ROBERT Beveridge from Whitchurch gave an impressive positive talk to members of the Yelverton Rotary Club recently following his successful completion of this year's Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) course.

Each year 40 candidates are selected and sponsored by Rotary clubs from within the region to enter the course, in which they compete in four groups of 10 people, and Robert was elected leader of his group.

RYLA is an award gained by candidates who complete a residential course held every year.

The course comprises an intensive programme of outdoor activities and tasks aimed at building individual skills, along with a series of projects and lectures from eminent high achieving members drawn from the south west community. The objective is to inspire and develop the confidence and ability of young persons, aged between 18 and 28, to teach them to become leaders in their communities and to plan for themselves interesting and useful lives.

RYLA is in its 19th year and has raised £500,000 during this period providing places for 750 young people from within the region.

Yelverton Rotary Club each year endeavours to sponsor two candidates at a cost of £750 each.

Robert, aged 19, was educated at Devonport High School and is about to start Biomedical Science studies at University College London. His interests include golf, football, music and he is a keen pianist.