October 8th is close to World Polio Day and for the 11th year running the Rotary Club of The City of Wolverhampton planted 4000 purple crocus bulbs in Bantock Park. The Mayor Councillor Paul Singh, accompanied by the Mayoress Ranjit Dhillon was an enthusiastic attendee as he chatted with children from Merridale,Warstones Primary and Low Hill Infants schools and gave us great support joining in with the planting. We were also pleased to welcome our Rotaractors and Next Step, a group for people with learning disability and/or profound and multiple disabilities.

By purchasing the bulbs, we have contributed to Rotary International’s campaign to eliminate polio, and the planting helps to raise public awareness by coverage on social media and in the press. The purple crocus is the campaign emblem.

The children had great fun stamping down the turf after the Rotarians and volunteers had lifted the turf!

An additional feature this year was a visit from Ann Bickley from the Wolverhampton Fairtrade association who gave a most informative talk on Fair Trade. The children listened with rapt attention and interest before being gifted with a Fairtrade colouring book, sponsored by Rotary and The Co-op that has been created by Rotary Young Citizen of the Year finalist Layla Perry. The book has been sponsored by Rotary and The Co-op.

40 years ago, Rotary International embarked on a campaign to eliminate the scourge of polio from the world. We formed a partnership with the Gates Foundation and the World Health Organisation. The Gates Foundation donates $2US for every $1 we raise to purchase the vaccines and to fund the infrastructure as we continue to vaccinate children in the third world.

When the campaign started, there were 1000 new cases of polio every day in every country in the world. As a result of the campaign, India and Africa have now been declared polio free and this year to date there have only been 5 new cases in Pakistan and 35 in Afghanistan but Rotary and its partners are determined to carry on until the disease is eliminated completely. Details of the campaign can be found at the Rotary End Polio websites. https://www.endpolio.org/

PDG Richard Green.

Once again Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton were able to put smiles on the faces of children and staff – this time at Smestow School.

Two members of the Smestow team who received the books, ready for cataloguing by Librarian Karan, before installing onto the open shelves.

Rotarians Mike Hardacre and Lynn Plant packed the boot of their car with eight bagfuls of books and handed them to a grateful  Librarian. The books go to the library resource centre which is open to all pupils for study or recreational reading during the lunchtime and after school. It also operates as a lending library for pupils. All this is part of the eternal Rotary motto of “Service above Self” and helps to improve literacy for all the pupils in every school that the Books4Home  scheme operates in.

If you would like books for you school or organisation, please get in touch via our contact page.

It’s been quite a week for 13 year old Layla Perry from Bilston.

Layla at the Young Citizens awards event with, left to right, former Wolves star Rotarian Mel Eves, (Young Citizens chair,) Julia Farrell, (Layla’s nominator and Fair Trade Chair) and Derrick Anderson CBE, (Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands.)

She was the youngest finalist in the Wolverhampton Rotary Young Citizen Of The Year competition after being selected by interview from a considerable field of nominees, all of whom demonstrated their keenness to ‘go the extra mile’ in their

communities in so many ways, showing that there is talent and kindness amongst our youngsters, belying the bad press they so often receive.

The competition is a joint annual project involving all the local Rotary clubs and was originally created in the name of Wolverhampton Rotarian Tom Warren, who rose to become the worldwide President of our wonderful organisation.

Layla with the colouring book at a special launch in the Mayor’s suite at the Civic Centre.

That hasn’t been Layla’s only achievement. She has created a children’s colouring book, illustrating many of the local fine buildings and interesting features. Layla’s inspiration for the book is Wolverhampton Fair Trade              Association, for which she is h she is an enthusiastic ambassador. The book was sponsored jointly by the Rotary club of The City of Wolverhampton and Our Co-op with the willing support of Hickling and Squires printers who gave their services free of charge. The book will be distributed among local school children, helping to raise awareness of the Fair Trade ethos.

PDG Richard Green

At recent club meeting, Past President Sylvia Morgan presented the Rotary Club of the City of Wolverhampton’s Long Service  Award to Past District Governor Richard Green.

For 30 years, Richard has been a very dedicated Rotarian who has served Rotary, and communities locally, nationally and internationally in so many projects and works.

Richard is a fine example of Rotary in action

Come and join this amazing group of people who give back to our community.

The Wolverhampton club is always ready to answer the call.

Learn more about our club and get in touch – details HERE

.A Rotary Foundation Global Grant project valued at $54,680 is providing 1250 artificial limb prosthetics and physiotherapy to polio victims along with victims from accident, cancer, diabetes etc. in a series of 10 remote limb camps in Bihar and Jharkhand, India.

From its base at the Rotary Gerry Powell Limb centre the Dhanbad club and District 3250 received support  from Districts 1210, 1180 and 1100, the Rotary clubs of Wellington and the City of Wolverhampton in the UK as well as a donation of $5000 from Rotary Jaipur Limb in a true illustration of Rotarians working together, exemplifying  the 2025/2026 Presidential motto ‘Unite For Good.’

The first of the camps was successfully completed between the 1^st and the 3^rd. Of August, with plans in place for the ensuing camps to follow.

Preety Kumari, a 20 year old student from Dhanbad was born without legs. Despite this challenge she has been preparing diligently for competitive banking exams, determined to build her future. For years she tried at different camps to find suitable artificial limbs but faced repeated disappointment. On the 2^nd. Of August her perseverance finally bore fruit when she received her Rotary Jaipur Limbs. With pride and gratitude she said “Thank You Rotary for supporting me to stand tall in society.”

Another proud beneficiary, Mr. Biju Tanti, a beggar from Dhanbad shared his gratitude after receiving his limb. With emotion he said “Rotary’s support has given me a new lease of life. I can now start work and support my family with dignity.”

PDG Richard Green

We were delighted to welcome the Mayor & Mayoress of Wolverhampton, Councillor Paul Singh & Ranjit Dhillon, to our recent meeting and to induct Mr Mayor as an honorary member of our club.

Our club has a tradition of welcoming The Mayor of Wolverhampton as an honorary member of our club and we’re looking forward to working with him during his year as Wolverhampton’s first citizen!

President Sally Woods