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Youth Speaks is a speaking competition for teams of three, a chairman, a speaker and one for the vote of thanks. Strict rules govern the length of each part of the speech and how they must relate to each other.
There are two age groups, who compete in local heats, then area finals before going on to the district final held in Frodsham each spring. Up to 2020, there was also a national final, but changes to the competition's format lead to some districts going alone as is the case in District 1285.
Rotary Rochdale sponsored its first school in 1994 and has continued with at least one entry every year since. In the early years, Wardle High School and Oulder Hill school were involved, but the most consistent entrant has been Falinge High School. Kingsway High School has recently begun to take part.
Support for 'our' teams usually comes from the mayor and the MP who come along to the heats or the area final. The latter we have hosted since 2025 in the Bright Room of Rochdale Town Hall.
More details from the last five years of our involvement with Youth Speaks can be seen here.
Rotary Rochdale formed a Rotakids club with St James' Primary School in Wardle. Through a link with our then Vocational Chairman Allister Holt various visits were made by members to the school and a Club presentation resulted from Head Teacher Catherine Aden .The school had for some time been increasing pupil participation in school affairs and on various school management committees. An example of this was in the pupils having the final say when it came to the upgrade of the playground. The Rotakids certificate was presented to the school by President David Smithard.
In the mid-nineties, Rochdale Rotary Club along with the other four local clubs jointly supported a scheme to bring the District Life Education Unit to schools across the borough. The unit provided the opportunity for pupils to engage in drug abuse prevention programmes.
The unit was so well received by pupils and teachers alike that requests for visits increased. So much so that in conjunction with the local health authority, a bid was made to the National Lottery to acquire and run a Rochdale-based unit.
This appeal was successful, and the Life Education Unit project ran for many years.
Coram Life Education’s specialist programme is aimed at children aged 3-11 years and provides valuable education about how they can look after their bodies and minds using fun, interactive and age-specific activities. The programme is delivered by qualified educators in the mobile classrooms using an interactive model of the human body, fibre optic lighting and a multi-media suite.
As well as healthy lifestyle choices, the programme addresses issues such as self-esteem, drugs awareness, assertiveness and anti-bullying techniques, and positive friendships.
Children's outings were originally arranged for under-privileged children in the Balderstone area of Rochdale. Members and their wives would take the children to places like Shibden Hall in Halifax where they would have fun playing games and be treated to a picnic lunch and tea.
In 1995 the club joined the Kids Out scheme run by the District Council. Children with special educational needs were taken to the Camelot theme park, where members and friends had to be brave and accompany the children on the various rides.
Over the years, pupils from Alf Kaufman school, Innes School, high Birch School and Redwood SEN School were given an unforgettable day out.
Student Awards
Starting in 1998 the club presented an annual Rotary trophy to the Most Improved Pupil in Falinge Park High School, Oulder Hill School and Wardle high School. Eventually, Oulder Hill was replaced by Redwood SEN School, where it was presented at their annual Sports Personality Awards. Later Moorhouse Primary School was added to the awards.
The Best Apprentice award was introduced to celebrate success at Hopwood Hall College.
Unfortunately, the awards had to cease when the coronavirus pandemic restricted access into schools.
Advice on Health Related Careers
Over the past years, several lunchtime sessions were held for interested students at the Rochdale Sixth Form College regarding career pathways in health related areas. These were hosted by Rotarians David Smithard, Elvet Smith & Selwyn Hodge. It is to extend this activity to enable more targeted advice to be provided to individual students in the future.