Youth Projects

Reports on Support for Youth Activities, Competitions and Individuals

President Clive Livingstone presenting a donation to members of Rhapsody Artist Development
President Clive Livingstone presenting a donation to members of Rhapsody Artist Development

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The Young Musicians after presentation of their certificates

Young Musician of the Year 2024

more On Saturday 13th July 2024 we held our annual Young Musician of the Year competition at Seaford Baptist Church, but this year was a bit different!

President Clive Livingstone presenting the donation to members of Rhapsody Artist Development

Rhapsody Artist Development Wows the Audience

more President Clive Livingstone along with Youth Services Chair Paul Vaesen, and members Jim Anderson and David Pattenden, recently presented a grant of £250 to Rhapsody Artist Development.

Clive Livingstone, Seaford Rotary President with Paul Vaesen, Youth Services Chair presenting the donation to Mercread Centre Manager Myriam Otoide behind one of the tables for which the donation will be used.

Supporting an update at Mercread Youth Centre

more SEAFORD ROTARY has a long association with Mercread Youth Centre with at least two present or past members having been Chairman and a third Treasurer.

Safety in Action 2024

more FOR THREE days from 8th to 10th October, 475 children from 15 local primary schools as well as 11 home educated children descended upon Plumpton Racecourse to take part in Safety in Action arranged by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

Young Photographer competition 2024/25

more Closing date 28th February 2025

Young Citizen of the Year 2024

more As part of the Celebration of Youth at the Mercread Youth Centre

Vice President Clive Livingstone supported by (on his left) Tony Humphries from Seaford Martello and Paul Vaesen (2nd left) presenting the donation to the Early Birds Manager Emily Teese (far right) watched by the pupils and other care staff

Supporting All Young People

more A very good question is 'At what age does youth begin and end?' Whatever the answer, it matters not to members of the Youth Services Committee who happily consider all requests for help from any individual or group under the age of eighteen.

President Clive Livingstone presenting the donation to teacher Rebecca Fraser watched by students and teacher Donald McDonald (far left), Rotarian Jim Anderson (2nd from right) and Glenn Dakers from World Challenge

Seaford Head Students World Challenge to Eswatini

more Every other year Seaford Head School has offered students the opportunity to visit different countries around the world through the World Challenge organisation.

President Clive Livingstone presenting the donation to teacher Hannah Martin (in the striped top) who organised the event watched by painted students and teachers

Did the Colours Run at the Colour Run?

more For many years, before breaking up for summer holidays, students at Seaford Head School took part in a Fun Run to raise funds for charities supported by the school.

President Clive Livingstone presenting the donation to Newhaven & Seaford Sea Cadet Corps

Newhaven and Seaford Sea Cadet Corps Branches Out

more One of the songs in the pre-war film Follow the Fleet begins “We joined the navy to see the world, but what did we see, we saw the sea.“ So, if today, you join the Newhaven and Seaford Sea Cadet Corps would you expect to see the sea most of the time?

The winning team of Bea, Jonas, Bethany and Georgia with teacher Peri Kusadali and Rotarians Paul Vaesen and President Mandy Davis

STEM Stars

more On the morning of 19th June, teams from Year 5 of Seaford , Cradle Hill, Chyngton and Annecy Primary schools gathered at Seaford Head Lower School, Steyne Road for the third STEM Stars competition.

Keira who won 1st prize in the Senior category with her prize and certificate presented at Seaford Head Upper School by President Mandy Davis accompanied by Seaford Head Deputy Head Dr. Imogen Wallace

­Young Artist and Photographer Competition presentations

more Seaford Rotary’s Young Artist and Young Photographer competitions this year culminated with the final prize presentations on Tuesday 25th June.

Back row:  Paul Vaesen, teachers Charlotte Davis and Robert Dale, Geoff Lowles, volunteer Sarah Laidlaw, David Pattenden and volunteer Ann Etheridge.  Front row:  Pupils with their dictionaries and calculators

Reading and Maths Support Scheme

more As the academic year draws to a close, the Rotary reading and maths support scheme at Seaford Head Lower School was celebrated on Monday 17th June by presentations to the students who have taken part in the scheme throughout the year.

James Pratt Head of Lower School, Sonny and President Mandy Davis

Youth Services Pulls Out All The Stops

more When applications are received for grants, it can sometimes take a few weeks before reaching final approval depending on the timing of the different committee meetings.

Thank you card signed by most pupils who attended

Seaford Primary School Young Voices 2024

more We received a grant request from Seaford Primary School asking if Seaford Rotary could help with the transport cost of sending over 70 Year 5 and 6 children to Young Voices at the O2 in January.

VP Clive Livingstone presenting the donation cheque to  Samantha Alvaraz Head of the Sixth Form, watched by two of the Sixth Form students and Tony Humphreys from the Martello Club

Seaford Head Sixth Form Kitchen

more THE SEAFORD Head School Sixth Form is located in Steyne Road, separate from the two main school buildings. There are currently 200 students in the Sixth Form and it is steadily growing as it becomes more popular throughout the area.

President Mandy Davis presenting the donation cheque to Julia Hancock, Chair of Trustees for The Youth Counselling Project

Donation to The Youth Counselling Project

more It is a sad reflection on our modern-day society that a large number of children aged 5 to 16 have a clinically significant mental health problem.

Finalists at the presentation evening with their certificates awarded by Young Mayor Nia Waite (second from left)

Young Writer Competition 2024

more THE YOUNG Writer presentation evening was held at Seaford Head Lower School on Monday 22nd April when the 14  finalists received their certificates for participation and the winners were announced.

Young Musician 2024

Young Musician of the Year 2024

more The Young Musician of the Year competition will be held at Seaford Baptist Church
on Saturday 13th July 2024.

Beauty - Mirabelle Irtelli Age Group 7-10

Young Artist 2024 Competition

more The theme for this year’s Rotary Young Artist competition was ‘Beauty’, and it attracted 19 entries over 4 age groups.

Rebuilding of Life:  Kyra Archer

Young Photographer 2024 Competition

more The theme for this year’s Rotary Young Photographer competition was ‘Rebuilding’, which gave young people the widest opportunity to share their creative talents in showing what it means to them.

Jim Anderson putting one of the seats to good use at the opening of the new outdoor classroom and play area

Cradle Hill Outside Area

more Following support from the Youth Services Committee, Jim Anderson recently attended the opening of a new outdoor classroom and play area at Cradle Hill Primary School.

From the left:  Huw O’Shea, Nilany Sathiyaseeian, George Millington and Sevyn Vitelli

The Philip Moorey Award for the Young Citizen of the Year

more On Friday 17th November we assembled at Mercread Youth Centre to see Huw O’Shea declared Philip Moorey Young Citizen of the Year. But the evening was more than that, it was a ‘Celebration of Seaford Youth’ as well as a presentation evening.

Young Artist competition 2024

more Closing date for entries 2nd March 2024

Entrants to the Young Chef competition

Young Chef Competition

more On 21st November, seven Seaford Head students in years 7, 8 and 9 took part in the Rotary Young Chef Competition.

President Mandy Davis being welcomed as she present the donation cheque

Presentation to 3rd Blatchington Rainbows

more Over many years the Youth Services Team has been able to chalk up a number of “firsts” in supporting the local community and recently celebrated another one with a presentation to the 3rd Blatchington Rainbows Unit.

Support for Down Syndrome Development Trust Continues

more ONE CHARITY that Seaford Rotary Club has been pleased to support over the last ten years is the Down Syndrome Development Trust and this year Youth Services was pleased to be able to help one of their latest initiatives with a grant of £500.

Competitors with their certificates

Yong Musician cometition 2023

more ON SATURDAY 15th April 2023 the annual Seaford Rotary Young Musician of the Year competition was held at Seaford Baptist Church.

Two Iford and Kingston Primary school pupils who took part in Safety in Action with the cheque and certificate with Paul Vaesen, chair Seaford Rotary Youth Services committee, Head teacher Catherine Allison and Elaine Winks, Youth Engagement Officer

Safety in Action 2023

more During the week commencing 2nd October, 630 children from 20 local primary schools as well as some home educated children descended upon Newhaven Fort to compete in Safety in Action arranged by East Sussex Fire & Rescue Service.

Vice President Clive presenting the trophy to Joe (left) and George (right)

Seaford Cricket Club - Young Cricketer of the Year 2023

more On 1st September Vice President Clive Livingstone accompanied by Chair of Youth Services, Paul Vaesen went to Seaford Cricket Club to present the Rotary Young Cricketer of the Year award as part of the Cricket Club’s annual awards evening.

Linda Wallraven, Chair of Youth Services Paul Vaesen and Jim Anderson presenting the defibrillator to Dave Peachey from Seaford Town FC

Defibrillator for Seaford FC Youth Teams

more Through the Grant Application process, an application was received from Seaford Town Football Club for help to purchase a portable defibrillator for use by the Club’s youth teams when playing at venues where there was no such facility.

2nd Vice President Clive Livingstone presenting the winning team with their certificates

Young Scientists — STEM Stars

more On the morning of 22nd June, teams from Year 5 of three Seaford Primary schools gathered at Seaford Head Lower school for the second Young Scientists competition, now rebranded as STEM Stars.

Clive Livingstone, 2nd Vice President of Seaford Rotary after presenting the winner, Venus and runner up, Elwen, in the Junior category with their certificates and prizes

Young Photographer Competition Results

more Entries were received in two age groups, Junior — 7 to 10 years old and Intermediate — 11 to 13 years old, but no entries for the Senior category — 14 to 17 years old. To the surprise of the judges, there were also three under age entries.

Matilda and Nancy from Cradle Hill winner and runner up of the 7 to 10 age group with ther certificates and prizes presented by Paul Vaesen, Chair Youth Services

Young Artists competition 2023

more Last year there were 29 entries but this year there were an amazing 124 entries for the Young Artists competition.

The sixteen Young Writer finalists with their certificates

Young Writers’ Presentation Evening

more AFTER THE successful return of our Young Writers competition in 2022, Seaford Rotary was pleased to be able to run the competition again this year, the Presentation Evening for which took place at Seaford Head School Steyne Road site on 24th April 2023

STEM Challenge 1 July 2019

more Young Scientist competition for Primary schools

Young Citizen poster

Young Citizen of the Year 2022

(members only log in for more information)

Paul Vaesen (left) (Chair of Youth Services Committee) and Vice President Mandy Davis with members of Lake Academy of Dance

Lake Academy of Dance

more Twelve months ago Seaford Rotary supported two young dancers from the Seaford based Lake Academy of Dance going to San Sebastian, Spain to compete for the Dance World Cup.

Members of Seaford Youth with from left:  Paul Vaesen, Youth Workers Jessica Batchelor and Christina Baldwin (centre with grey top) and Vice President Mandy Davis (front right)

Seaford Youth

more Seaford Youth, as the name suggests, is a Seaford Youth Club which has recently moved to a new base at the Rugby Club in The Salts. As part of the change, it established a new management structure and became a Community Interest Company.

Paul Vaesen (Chair of Youth Services Committee) (on left) and Mandy Davis (Vice President) (on right) presenting the donation to Sophie Peerless and Alice Carter from SCIP.

Sussex Contemporary Illustrators & Printmakers (SCIP) Donation

more The Sussex Contemporary Illustrators and Printmakers, SCIP, is a registered charity dedicated to providing free creative events, workshops, and exhibitions for the Seaford and Sussex Community.

Paul Vaesen (Chair Youth Services), Ceri Robley, Vice President Mandy Davis, Miriam Thundercliffe

Presentation to Mercread Youth Centre

more We recently received a grant request from Mercread Youth Centre asking for a donation towards purchasing a computer package that would help them to manage all their Health and Safety, staff training and human resources requirements.

Member of Seaford Football Club Under 11 squad with on the left coaches Michael Greve and Grant Gerrish and on the right coach Steve Broach and President Ann Reed

Support for Seaford Town FC Juniors

more A COUPLE of years ago Youth Services supported Seaford Town Football Club under 9 squad with a grant to purchase some futsals.

Young Citizen of the Year 2022

more The Philip Moorey Award and Celebration of Seaford Youth

Young Chef Competition

more IF YOU were walking along Steyne Road one Wednesday afternoon recently and were captivated by an aroma of five star cooking it may just have been from the Young Chef Competition which Seaford Rotary organises for the students at Seaford Head school.

Seaford Rotary President Ann Reed presenting the Colin Seymour Shield to violinist Isobel Peerless

Young Musician of the Year 2022

more At last, after an absence of over two years, the tenth Seaford Rotary Young Musician of the Year competition was held on Saturday 9th July at Seaford Baptist Church.

Members of Year 6 South Malling Church of England Primary school with President Ann Reed and Darren Glover, Education Officer, East Sussex Fire and Rescue

Safety in Action

more SAFETY IN ACTION returned in September at Newhaven Fort after the recent Covid restrictions with year 6 children from 20 schools in the Lewes District taking part.

Jim and Joyce Anderson with Nicole

Youth Services Continues SASBAH Support

more For several years Seaford Rotaryhas supported the Eastbourne AM Club which organises a “breakaway “weekend away for disabled young people, and some older ones, for the Sussex Association for Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus (SASBAH).

From the left: Head Teacher Bob Ellis, Rotarian Peter Postgate, Alice Lee, Joseph Lacy, Erik Rennie, President Ann Reed, and Youth Services Chair Paul Vaesen

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA)

more The Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is a leadership programme coordinated by Rotary Clubs around the globe, and each year, thousands of young people participate in this programme and attend an event sponsored by Rotary Clubs.

Young Cricketer of the Year 2022

more FOUR YEARS ago, in 2018, we were approached by Seaford Cricket Club, asking if we could support a new award ‘Young Cricketer of the Year’ for three years.

World Challenge Borneo 2022 - students with from the left President Ann Reed, Richard Meers, teacher William Teasley and Rebecca Fraser

World Challenge Trip to Borneo

more IN 2017 Seaford Head School approached us to see if we could help them in any way with their planned World Challenge trip to Sri Lanka and we agreed to donate money to pay for their transport to Heathrow Airport and we also paid for their visas.

Young Artist entrants from Chyngton Primary school with President Ann Reed and Headteacher Robin Tollyfield

Young Artists Competition

more YOUNG ARTISTS continues to be one of the competitions which has been possible to hold again, despite the pandemic, although this year it was held much later than usual.

Young Writers Presentation Evening 2022

more After an absence last year due to Covid we were very happy that we were able to reinstate our Young Writers competition and on Wednesday 27th April the Presentation evening took place at Seaford Head school, Steyne Road site.

From the left:  Rotarian Paul Vaesen, Headteacher Chris Davey and pupil member of the choir, Vice President Ann Reed and Head of Music Kate Steer

Young Voices at O2

more ON MONDAY 25th April 2022, 53 children from the choir at Seaford Primary School travelled to the O2 Arena to join 8,000 other children at a Young Voices massed choir event.

Caravan Cleaning for Children with Cancer

more ON A VERY wet Thursday morning we wondered whether it was worth going to St Leonards to clean the Children with Cancer Fund caravan. There had been thunder and lightning overnight and it was still raining heavily at 8 am.

Dance World Cup 22

more Following a grant request from the Principal of the Lake Academy of Dance, President Mike Ogilvie and Youth Services Committee Chair Paul Vaesen attended St James’ Trust on Saturday 23rd April to make a present a donation.

SASBAH Breakaway Weekend

more So, what is SASBAH, and what is the Breakaway weekend?

Seaford Cricket Club Junior Players Share Rotary Trophy

more FOUR years ago, Youth Services agreed to sponsor for the next three years, a presentation to the Seaford Cricket Club Junior Player of the Year.

Youth Counselling Project 2020

more Seaford Rotary sponsorship of Youth Counselling Project

Young Writers Competition 2019 2020

more Seaford Rotary Sponsored Young Writers competition

Young Chefs Competition

more Young Chefs Competition 16 November 2019

Safety in Action 2 July 2019

more East Sussex Fire and Rescue Service Safety in action challenge for Year 6 pupils held at Newhaven Fort during June sponsored by Seaford Rotary to teach children how to deal with, or avoid, life-threatening situations.

View from backstage

Young Musician competition

more Seaford Rotary Young Musician for the Year Competition

Seaford Rotary Young Player of the Year Billy Wootten with Rotarians Paul Vaesen and Jim Anderson

Rotary Seaford Cricket Club Young Player of the Year 2019

more On Saturday 7th September, Paul Vaesen and Jim Anderson attended Seaford Cricket Club’s Annual Awards Evening to present the Seaford Rotary Young Player of the Year Award.

Young Chef competition

(members only log in for more information)

SEND Get Set Club donation

more On Thursday 9th May, President Steven Willox, accompanied by Youth Chair Paul Vaesen met up with Rodney Reed, Vice President of Seaford Martello Rotary to present donations to Anna Jones of Wave Leisure at the weekly Get Set Club.

Donation to Youth Counselling Project

more The Club supported the Youth Counselling Project which provides school-based counselling by specialist counsellors trained to work with young people so that depression and anxiety among children and teenagers may be alleviated.

Donation to Seaford Gymnastics Academy

more Thursday 21st March 2019

Young Artist competition 2018-19

more Held early 2019

Young Writer Presentation Evening

more THE annual Rotary Young Writer Presentation Evening attended by hopeful young writers, their parents, teachers and invited guests took place on Monday 11th March at Seaford Head School Steyne Road site.

Young Musician of the Year 2019

more 9th March 2019

Young Photographer competition 2018-19

more Held early 2019

Support for Scouts for World Jamboree

more 30th January 2019

Young Chef competition 2018

more 10th November 2018

Wheelchair buggy rain cover for disabled child

more 20th December 2018

Izzy's trike

more 18th October 2018