Emerging Leaders
Emerging Leaders Programme
The NAYC Youth Development team have been busy refreshing and updating our Emerging Leaders Programme. This new programme has been shaped by valuable feedback from past participants, parents, and youth leaders, ensuring it continues to offer a great balance of fun, challenge, and skills development.
What's New
- Clearer progression – young people can now take part year by year or continue to grow through Bronze, Silver, and Gold levels.
Volunteering opportunities – built into the programme, giving participants the chance to apply their skills in real settings.
ASDAN accreditation – older participants (school years 10–12) can achieve certificates in Peer Mentoring or Leadership, strengthening CVs and future applications.
Peer support – those on Silver and Gold levels will gain experience by helping to support Bronze participants, guided by our NAYC Youth Development workers.
Alumni involvement – we’re also excited to invite past Emerging Leaders, now adults, to return as mentors and supporters for the next generation.
The heart of Emerging Leaders remains the same: building confidence, leadership, and teamwork in a supportive and fun environment.
For more information on any aspect of the programme or to express interest in supporting as a past participant, please contact the Youth Development team at yd@nayc.org.
"Really boosted … confidence and communication, I could see a change and maturity in him", parent of participant (2025)
"Can see their understanding of how to handle other young people has improved”, group leader (2025)
“I enjoyed the sense of community at NAYC, every member of staff and the young leaders were kind, supportive and genuinely cared about each other”, Emerging Leader (2025)
“The programme developed my skills as a young leader, prepared me for further life”, Emerging Leader (2025)
BRONZE LEVEL
School Year 2025 / 2026
- Learning about Leadership in a FUN Environment
- 4-Part-Programme in 1 year
- For Year 9 Students
- There are a limited number of places on the programme and to complete the BRONZE section young people will need to attend ALL dates
- What they gain: Basic Skills of Teamwork, Communication and Leadership. Spaces are limited
- Only £100 for the complete BRONZE package.
Timeline
1st Session 4th October 2025 (9am – 5pm)
@ King’s Park Conference Centre
We will do lots of Team Building and Confidence Skills as well as get to know the Young People. Packed Lunches will be required.
2nd Session 10th January 2026 (9am – 5pm)
@ King’s Park Conference Centre
We will start to look deeper into Leadership skills and helping in the Community. During this session the young people will be involved in a community project (details tbc). Packed Lunches will be required.
3nd Session 20-22nd March 2026 (Residential Trip)
We are going to our outdoor residential centre Pioneer, where we provide all activities, meals and accommodation, and long-distance transport. During this weekend there will be challenging activities to get involved in for example in the past we have done Abseiling, Zip Wire and more alongside some more Leadership workshops.
4th Session 10th July 2026 (Overnight)
@ King’s Park Conference Centre
Lastly our 4th part is just for FUN, with a Graduation Party with overnight accommodation and meals included.
These action-packed sessions provide a fantastic opportunity to join with others and learn new skills, discover your potential as a young leader and experience challenging activities that will give you greater confidence and ability as well as having a great time. Pioneer Centre provides a superb range of activities including High Ropes, Abseiling, Zip-wire, Challenge Course, Orienteering, Campfire, Archery and more.
We include interactive training sessions to develop your skills in communication, teamwork and leadership. Activities are supervised by qualified instructors and NAYC staff who are trained in safeguarding and DBS checked.
SILVER LEVEL
School Year 2025 / 2026
- Learning more about Leadership and Mentoring in a FUN environment
- 4-Part-Programme in 1 year
- For Year 10+11 Students
- There are a limited number of places on the programme and to complete the SILVER section young people will need to attend ALL dates.
- Only £100 for the complete SILVER package.
- What they gain:
This level steps up to include the ASDAN certificate in Peer Mentoring or Leadership, to include between 10 – 60 hours volunteering both at their current location, out in the community and also leading at some of the Bronze Level. As a group, they will learn the skills to deliver activities within their different environments, being able to bring back to their communities more knowledge and confidence.
During the year they will also get offered opportunities to attend various other training that will help them both within their Emerging Leaders journey but also in life in general, and can be added to their CV’s when looking for jobs/university.
Timeline
1st Session 4th October 2025 (9am – 5pm)
@ King’s Park Conference Centre
We will do lots of Team Building and Confidence Skills as well as get to know the other Young People on the programme. We will also introduce them to the ASDAN Leadership & Peer Mentoring qualifications they can gain from the programme. Packed Lunches will be required.
2nd Session 10th January 2026 (9am – 5pm)
@ King’s Park Conference Centre
We will start to look deeper into Leadership skills and helping in the Community. During this session the young people will be involved in a community project (details tbc) and there will be opportunities to work with our Emerging Leaders BRONZE group to gain evidence for their ASDAN qualification. Packed Lunches will be required
3nd Session 20-22nd March 2026 (Residential Trip)
We provide all activities, meals and accommodation, and long-distance transport. During this weekend there will be challenging activities to get involved in for example in the past we have done Canoeing, Zip Wire and more alongside some more Leadership workshops. Again, there will be opportunities to work with our Emerging Leaders BRONZE group to gain evidence for their ASDAN qualification.
4th Session 10th July 2026 (Overnight)
@ King’s Park Conference Centre
Lastly our 4th part is just for FUN, with a Graduation Party with overnight accommodation and meals included.
Throughout the year there will be opportunities for the young person to work directly with a NAYC Youth Development Coordinator to develop their skills in delivering and running activities at their own youth group.
The regular action-packed sessions with NAYC provide a fantastic opportunity to join with others and learn new skills, discover your potential as a young leader and experience challenging activities that will give you greater confidence and ability as well as gaining a recognised qualification and having a great time.
We’re are still working on it...
As part of our ongoing commitment to providing the very best experience for young people, we’re still working on the second part of the exciting developments.