Community Service
Charity begins at home and with Rotary it's no different! The Rotary Club of Belfast is proud to support our local community.
Current projects include: click on link below to go to topic direct
Kids Out Day
On 10 June 2010 we took part in Kids Out Day for the fourth year. This is an event carried out by a large number of the Rotary Clubs throughout UK and Ireland on the same day – taking kids with learning or physical difficulties to some fun place for the day.
Once again we continued our association with Mitchell House Special School and with a large party of Rotarian volunteers, helpers and staff took the 23 pupils with 16 in wheelchairs to Belfast Zoo. They aged from 4 up to about 11 – quite a range.
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We arrived at the School at 9.30 and after introducing ourselves and a chant of ‘we’re going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo’, how about You, You, You’, we helped to get the children into the 3 buses.
We met the rest of the Rotarians when we arrived at the Zoo and they all climbed into the buses to get a lift to the top of the Zoo grounds – it’s a steep walk otherwise.
First thing was a refreshment stop at the outside tables at the top with fantastic views – what great weather after 2 days of rain.
We started to stagger down the hill holding on to wheelchairs desperately and first passed.JPG)
the lions. We had a scary moment when Albert got a bit close to them!
Then we saw a tiger, chimpanzees (who were in a huddle apparently having a deep discussion), then onto the penguins, seals, peacocks, etc.
We got down rather late for lunch at 12.15 but managed to get the sausages, chicken or beef burgers and chips plus food for the 10 Mitchell House staff in time for the first bus home at 1 pm. The younger ages had to be back earlier that the rest.
The older ones then went for a talk and animal show provided by the Zoo.
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This started off hilariously with a tarantula being taken round. Most of the kids were fine with this except one little toughie who almost had hysterics (together with a couple of the teachers!). The python snake was taken in their stride and all the rest were fascinating.
Finally we reloaded all the children and teachers back on the remaining buses and waved goodbye. They all had a really good time and thanks go to all the Rotarian helpers, Brian Clements, Brian Ferguson, John Williamson, Eric Rainey, Gordon Millington, Alan Rundle, Courtenay Thompson, Albert Baird, Craig McClelland and also, representing Inner Wheel, to Gilly Morrison.
What joy and pleasure this project brings to all the kids as can be seen from the photographs. (Click all images for larger version)
Harmony Community Trust - Glebe House
Harmony Community Trust is a Charity established by Belfast Rotary Club in 1975 when it was decided to create a local facility which would provide children with the opportunity of respite and the experience of mixing together in a neutral environment. Glebe House, an old Rectory with 16 acres in Kilclief near Strangford, was purchased and the organisation was set up to run a holiday centre where children from both sides of the divided community in Northern Ireland could meet in a neutral environment, learn to understand one another and contribute towards a better and more peaceful future for the Province.
Throughout the last 33 years this centre has provided an essential facility, which is still very relevant, even in the current climate, to promote reconciliation and understanding. The Belfast Club has remained closely involved through continued representation on Harmony’s Committee and currently Gary Bennett and David Boyd are the Club’s representatives. In recognition of the huge input to the Trust by the late Harry Corscadden, the new Activity and Conference Centre was dedicated and named after him at a ceremony in May 2009. more……
Mitchell House School
Mitchell House School is a co-educational special school located in east Belfast for up to 80 children between the ages of 2 and 19 years with physical disabilities. The Belfast Club has provided Christmas Parties for the children. The 2009 party for the whole Junior School was a great day, the kids had a ball and the enthusiasm was contagious, all the party of Rotarians really got a buzz also. more…..
Montgomery Bowl
In 1993 the Club Council took a decision to introduce a special fund which was to be used to make life easier for children in hospital or in special care units with close ties to hospitals in the Belfast area. The fund was to be financed from a portion of the weekly Montgomery Bowl contributions which in 1993 were £15 per week rising to £20 in 1997 and £25 in 2002. For many years the Montgomery Bowl money was used to buy flowers. Typically they were sent to people in hospital. In practice however, hospital staff did not have the time to arrange them in vases and in some wards they were not allowed at all. It was therefore decided that when each member was asked to contribute, they would be given the choice of sending flowers or making a donation to the Children in Hospital Appeal.
During the first year of the new system, half of the money was donated to the Appeal. Since then, the amount donated has averaged around 90%. Contributions are channelled through our trust fund to enable us to reclaim VAT. However members are reminded that when there is an appropriate recipient for flowers, they should choose that option. This year we decided to make a single contribution to Heartbeat-NI which, among other charities, supports the Clark Clinic at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The clinic is the paediatric cardiac centre for Northern Ireland and our contribution of £1000 will be used to help purchase an MRI Scanner for this unit. Heartbeat-NI has undertaken to raise a quarter of the one million pounds required to purchase this scanner. Three other charities will raise the balance and they have all agreed on a time scale of one year! When purchased, the Health Service will take over the running of this equipment. Over 200 babies with heart conditions are born in Northern Ireland each year. At present they have to be transferred from the clinic to the adult scanners in the other hospitals. These scanners are not set up for babies and there are risks during the transfer process. A dedicated scanner will be a huge asset to the Clark Clinic and will bring real benefits to the many children who will require heart surgery there. As the Chairman of Heartbeat-NI said to me – if only he could find another 249 organisations like the Rotary Club of Belfast! On behalf of all the children who benefit from our Children in Hospital Appeal we express very sincere thanks to all our members and the hope that we can continue this work for many years.
Christmas Family Appeal
The Belfast Rotary Club was pleased to initiate, and continue involvement with, The Christmas Family Appeal - now a joint venture between The Salvation Army and the Society of St Vincent de Paul, supported by BBC Northern Ireland - which collects and distributes Christmas toys and gifts for families in need across Northern Ireland who, for what ever reason, would not otherwise get a present at Christmas.
The Appeal has grown and grown as has the need to help. Club members bring in gifts on the first meeting in December and it is a very humbling experience to see the public's generosity with all the fabulous new toys, books and games and gift vouchers left in to collection centers.
Before Christmas teams from the Club with volunteers from the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul sort and wrap the donated presents and this year the generosity was incredible as there were more than enough wonderful gifts for each child to get a parcel with a major gift ( a radio controlled Helicopter/car for example), to receive two lesser presents, some stocking fillers and a book or game.
John A. Savage Memorial Trophy
In 2009 the Club inaugurated the John A. Savage Memorial Trophy to be awarded each year to the individual or group, selected as giving great Service to the community.
The first recipients of the John A Savage J.P. Memorial Trophy were the Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church Youth Group for their work on the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and commitment to young people. The Cup was presented on 23rd November and by chance two of Rotarian Alan White’s grandchildren - Peter and Sarah White - were in the winning team!
The Cup has been created in memory of former member the late John Savage and with the excellent assistance of Eric Rainey, the old "R R Bowman" Silver Cup has been newly engraved as "The John A Savage Memorial Trophy". Craig McClelland kindly supplied a wooden plinth for the Cup which will display Silver shields listing the winners in 2009 and each subsequent year. R R Bowman was a Rotarian in our Club who died about 50 years ago. He was a great Horticulturist and had particular ability in growing beautiful scented Roses. The Silver Cup, given by him to our Club, was awarded for many years at our Autumn Flower Show, for the best Rose in Show. It was often won by the late Rotarian David A. Dorman, O.B.E. K.O.L - a Belfast Rotarian for well over 50 years and a wonderful Horticulturist.
John Savage, born 12.04.1929 was also a Rotarian in our Club and died nearly 20 years ago. A man of action with great ability, high ethical and moral standards - his Scouting career was unique! - Scout Master; Group Scout Leader and latterly President of his own Group. John resigned as Director (having followed an engineering career) in Craig's in 1972 to follow a career that he much loved, in Scouting - an extension of his lifetime hobby. With many awards for his Community Service he was Field Commissioner 1972 - 74 and Executive Commissioner 1974 until his death. He brought three Scout Associations in Ireland together. ‘A man behind everything’ he was appointed J.P. for his work in Juvenile courts; was a member of SELB from 1985; Chairman NI Standing Conference of Youth Organisations; member of the Board of Governors, Special School for Handicapped children, Newtownards; and a member of the Programme of Training Sub Committee (London H.Q.).
On joining the Rotary Club of Belfast, John quickly entered into the Work and Service under the Aims & Objects of Rotary. Possibly, one of his greatest contributions in Rotary and Scouting was his re-establishing the Rotary Boys' Camp, at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre 1977, with Pat Smyrl and Denise O'Neill, Scouts and Ranger Guides. He nurtured the disadvantaged children attending the Camps, as they enjoyed the experience of sleeping under canvas with a simple Scout programme, and he made a lasting difference to many lives.
Used Printer Ink
The collection of used printer ink earns us much needed funds. Please continue to collect.