Community & Youth

Community & Youth

Making a difference with Rotary 

For more than 100 years Gloucester Rotary Club members have been making a difference – here in the city, in the country and abroad. The world has changed a lot since we started in 1920. Sadly poverty and deprivation still exist so our club continues to find ways of alleviating problems in Gloucester where we can.  

Here are some examples:-  

Making a difference here in the city 2023/2024 …

• FOOD PARCELS  – Every year our members help the Salvation Army fill and distribute food parcels in the city. At Christmas 2023 nearly 1,000 large boxes of food were sent to families struggling to cope with little income and rising prices.
• FINANCIAL GRANTS – Our club has also given money to other organisations striving to meet the same needs such as £500 given to St Catharine’s Church for food boxes distributed via Kingsholm School.
• CLOTHING – Thanks to the Salvation Army we have also distributed several bags of warm good quality used clothing for adults and children at points in the city such as Matson, Podsmead and Linden.
• KIDS OUT – For several years hundreds of children from schools in deprived areas of the city have been able to enjoy a day out at Cattle Country near Berkeley. All costs including transport and refreshments are met by the club whose members turn out in force on the day. We organise the day for us and for other clubs and this year around 900 children, including children from seven city primary schools will be there to enjoy a day to remember,
• GLOUCESTER ROTARY AWARDS – A past club president suggested that instead of adopting one charity for his presidential year that the club made a global sum available and invite local organisations to submit bids of up to £500 for events/training/equipment. This has been such an outstanding success that other Gloucester Rotary clubs have chipped in to enlarge the global sum available. To date hundreds of awards have been made and thousands have benfited.
• HELPING YOUNG CARERS – It’s a sad fact that many young children (some from only five years old) are carers for older siblings or parents.  They are not forgotten. This acknowledgement was received after a recent event. ‘On behalf of Gloucestershire Young Carers and the Young Adult Carers (YAC), I would like to express our sincere gratitude for your unwavering support and partnership during yesterday’s Young Adult Carers Future event held at SkillZone. Your commitment has made a significant impact on the lives of young individuals who selflessly care for their loved ones. Without Gloucester Rotary’s  generous donation, we could not afford to put this event on. We are truly grateful to you.
• ROTARY HOLIDAYS – Every year our club arranges for a couple of local families to go on all expenses paid holiday to the seaside. The families are chosen after being carefully selected and with help from the appropriate professionals.

So you see 100 years on the Rotary Club of Gloucester is still making a difference here in the city. If you want to join us in our quest, please get in touch – email: secretary@rotaryclubofgloucester.co.uk.