The Rotary club of The City of Wolverhampton and several other clubs were delighted to host a team of visiting young people from Vechta, Germany under a programme pioneered by our District 1210, entitled Vocational Study Exchange. (VSE.) This followed a visit by our outgoing team to Vechta in the previous October.

VSE gives young people the opportunity to study their chosen career in another country for 2 weeks as well as visiting places of local interest and Rotary clubs. The participants are non Rotarians under the leadership of a Rotarian and they stay in Rotarians homes.

Rotarian Stefan Warnking the team leader said, at the conclusion of their visit “thanks to you we were able to gain many insights and vocational knowledge that a typical tourist would never experience. The VSE programme is a fantastic project and I consider these exchanges to be one of the most important development programmes within Rotary, offering maximum benefit and new friendships to everyone involved!”

Past exchanges have been held with groups from Finland, Norway and many other European countries. Plans are underway for an exchange in the next Rotary year. For further information contact John Mottram at  l_mottram@hotmail.com

Once again, the purple crocus corms that the Rotary club of the City of Wolverhampton planted in Bantock Park in October ‘25 in support of the Rotary International campaign to eliminate the scourge of polio have given bloom to a colourful springtime display.

We were supported by local schoolchildren and representatives from the Wolverhampton Fair Trade Association and the Global Diabetes Initiatives. It takes the total number of corms to 50000, helping to raise public awareness of the campaign and provide funds for the purchase of vaccines.

Last Tuesday PP Richard Horrell visited the Civic Suite in the Civic Centre in Wolverhampton to present a club name badge to Craig Collingswood, Mayor of Wolverhampton. The Mayor who is an honorary member of the City of Wolverhampton Rotary Club was also presented with a club banner in recognition of the support he has given to Rotary’s work in the city”.

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.