The Kick Diabetes Out of UK event was delivered on 15th November 2025 in two impactful sections, combining sport, health awareness, and community engagement. The first section featured a vibrant football tournament with 10 teams competing,  which took place at Tettenhall College. The tournament brought together players, supporters, and community members to promote physical activity as a key tool in diabetes prevention. The matches encouraged teamwork, fitness, and social inclusion while raising awareness about the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle.

The second section focused on health education and empowerment through a Diabetes Fashion Show and symposium, which took place at Genting Casino.

This unique event creatively highlighted confidence, inclusivity, and living positively with or preventing diabetes. The fashion show was complemented by expert talks and community discussions on diabetes prevention, management, and mental health awareness, emphasising the strong connection between physical and emotional wellbeing.

A special thank you goes to our generous sponsors, Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton, Tettenhall College, and Genting Casino, whose invaluable support helped make this successful and impactful community event possible.

Dr. Matilda Chongwa

Chief Executive Director

Global Diabetes Initiatives

PhD Health & Wellbeing

MSc Public Health

Expert in Diabetes Prevention

Advocate for Healthy Living & Emotional Wellbeing.

The Wolverhampton Area round of the 2026 Rotary Young Musician Competition was attended by a full audience at the Music Hub in Graisley Hill on Sunday, February 8^th when 11 vocalists and instrumentalists again demonstrated the wealth of musical talent there is in our city.

Adjudicators Sarah Baker and Robyn Davies MBE had a difficult task to select the winners who will go forward to the next round, which is the District Final to be held at the same venue on February 22^nd.

After some considerable deliberation, they announced the winners to be 15 year old Davina Dennis who gave a stunning rendition of the ‘Concerto for Tenor Saxophone’ by Jean-Baptiste Singelee and ‘Nightclub 1960’ by Astor Piazzzolla. Davina attends Wolverhampton Grammar School and frequently plays in orchestras and jazz bands around the area.

The winning vocalist was 15 year old Amelia Donoghue, a student at Tettenhall College, who thrilled the audience with her selection of ‘The Lady’s Improving’ by Matthew Skiar, ‘Last Midnight’ by Stepern Sondheim and ‘Warwick Avenue’ by James Hogarth, Aimee Duffy and  Francis White.

In presenting the winners’ trophies, the President of the Rotary club of The City of Wolverhampton, John Hollingsworth congratulated all the competitors, commenting that they had provided the audience with an amazing display of musical talent.

This competition, one of the many ways in which Rotary provides great opportunities for young people, has enabled large numbers of talented musicians and singers to perform in front of an audience and has, in the past, resulted in at least one BBC Young Musician Of The Year.

PDG Richard Green

Helping the Congo Children’s Trust and their project Kimbilio in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo means much to our club and we’re delighted to be able to continue the support by adding to the container of goods which the CCT are arranging to be shipped to DRC in March.

Sadly this is not the best photo but within the boxes and bubble-wrap are 9 computers, with keyboards, mice and cables, all ready to be delivererd to the Congo Children’s Trust office in Manchester.

Plus, following an amazing donation by the current club President John Hollingswort’s accountancy company, Hollingsworth and Co, are   9–good as new monitors.

This will mean a huge amount to many.

All of the equipment is heading to a small village outside Lubumbashi called Luowoshi. It is a much deprived rural area where CCT opened and run a primary school.

Currently in construction next door is a vocational centre which when completed will offer training to youngsters of the area and graduates of the school to help with employment.

It’s an exceptional project.

For more infomation on the Congo Children’s Trust, click HERE

Our Grant Giving Committee is pleased to be have been able to support an application from the Kanyama Self-help Clinic in Lusaka, Zambia, (about 250m from the school where we also are very active) for protective and safety equipment for the team of volunteers who help in this compound clinic.  The rain season makes life even more difficult than it is ordinarily. Vulnerable people cannot get to the clinic and volunteers cannot get around easily. Trudging through water up to a foot deep is commonplace.  

So…. A note of thanks from the deputy manager at the clinic;

Ladies and gentlemen.

On behalf of the management, staff and volunteers of the Kanyama Self-help Clinic, I’d like to take this opportunity to express our sincere and heartfelt gratitude for the kind gesture that you have made which comes at a critical time.

By providing safety equipment and protective clothing, this allows the volunteers to continue their work in the community under very challenging conditions.

The equipment you have supplied as with not only protects the volunteers from harsh weather conditions but also greatly enhances their safety and comfort.

We truly appreciate your organisation and its commitment for supporting our volunteers in this way.

Your generosity demonstrates a strong spirit of partnership and our volunteers are truly grateful.

For the donors who provided the support we thank you for standing with us and for investing in the people that make this work possible.

We are deeply grateful to you for your support and we hope that our partnership will continue to grow from strength to strength.

We thank you so much.  

Christine Jere, Deputy Centre Manager, Kanyama Self Help Clinic, Kanyama, Lusaka, Zambia.

L-R District Governor Cressida Dickens, Rotaract President David Nduaku, RC Wolverhampton advisor and liaison Rotarian, Matilda Chongwa.

It was a superb occasion with a packed attendance when the 29 founder members of the newly formed Rotaract Club of The University of Wolverhampton received their charter from District Governor Cressida Dickens and their induction by the President of the sponsoring Rotary club, The City of Wolverhampton John Hollingsworth, assisted by the advisor and liaison Rotarian, Matilda Chongwa. The charter had been signed by the President of Rotary International, Francesco Arezzo. 

The event began when emcee Past District Governor Richard Green introduced former Young Musician Competition winner Ella Morgan, her accompanist Brenda Arnold and Rotarian Robyn Davies MBE who entertained everybody with superb songs and a keyboard performance. 

Rotaract Club of The University of Wolverhampton with the PDG Richard Green RC Wolverhampton President John Hollingsworth and the Mayor of Wolverhampton, Councillor Craig Collingswood

Not to be outdone, 5 of the Rotaractors followed by singing ‘Sweet Lovers Love the Spring’ as if to highlight the beginning of a new era for Rotary in the area, and between the verses they each cleverly spoke in differing ways about their commitment to Service above Self and co-operation with local Rotary clubs. This commitment has already been demonstrated by the Rotaractors helping those local clubs with their Santa Sleighs over the recent Christmas period. They plan to serve as stewards at forthcoming Rotary youth competitions. 

Mayor Councillor Craig Collingswood in welcoming them to the city said “In joining he worldwide fellowship of Rotary you are becoming members of a great community service organisation and I am sure that you will be playing your part in supporting individuals and groups less fortunate than ourselves.”

The Club Officers. L-R Mahnaz khalafehnilsaz. Treasurer Prince-Will Adaise. Secretary Adeyemi Adebayo Membership Chair David U Ndukaku President of the Rotaract Club of the University of Wolverhampton. John Hollingsworth. President of the Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton. Rose Osarobey. Event Cordinator Amarachi Idika Welfare Coordinator

As he accepted the charter, incoming Rotaract President David Nduaku said “we hope to honour your investment by making a lasting, positive impact in the area, working in close partnership with our patron, the Rotary Club of The City of Wolverhampton.”

Once again, Rotarians and friends showed their support for communities in difficult areas, where a gift from far away means a great deal.

The donations that were made enabled two Christmas fun-days to take place- firstly in Zambia, and secondly in the DRC, and then the providing of Shoeboxes which will be sent to Romania, Moldova and hopefully Ukraine also.

Firstly- Kanyama Free Baptist Community School, Lusaka Zambia, and a thank you note from the Headteacher;

Hello,

As Free Baptist Community School, we want to shout out a huge thank you to our incredible donors! Thanks to your generosity, our community school hosted an unforgettable fun day!  Our children shone bright, performing poems, dances, and songs in front of friends and family. And to top it off, they enjoyed yummy treats like drinks, bananas, sweets, and snacks. The smiles on their faces said it all.  Your support brings joy and opportunities to these young stars. We’re so grateful for your kindness. You’ve made a real difference in our school community.

Thank you again for helping make it happen!”

Beston Chilemalema, Headteacher, Kanyama Free Baptist Community School

And secondly;

Kimbilio Primary School, Luowashi, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo

From the Kimbilio Director at the school- Carine Bahati Nono;

Hello Dear friends.

The Kimbilio’s children, the students and the teachers really appreciated your generosity again for help at this special time.

It has been a culture for us to received gifts for Christmas because of your kindness.  May God bless you for everything you are doing for us. For most of the children, it has been their first time to received presents since they have been learning at Kimbilio’s school.

We managed to organised the presence of a Father Christmas, one of the Kimbilio’s children did that. And after games with singing and dancing, distributed to each child a package of sweets, biscuits and juice.

Thank you from our hearts.

Carine Bahati Nono,

Kimbilio Director, Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Shoeboxes.

Donations made it possible for us to spend just over £850 at Poundland and Aldi, which made approximately 123 boxes. With notable contributions of boxes from the Morgan packaging plant at Wedges Mills, and also their Compton division (Sylvia and Derek’s daughter Penny and granddaughter Ella) which between them produced 70 boxes

Our friends at Bethel Christian Fellowship Church in West Bromwich this year filled 45 boxes and made cash donations of £255 enabling a further 40 boxes to be completed- a grand total of 85 boxes!

Rotarian Julie Hickman and family once again filled an incredible 30 boxes also which brings our total this year to 308 boxes.

Wonderful.

Thank you so much to everyone who contributed.

48,000 children require emergency care every year in the UK.

Under the skilful leadership of Rotarian John Wilson of the Rugeley club, we are keen supporters of The Buddy Bag scheme. A Buddy Bag is a backpack that contains essential items such as toiletries, pyjamas, socks and underwear and, most important of all a delightful teddy bear. The Buddy Bag comes into use when children have to enter emergency care, often as a result of domestic violence and it provides something the children can call their own, no matter where they go.

We arranged for 30 children at The Way Youth Zone to take part in a bag pack with the contents sponsored by the Wolverhampton club. The youngsters set about the task of packing with great enthusiasm and interest, especially when John asked them to ‘give the teddy bear a hug of love that will be felt by the child who opens the bag!’

Tyrone Johnson, philanthropy manager at The Way says “Watching our young people pack Buddy Bags was truly inspiring. They understood that these bags might be the only belongings a child has during such a frightening time. Knowing they could make that transition a little easier for someone their own age filled them with pride and compassion. It was a powerful reminder that kindness can change lives.”

Further information about Buddy Bags can be found at www.buddybagfoundation.co.uk