STAFFORDSHIRE YFC
18 year old Lydia Allcock from
Leek Young Farmers pictured
on the back row next to
NFYFC Mascot Supermoo
after being chosen to
take part in a trip
to Ghana this
summer
Lydia gains a place on a trip of a lifetime
n Saturday 7th December, seven Staffordshire
Young Farmers Club members attended the
NFYFC (National Federation of Young Farmers
Clubs) YFC Travel Selection Day, as part of the
application process to secure a trip with the Travel
Programme in 2014. This is run by NFYFC for those
members between the ages of 16 and 26.
It is a unique opportunity to experience another way
of life, by actually living it, see new places, soak up
another culture and meet fellow members of other rural
youth organisations similar to YFC in another country.
There are fantastic opportunities to participate in
organised trips and/or Homestay exchanges around the
world, from one week study tours, two weeks to three
months Homestays. All the member has to do to be
considered is complete an Application Form and
choose the Country they’d like to visit. After a day of
Interviews down at Stoneleigh, Warwickshire the
following Staffordshire members were awarded trips of
a lifetime:
Among the seven successful Young Farmers from
Staffordshire was 18 year old Lydia Allcock from Leek
YFC and Amy Nicholls, aged 20 from Stone YFC who
will be taking on the opportunity of a lifetime, with a
two week trip to Ghana.
Local girl Lydia gained a place on the Team Travel
trip to Ghana where they will be staying in bungalows
in a village in the Akuapem Hills and be looked after by
local people whilst helping out with community
projects in schools and orphanages.
The team will help to keep the kids entertained with
O
activities such as football tournaments, music or arts
and crafts. The trip will also provide a chance to get
involved with a small farm project in the local
community. Lydia and Amy are looking forward to
working with the local school children to develop a
model farm and introducing students to different
aspects of agriculture.
The Travel Programme is just one of the many
opportunities available to all members of Staffordshire
YFC. Being a member gives anyone between the ages of
10 – 26 years the chance to enhance their life skills,
make new friends and have lots of fun. There are many
training opportunities available to members, the
chance to travel abroad and to enhance learning and
confidence. Young people can join from any
background and the myth of ‘young farmers’ all living
and working on farms is just that – a complete myth!
Members come from all walks of life, living in towns
and the countryside. Clubs meet on a regular weekly
basis and are ran by young people for young people and
have the greatest range of activities available compared
to most equivalent youth groups. The organisation is
unique in its structure, as it is the young members who
are the decision makers and this is done in a very
democratic manner with the involvement of all Clubs.
For more information on becoming part of
Staffordshire YFC contact Julia Taylor, County
Organiser
on
01785
248645,
email
[email protected] or visit the
website www.staffsyoungfarmers.org.uk to find out
more.
Leek Life January/February 2014 17