Maddie Rousell is the Programme and Publicity Officer for Wedmore YFC in Somerset, where there are 45 members who take part in meetings and activities. Maddie shares her experience of developing in the role, which she first took on when she was only 11.
When I started the role over seven years ago, I was surprised by just how much organisation and coordination goes on behind the scenes.
I was only 11 when I took on the role, so at the beginning a lot of the responsibility was supported by my mum and older members. However, as I’ve grown older, I’ve gradually taken on much more myself, including emailing, phoning and liaising with different people to help arrange activities, often on a tight budget or even for free.
I didn’t initially realise how much thought has to go into planning activities, such as considering risks, making sure everyone can be included, managing timings, and even factoring in the weather.
This year I also took on the publicity as well, as I’m interested in pursuing a career in marketing, which came with its own set of responsibilities. What really surprised me was how many messages the club social media accounts receive with different enquiries, meaning I’ve had to become knowledgeable and confident in responding to a wide range of questions.
Balancing my club duties with my studies, being a scout leader and my personal life can be challenging, especially when everything gets busy at the same time.
To manage this, I set aside dedicated time for admin for each commitment and use to-do lists to help me stay organised and on track.
I’ve also learned the importance of planning ahead, even if something feels far away, it’s much better to sort things early rather than leave it until the last minute, particularly when younger members need time to arrange transport or prepare.
At the same time, I make sure I prioritise time with friends and moments to relax, so I don’t become overwhelmed or let responsibilities take over my whole life.
Event organisation. Through my role in YFC, I’ve gained practical experience in planning, coordinating, and running activities, which I’ve been able to apply outside the club as well.
This skill has helped me to organise events at school, such as a staff pantomime during charities week and a Christmas market. The experience I gained in Young Farmers gave me a better understanding of what works well, what challenges to anticipate, and how to encourage people to get involved and attend.
One of the biggest challenges I’ve faced as a young leader is the fact that our club has a very young membership. This has meant that our small group of over-18 members have had to take on greater responsibility to help run meetings and support younger members. We’ve also had to work closely with our advisory and club leaders to make sure we are always meeting safeguarding requirements.
While this has been challenging, it’s taught me how important teamwork, communication and responsibility are in a leadership role.
At the start of this membership year, I asked members to complete a survey about what they enjoyed from the previous programme and what they’d like to do in this year. This is really helpful because it allows me to shape the programme around what members are actually interested in, rather than just deciding everything myself.
Some of the best meetings we’ve had have included visiting our local pyrotechnics company to see how they operate, which was both exciting and educational.
We also run an annual Juniors Entertain Seniors night, where younger members plan and deliver a whole evening for the rest of the club. This is always a good laugh and a way for new members to get to know each other.
We’ve had the police deliver a road safety talk, which was really informative, and we’ve been on tours of Thatchers and a ForFarmers’ feed mill, which gave members a great insight into where their animal feed and cider comes from.
Don’t be afraid to ask for help. You’re not expected to do everything on your own. Work as a team, stay organised and remember to enjoy it as well as taking responsibility.
If you would like to be featured in our club officer check in, email media@nfyfc.org.uk. Find more information and guidance for club officers in the YFC Handbook.
