Young people and sport Young Leaders in Service YOUNG LEADERS IN SERVICE AWARD HANDBOOK
YOUNG LEADERS IN SERVICE AWARD HANDBOOK
Encouraging, guiding and mentoring young people - investments for the future
The YLiS Awards recognise young people between the ages of 11 and 18 (school years 7 to 13) for their community service within a 12 month period:
- 50 hours of community service = Silver Seal Award Certificate
- 100 hours of community service = Gold Seal Award Certificate
- Experience the rewards of community service
- Become involved in their community and with local Lions clubs
- Receive an international award
- Experience the rewards of supporting young people with minimal costs
- Gain publicity from YLiS activities
- Increase the profile of Lions in your community
Suggestions for YLiS Projects
*Category Codes –
1 Environment,
2 Public Health,
3 Safety,
4 Literacy and Education,
5 Disaster Relief,
6 Community improvement,
7 Help children,
8 Help elderly people,
9 Help homeless/hungry people,
10 Other.
Note – Some of the activities may fall into more than one category. The main one should be chosen for logging hours.
| Service category* | Suggestions for service activities |
| Service for the elderly (8) | Performing simple home repairs and jobs around the house; running errands,Chatting and being a friend,Teaching older people IT skills |
| Service for children (7) | Collecting and distributing toys or clothes, Reading stories and helping with homework, Visiting children in hospital, As a Guide, helping with Brownies, Rainbows; as a Scout, helping with Cubs, Beavers, perhaps sewing on achievement badges |
| Environment (1) | Plant trees,Clear litter |
| Service to the homeless/hungry (5), (9) Choose one of these | Collecting food, clothing and toiletries for donation to a local welfare centre; raising money to buy essentials for them to set up home; disaster relief |
| Safety training (3) | Helping younger children learn about water safety, fire prevention, traffic awareness, bicycle safety |
| Service to parents or family (4), (7) (8) Choose one of these | Caring for a disabled family member Shopping and cleaning,Entertaining, chatting and motivatingLooking after younger brothers or sisters; babysitting |
| Education (4) | Helping a child or adult to learn how to read and writeReading to those visually impaired or record stories for them to listen to |
| Public health (2) | Assist with health screeningCollect used spectacles and hearing aids for recyclingCreate awareness of AIDS, teenage suicide and substance abuse |
| Taking a leaders’ role (6) or (10) | Cadets; Boys’ Brigade; St John; Red Cross; Church; Youth Club; Community youth group; involvement with any community activity |
| Helping the Lions (1), (2), (7), (8), (5), (9), (10) Choose one of these | Fund-raising for local charities, welfare activities or disaster reliefPlanning a party for children; organising a treat for older peopleWorking as a member of the Lions team in whatever they do |
How to get involved and what is available to help clubs promote the award
Gain the commitment of one of your Lions members to take responsibility for this young people’s programme
Request copies from your District Officer of
- the club “mini guide”
- leaflet for distribution to local youth groups and schools
- promotional poster.
- Your club may run this award scheme at any time of the year, with participants starting on the date of their first hour of community service and completing on the first anniversary of that date.
- Contact your local schools and youth organisations, such as St John, Red Cross, Boys Brigade, Cadets, youth clubs, Scouts, Guides, churches, sports clubs, cadets, young carers and all youth organisations. A personal pre-arranged visit could be the most effective way of gaining their interest.
- Explain how the Young Leaders in Service award works and what benefits it brings. Take all supporting paperwork with you, including all promotional materials and logbooks for recording service activities. Confirm start and finish dates and mention that you will be planning presentation events for successful Young Leaders in Service to tie in with finish dates. (You would probably want to run these a number of times each year.) Keep in contact with the organisation to keep their interest, monitor progress and in case of queries.
- Prepare a Press release and send it to the local newspaper. Also contact the editor of the Lion Magazine, Margaret Kimberley, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
- Contact participating organisations at least a month before each participant’s year end to ensure that the logbooks have been completed with 50 or 100 hours of service recorded and advise the date for collection. Send the logbooks to your District Officer, who will apply for the letters and certificates from Oak Brook. These logbooks can later be returned to the participants. Allow at least 3 weeks for delivery.
- Make arrangements for the presentation ceremony.
- THE PRESENTATION CEREMONY
Aim:
- To recognise and reward young people for their commitment to community service.
- To raise the profile of your Lions Club and confirm Lions commitment to young people.
a. Schools – at a school event at which parents, friends, teachers and governors are present
b.At a local Lions event, with invitations issued to Lions and their partners, local dignatories like the mayor, MP, business people, all the family and friends of the participants and the organisations or individuals who have benefited from the community service.
c.At a youth organisation’s own event, again so that the maximum number of people can be invited and involved.
d.Press – invite the Press and provide them with a Press release explaining what the presentation is all about. Get permission from the young people’s parents/guardians prior to use of any of these photos.
e. Present all the young people with their certificates and if you wish, a small gift of appreciation from the Lions club. Young Leaders in Service badges, both metal and cloth, will additionally be available for the presentation – contact your District Officers for supplies. These will be free of charge to YLiS award winners.
f. Promotion at the presentation event: if possible, put up a display stand with information about the YLiS scheme and other Lions youth programmes, local contact details and leaflets to hand out.