Community Service Presentation

For the last of the speaker presentations for the Community Services Month members of the Community Services Team gave an account of the teams work over the last year.

The Team Leader, John Wainwright, began by noting that to date in the current Rotary year twenty-three charities had received financial support and a sum £24,700 had been distributed. The team considers grant requests received from local charities and also charities referred to it from the Dragon Boat team.

Three members of the team gave an update of the work of the charities that they are the Rotary link person. This gives emphasis to the fact that York Rotary, although hugely successful at raising funds, also seeks to engage with those it supports by coming alongside to encourage and foster partnership.  Each presentation highlighted how the funds received had been used.

Jane Albon gave an update on the work of three inspiring charities supported, Riding for Rehab, Chocolate and Co, and Xmas Prescence. Dennis Adamson presented an update resume of the work of Door 84, a long-standing partner with York Rotary, highlighting the new aspects of work commenced but also the financial challenges currently being faced. Keith Hayton then updated on the drama workshops that had been funded by York Rotary at Carecent, a breakfast centre for the homeless and unemployed. He also spoke of the hospital transport scheme operated by Age UK, with support from York Rotary, which is much more than transport to the hospital. Volunteers seek to ensure that the out patients they transport have sufficient provisions at home and keep in touch with them between hospital visits so that they are not alone once the front door has closed. 

A further presentation was given by Alex Brown, a student from York University who, although not a member of Rotary had recently become a friend of Rotary.  

Alex was passing a Rotary fundraising event at St Crux and called in to ask if Rotary might help the Tea and Coffee Project at the University. This is a weekly activity where students engage with the elderly over tea and coffee and just share conversation. Those attending are referred by Age UK and taxis transport people to the University. Other events are also held including outings and a Christmas dinner and members joined York Rotary at the Seniors Christmas afternoon tea.  Financial support received from York Rotary, plus a very successful fundraising drive at the university now enabled numbers attending to double and for a second day a week being offered at another university campus involving more students. Alex finished with a testimonial from Jim , for whom it is his highlight of the week:

John Wainwright