YOUTH COMMITTEE

This is an annual global school’s competition that invites young people (aged 11-13) to express creatively their hopes, aspirations and what Peace means to them.

All entries are judged by the Club Members to find a winner who receives a trophy and gift vouchers. They then go on to compete in the next round against other winners from across the S.E. of England. Regional winners then competes for the UK title.

We have received tremendous support from the Senior schools in Bexhill and last year we introduced a Bexhill competition for local Primary schools. This has been enthusiastically welcomed by the schools and is now an annual event.

This recognises and celebrates the commitment of young people (aged 15-18) who give their time and energy to a range of good causes in their community. A local Young Achiever is nominated by the Club who can then compete in the regional Young Ambassador competition. Regional winners then come together at a national final. At each stage a bursary is awarded to invest in their chosen community project.

The project aims to teach children aged between 10 and 11 years how to deal with or avoid life threatening situations. The emphasis during these events is learning by experiencing risk – even if children make mistakes along the way! Around 600 Primary School children from the Rother area experience a ‘hands-on’ active learning event at Bexhill community fire station

A number of scenarios are set up by the different organisations, designed to simulate and provide information about a variety of topics such as road safety and personal safety, dealing with a casualty, reporting a fire and keeping safe, safety on the streets, safety near the railway, water safety, alcohol safety and electrical safety. Each child is presented with a workbook to take back to school in order to reinforce the safety messages learnt.

We help out with a number of role plays, provide stewards for the events and sponsor the main prize for the winning school.

In 2018 we will be launching an exciting new competition for Primary School children. We will be looking for the best “big ideas” to improve Bexhill for the benefit of residents and visitors of all ages.

This group was set up with two main goals; to ensure that the existing Bexhill skatepark at Downs Road is maintained so it is safe for users, and secondly to campaign for the skatepark to be rebuilt and relocated when the Downs Road site is redeveloped.

Bexhill Lions Club is actively supporting the group in two ways; by providing some initial financial support to help with start-up costs and PR for the project and by having members on the steering committee to provide advice and guidance to individuals and the group as a whole. We are delighted to have been invited to work with this very active Youth Group and help them achieve a positive outcome to the relocation of the skatepark.

We are keen to get involved with activities which support participation and learning for young people in the town and support a wide range of youth groups in Bexhill, many of which are the youth sections of larger Clubs.

We have supported, for example; cadets from the Sailing Club and Rowing Club, young members of the Sea Angling Club, performing arts students from ESSPA and Mad Fish, Scouts and Guides, Pit-stop Youth Club, Nippers and Juniors from Surf Lifesaving Club, young carers and also the Boxing Club.

On a musical note, we are delighted to provide some financial support to the Primary Schools Christmas Concert and the Bexhill Summer Sing, which is part of the Bexhill Festival of Music. We also provide members to act as stewards on the day to ensure the pupils are at the right places at the right time.

These events are held at the De La Warr Pavilion and provide a unique opportunity for pupils to come together, perform with live music, develop self-confidence and showcase their talents and teamwork to family and friends. It is wonderful to be able to witness the considerable musical talent of the young people of Bexhill.