Burnham‑On‑Sea student Meadow Weston has completed a week‑long Rotary Youth Leadership Awards course after being sponsored by Burnham‑On‑Sea Rotary Club, returning home with new skills, fresh confidence and plenty of memorable moments from an action‑packed week in the Brecon Beacons.
Meadow, a King Alfred School Sixth Form pupil, spent the week at the Storey Arms Centre where the RYLA programme put young people through a series of outdoor challenges, leadership tasks and teamwork activities designed to help them grow in confidence and learn how to support others.
The course included gorge walking, canoeing, caving and a climb up Pen y Fan, alongside evening activities and team challenges. Participants also helped prepare meals and clean the centre, giving them the chance to take responsibility and work together away from the outdoor sessions.
Meadow says the week began with a walk through nearby farms and mountains before settling into the centre for the days ahead. She added that the surrounding scenery was “incredible to look at”, with the group set to tackle Pen y Fan later in the week.
As part of the RYLA experience, each participant chose an activity to lead. Meadow selected gorge walking, despite initially finding the water daunting. “At first, I was terrified of going into the water,” she said. “But with the help of my friends I managed to become more comfortable floating in deep water, and was able to walk past a waterfall to jump into the lake. Leading the activity was easier than being in the water, and although I was still scared, I’m really glad I pushed through and completed all of its challenges.”
Caving proved to be another highlight, with the group navigating tunnels and underground passages before reaching a section described as almost like a water slide, where they slid down a river into a pool of cave water. Meadow said the group was “highly supportive of anybody who was worried about going through the tunnels”, adding that the experience was enjoyable “as long as we didn’t look up at the spiders.”
The group then climbed Pen y Fan, the highest peak in the Brecon Beacons. “I was exhausted as we climbed the mountain the same day I had caving,” Meadow said. “But it was still worth it to get to the summit.”
The final main activity was canoeing, offering a more relaxed end to the week as the group rowed along the canal. “This was great to end the week with some relaxing rowing,” she said.
On the last day, the students took part in a boat‑building competition before stopping for ice cream on their way back to the centre. The week concluded with the presentation of certificates marking their completion of the RYLA programme.
“I thoroughly enjoyed myself at the centre even though there were many tough times,” Meadow adds. “Thank you to RYLA for making opportunities like this possible to young people, and I hope others continue to go on these trips and have a great time.”
Burnham‑On‑Sea Rotary Club’s Youth Chairman, Bernard Raines, said the club was delighted with Meadow’s progress. He explained that the club approached King Alfred School earlier in the year to invite interested students to apply. After meeting Meadow and discussing the programme with her and her mum, she was accepted onto the course. He added that the club was fortunate to have a close friend of Brian and Janet Wren who kindly sponsored Meadow’s place, as she has done for several years.
RYLA continues to offer young people the chance to step outside their comfort zone, meet new friends and develop skills that will support them both in school and in later life.
