Contact
Introduction to H&S in District 1180 Rotary Community Corps Rotary Foundation Community Service Public Image Rotary District Magazines Rotary Friendship Exchange District 1180 Youth Service Rotaract In the event of an accident Risk Assessment Protection and Safeguarding Administration Rotary Foundation Programmes
Future Events Completed Events Calendar Charter Celebrations
Club List Clubs by Area Clubs by meeting day Clubs map
latest pages Galleries Links & News The District Team

Young Chef

We believe it is important to encourage and develop creativity in young people, including in the kitchen. Sponsored by Filippo Berio, contestants prepare and present a two course meal within a pre-set budget and time limit, judged by an expert panel.


The Rotary Young Chef Competition has been run in District 1180 for around 20 years . It  is a well established and successful competition organised and promoted by Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland.

We believe it is important to encourage and develop creativity in young people and that includes creativity in the kitchen. Cooking amongst young people is a growing interest and a valuable life skill.

Sponsored by Filippo Berio, contestants prepare and present a two course meal within a pre-set budget and time limit, which is judged by an expert panel.

 Young people learn to:
  • Cook a healthy meal
  • Develop food presentation skills
  • Consider food hygiene issues
  • Develop organisational and planning skills
  • Develop ability to cope in a demanding situation

The Rotary Young Chef competition is run in three different stages; club level, district and cluster, which then culminate in the National Final taking place on Saturday, 29th March 2025 - venue to be advised in due course.

2023-24 Rotary Young Chef Winners

Age categories

The competition is open to amateur chefs aged 11-17 - take a look at the Information Pack for further details.

Please note this competition is intended for amateurs; for the purpose of the competition, an amateur is considered to be a person who is not in full, or regular part time, employment in the catering trade. Eligible entrants who have been temporarily employed by restaurants during the school holidays may take part. The competition is not open to students who are enrolled on a full time catering course who are studying for a qualification above “A” level standard.

It is a four stage national competition to support and encourage development of cookery skills. Some stages may have more than one round.  
 
Local Heats
 
These are organised by local Rotary clubs and hosted by schools or colleges between September and December. The winner of each local heat is entered into the district finals.
 
Local Rotary Clubs can be found by using the club finder facility in the bottom left hand corner of the Rotary International in Britain and Ireland (Rotary GB&I) home webpage – www.rotarygbi.org.
 
District Finals
 
Organised by Rotary at a venue to be advised, normally between January and late February each year. The winner and runner up from each district final is entered into the regional final.  

These stages are followed by a Cluster (Regional) Final and National Final.

Resources for Rotarians

Download the following for more information, including the entry form for clubs to pass on to young people wishing to enter.

Resources for the Public

These documents below are also relevant to Rotarians. These are the items also available to the public in the Rotary Youth Competitions pages of the website

We do not yet have a Rotarian to lead this in District 1180 so any competition will, for now, have to stop at club level, or a club can link in with the Cluster level to take winners forward.

If you are a Rotarian and reading this, then by getting this far you will likely have some interest - so please consider volunteering. Please contact the District Youth Service Leader. Expertise is not required - just an interest, and enthusiasm. A contact or contacts within the film world will be needed to find a suitable judge - who may or may not be a Rotarian (with independence from any club competition). The organiser role is essentially that of a central point of contact for Rotarians in District, the collation of club entries once a year, organising the judging, and then sending the winning entries to Rotary GB&I.The District winner is awarded the Vernon Schwarz trophy - a rather splendid award, which is then held by the winner for one year. For further details about what leading Young Chef in D1180 entails, please contact David Watson, former member, Rotary Club of Pwllheli (uxg570@greenbee.net) Note: David is no longer the organiser! He will, however, inform and guide a successor.


    Hannah GrahamContact Hannah Graham about this page:

    (ALL fields required)

    (If you are a Rotarian, please name your club.)

    Related pages...

    Rotary Christmas Toy Boxes

    more Festive joy for children in refuge

    Rotary Youth Leadership Awards

    more This leadership programme gives young people hands-on challenges to grow a variety of skills, normally held at Arthog Outdoor Education Centre in August.

    Children's Fun Day

    more A day of fun and adventure for disabled or disadvantaged children.

    Youth Speaks

    more This competition is one of two public speaking competitions designed to encourage young people to develop the creative and presentation skills essential to the art of public speaking.

    Welsh Young Writer

    more A District-only competition, new for 2020/21

    Young Writer

    more This competition allows entrants' imaginations to run wild! After being given a theme, participants can choose to write fiction or non-fiction, a story or a poem; with the opportunity to express themselves and get creative with the written word.

    Developing Future Leaders

    more Giving young people the chance to develop and grow, while earning an accredited qualification.

    Youth Speaks - A Debate

    more This competition is designed to encourage young people to develop their creative and presentation skills essential to the art of public speaking.

    Young Artist

    more Budding young painters, illustrators and artists can showcase their creative flair, with the opportunity to interpret the competition's annual theme and set their creativity free, turning ideas from a blank canvas into a work of art!

    Young Musician

    more Music is the international language and RGBI has some of the most talented young instrumentalists and vocalists in the world. This competition offers young people the chance to demonstrate their musical skills whether classical or modern.

    RotaKids 7-12

    more It is never too early to start making a difference in the community, and RotaKids gives those aged 7-12 the chance to do just that.

    Interact 12-18

    more Interact offers an introduction for young people aged 12-18 to discover the power of volunteering and social action.

    Rotary Youth Exchange

    more Rotary Youth Exchange is one of Rotary’s earliest Peace initiatives and is widely regarded as one of the best youth exchange programmes in the world Every year thousands of young people explore new horizons with Rotary Youth Exchange programmes.

    Rotary Young Citizen Award

    more Rotary International in Great Britain & Ireland celebrates the achievements of young people with the annual Rotary Young Citizen Awards. These showcase the citizenship and responsibilities demonstrated by people under the age of 25.

    Technology Tournament

    more Technology Tournaments inspire the next generation of engineers and scientists and put their STEM skills to the test.

    Young Photographer

    more The Rotary Young Photographer competition gives participants the chance to express themselves through photography, whilst interpreting the competition’s annual theme in an imaginative way.

    back to page above this...

    District 1180 Youth Service

    back Developing the skills and talents of Young People in our District.