Angie Jones and Eve Ravenscroft visited The Rotary Club of Wolverhampton to explain the work done by Spurgeons which is a children’s charity providing support to vulnerable and disadvantaged children and families across England. The charity supports young carers between the age of eight to eighteen years. The primary goal of the charity is to help young carers to enjoy their own lives as well as providing support in their caring role. The charity is celebrating it’s 150th year of support. Angie thanked the club for its support particularly at Christmas time. More information about this very worthwhile organisation can be found at; www.spurgeonsyc.org or at Wolverhampton Young Carers, The Workspace, All Saints Road, Wolverhampton, WV2 1EL
Monthly Archives: November 2017
Launching the Tree of Remembrance
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From L-R, Rotarian Alan Jacques, Mander Centre Manager Richard Scharenguivel, the Mayoress of Wolverhampton Asha Mattu, Rotary Club of Wolverhampton President Stuart Williams, the Deputy Mayoress Elaine Hadley-Howell and the Deputy Mayor Councillor Phil Page
Our Christmas Tree of Remembrance burst into light on Wednesday evening at the Mander Centre. The Mayor of Wolverhampton unfortunately was unable to attend but his wife Asha, the Mayoress, and Deputy Mayor Phil Page stepped into the breech and performed a perfect switch on. The ceremony was watched by an enthusiastic collection of Rotarians and many interested shoppers. Our display stand this year is as good as it ever has been and all being well will help towards a successful campaign.
We Will Remember Them
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We will Remember Them.
Wolverhampton Rotary Clubs Crocus Planting in Aid of Polio Eradication
Rotarians from all the Wolverhampton clubs set to with a will to plant crocus bulbs in aid of polio eradication . they were joined by the Friends of Bantock Park and children from Penn Fields Special and Merridale Primary Schools.
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Leading the planting teams were The Mayor and Mayoress Councillor Elias and Mrs. Asha Mattu.
All the local Rotary clubs mounted this joint effort to raise public awareness and gather donations in support of Rotary International’s 30 year campaign, which is nearing a successful conclusion, to rid the world of the scourge of polio.In 1985, the campaign was launched. At that time, there were over 1000 new cases somewhere in the world every day, leaving children paralysed and having to spend their lives in iron lungs, because one of the many tragic effects of contracting the disease was to leave them unable to breathe unaided. Since then, Rotary has contributed more than £1.5 billion and countless volunteer hours to immunise more than 2.5 billion children in 122 countries to fight the disease. In 2017, as of December 2017 there has only been a total of 15 new cases, these occurring in Pakistan and Afghanistan and one in Nigeria, which was was quickly prevented from spreading by an extensive immunisation effort.
Rotary’s efforts are supplemented by generous financial support at a rate of 2:1 by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and by working in partnership with the World Health Organisation..
With the aid of local schools, voluntary support groups and the City of Wolverhampton Parks Service, 50,000 purple crocus were planted in 5 public spaces around the city. These were:
Tettenhall Upper Green, West Park, Bantock Park, Wednesfield Community Centre and the Bert Williams Leisure Centre, Bilston.
The purple crocus is the worldwide symbol of the mass immunisation programme whereby children have a purple dye painted onto their small finger nail to show they have received the vaccine. The dye enables the Rotarians and the World Health Organisation nurses to ensure that no child has been missed in the ensuing days before the dye fades.
When the crocus emerge in spring, they will be a lasting reminder of the part Wolverhampton has played in this vital effort.
In a separate initiative, the clubs were kindly given permission by Kelly Jeffs, the Manager of Lighthouse Cinema to collect donations from filmgoers attending each showing of the film ‘Breathe,’ a highly acclaimed film telling the true story of Robin Cavendish. He was unable to move from the neck down after contracting polio at the age of 28, and became a worldwide leading advocate for the disabled.
When the last incidence of polio has occurred, there will need to be 3 years of funded surveillance to ensure that no new cases have arisen, and then the day will have come when this dreadful disease will be banished forever.
The Rotary Clubs involved were Wolverhampton, Tettenhall, Wolverhampton St. Georges, Wednesfield, Willenhall and Bilston and Wolverhampton West.
Rotary is the worlds largest voluntary service organisation, open to men and women of all ages. For further details visit www,rotary gbi.org, where enquirers can be directed to any local club..
The Forming of a New Satellite Club?
A group of members from the Rotary Club of Wolverhampton invited a number of individuals to an informal breakfast meeting to look at the possibility of forming a Satellite Rotary Club Satellite clubs carry forward the great work done by Rotary in support of needy communities at home and abroad – similar to Rotary, but on a very informal basis. The clubs meet less often than traditional Rotary clubs and in a very easy style, at around monthly intervals, and usually in such venues as a coffee bar or similar.
The satellite club has the advantage and benefits of being part of Rotary International but has its own agenda and works as an independent group.
An initial interest meeting was held on 3rd. November at the Wolverhampton MS Therapy Centre which was established by the Rotary club of Wolverhampton in 1986. There were around 20 enthusiastic people in attendance and the opportunity was taken for them to network by explaining their background and getting to know each other. There was considerable support for the formation of a satellite club and a second meeting has been arranged.
Satellite clubs are open to men and women and any interested person will be welcome to attend.
Please contact edwardbolland@aol.com and Peter Williams at admin@mscentre.co.uk if you would like to come along.
The second meeting will be at 7.30am on Wednesday, 13th December 2017 at the Wolverhampton MS Centre, Meadow View Wharf, Tettenhall Road, WV6 0JT.
Remembering George Sidebotham- Cosford Open Week
Michael Beetham Conservation Centre, RAF Museum Cosford.
Open Week – Monday 13th to Saturday 18th November – 10.15 am to 1.00pm
Every November, The Club has a stand at the above popular event, alongside Bomber Command Historian Rob Davies. Copies of “A Life Of Service” and the DVD of Past President and District Governor, George Sidebotham’s talk on his wartime experiences in Bomber Command, are sold and the proceeds are used towards the Clubs support of The Apprentice Scheme at The Centre.
Click the link below.
Each Spring The Apprentices give a presentation at a club evening meeting, before the annual winner of the Apprentice of The Year, receives The George Sidebotham Award , given in recognition of Georges service to Rotary, The Local Community and his Country. Copies of both the book (£11) and DVD (£ 5.50) are available post free from Rotarian Peter Wright (phone 01902/762581 email peterhwright@hotmail.co.uk)