COVID-19 may have put paid to the Volunteer Expo due to have been scheduled in Birmingham earlier this month, but in Ireland, Wexford Rotary managed to stage their own event shortly before the lockdown.
Their first Volunteer Expo reflecting the spirit of giving in County Wexford and was staged at the Talbot Hotel.
Over 40 volunteer-led organisation attended and which was visited by around 500 people.
The event was the brainchild of club President, Karl Fitzpatrick, who said the expo was designed to assist local organisations in recruiting new volunteers to meet the growing demand for their services.
Wexford Rotary managed to stage their own Volunteer Expo shortly before the lockdown.
Rob Walpole from Irish befriending network ALONE, said they had received leads on more than 50 potential volunteers.
Ben Doyle of the Christian charity, St Vincent De Paul, was similarly enthused. He said: “The expo went above and beyond our expectations and we are thankful to the Rotary Club of Wexford for organising such an important community focussed event.”
One of the highlights of the Expo was provided by headline speaker, Father Peter McVerry, who spoke about his journey into volunteering.
As a life-long advocate for many charitable causes, he emphasised that what you get back from volunteering is always far greater than what you give.
One of the highlights of the Expo was provided by headline speaker, Father Peter McVerry, who spoke about his journey into volunteering.
Karl Fitzpatrick said: “We are overwhelmed with the success of Volunteer Expo Wexford.
“The positive feedback we received from exhibitors and attendees illustrates that the spirit of volunteering continues to flourish across County Wexford.
“The Rotary Club of Wexford is delighted to have been in a position to continue to promote its ethos of service before self, through this event.”
Wexford Rotary hosted a 40th anniversary celebration at the turn of the year, which was attended by Irish President, Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin.
Wexford Rotary hosted a 40th anniversary celebration at the turn of the year, which was attended by Irish President, Michael D. Higgins at Áras an Uachtaráin in Dublin.
Joined by his wife, Sabina, the popular President hosted a party of 44 Rotary Club representatives, including William Cross, District Governor of Rotary Ireland and Michael Connolly Assistant Governor.
Michael D. Higgins said: “Thank you for your many years of generous and dedicated work, and the enduring impact it had had on the community of Wexford and beyond.
Thank you for your many years of generous and dedicated work, and the enduring impact it had had on the community of Wexford and beyond.”
“By coming together to fundraise, to engage with local schools and young people growing up in your communities, to recognise and support outstanding achievements by individuals within the community, you demonstrate a strong commitment to shaping a society that is welcoming to all of its members.”
In Scotland, the Sunshine Garden at Lumphinnans Care Village in Fife is bringing a smile to residents there, and they have Cowdenbeath Rotary to thank.
It was around three years ago that Dick Campbell started the campaign to raise the funding to create the Sunshine Sensory Garden.
It was around three years ago that Dick Campbell started the campaign to raise the funding to create the Sunshine Sensory Garden.
Dick and his team at the Fife Sensory Gardens charity spent a lot of serious fund-raising time on putting together the cash which has seen the creation of the beautiful facility.
He was started off by Cowdenbeath Rotary Club making a donation of £2,000 and since then the club has made more contributions to raise the £6,000 needed to create the facility which will help all the 80 residents at the Lindsay House Care Village.
Dick and his team at the Fife Sensory Gardens charity spent a lot of serious fund-raising time on putting together the cash which has seen the creation of the beautiful facility.
Rotary club president, Yolanda Hilton, has been a strong supporter of the project.
She said: “Dick got the idea from creating a small garden for the home his late mum was in a couple of years back. He wanted to do something special for this magnificent new £1 million-plus facility we have in our area and we got some incredible support from the public.
“Everyone in the club played their part in the effort which saw £6,000 raised to help Dick make his dream happen.”
The Folkestone Youth Project, better known as ‘The Shed’, has received a donation of £550 from Folkestone Channel Rotary in Kent to buy a sewing machine and dressmaking equipment for its home in Bradstone Road.
Project Leader Ruth Tyler and young people received the cheque from Channel Rotary Community Service Chairman, Malcolm Stewart, and said: “Thank you so much to Channel Rotary.
The Folkestone Youth Project, better known as ‘The Shed’, has received a donation of £550 from Folkestone Channel Rotary in Kent to buy a sewing machine and dressmaking equipment for its home in Bradstone Road.
“Our aim is to provide a safe, welcoming space for young people to meet and take part in free activities.
“The Shed focuses on respecting each other and our world. We have very little finance and facilities and your donation means a great deal to everyone who benefits from what we do.”
Presidential-nominee Merrilyn Chadwick, from Rochdale Rotary, challenged herself to climb Sydney Harbour Bridge during a pre-COVID-19 holiday in Australia.
Now in her 75th year, Merrilyn wanted to go beyond her comfort zone and decided to use this momentous event to raise funds for the End Polio Now campaign.
Presidential-nominee Merrilyn Chadwick, from Rochdale Rotary, challenged herself to climb Sydney Harbour Bridge during a pre-COVID-19 holiday in Australia.
Sydney Harbour Bridge has 1,320 steps so it seemed appropriate to link the climb with the 1240 Challenge as the numbers were similar and to setting a fund-raising target of £1,240.
On the day, apart from the four sets of steep steps on and off the main arch of the bridge, Merrilyn, who only has sight in one eye, didn’t feel worried by the climb, which took place in nice, clear weather, allowing for great views across Sydney and beyond.
Sydney Harbour Bridge has 1,320 steps so it seemed appropriate to link the climb with the 1240 Challenge as the numbers were similar and to setting a fund-raising target of £1,240.”
Merrilyn was overwhelmed by the messages of congratulations she received afterwards on social media, including ones from her District Governor, Patrick Tyrell, and Rotary GB&I President, Donna Wallbank.
Rotary Hearing Ambassadors are on a mission to help meeting and event organisers communicate better with those who have hearing loss.
Hearing Ambassadors which is a Rotaty initiative, held their first session just before the COVID-19 lockdown to promote good practices across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, as the hard of hearing are often disadvantaged when in formal groups, meetings and events.
Fifteen volunteers, mainly Rotarians, from across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire from Doncaster in the north to Burton in the south attended the event in Derbyshire, including one non-Rotarian, an audiologist from Sheffield.
Hearing Ambassadors which is a Rotaty initiative, held their first session just before the COVID-19 lockdown to promote good practices across the East Midlands and South Yorkshire, as the hard of hearing are often disadvantaged when in formal groups, meetings and events.
Hearing Ambassador and co-founder Gillian Campbell, from Hope Valley Rotary in Derbyshire, whose husband Andrew as significant hearing loss, said: “It’s really is about being aware of the isolating effects of hearing loss, being open to the needs of hearing impaired, and being patient and thoughtful when speaking to people who may include those with heating loss.”
At the end of the session, members were given a Rotary Hearing Ambassadors’ badge with the aim of promoting hearing awareness at Rotary clubs and other organisations in their area, using a presentation pack prepared by Rotary Hearing Ambassadors.
For more details, contact Gillian Campbell by email on: rotaryhearingambassadors@gmail.com
Bournemouth Rotary donated £1,000 towards the Dorset-based disability charity, Diverse Abilities.
They donated the money towards the charity’s appeal to purchase a Wizzybug for one of the triplets at their specialist school, Langside.
Rotarians visited the school in Poole with corporate fund-raiser, Naomi Richards to discover what the school does to provide therapy to children aged from two-years-old to 19.
Bournemouth Rotary donated £1,000 towards the Dorset-based disability charity, Diverse Abilities.
Diverse Abilities is Dorset’s disability charity supporting more than 1,600 children and adults with profound physical and learning disabilities, and their families
Founded in 1955, the charity does this by providing activities, education, therapy, nursing, financial advice, and more. It is a lifeline to many families in the county and provides round the clock care and support, offering a little bit of sunshine to their everyday lives.
