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Rotary is well known for tackling both large and small projects around the world and in the local community.
Included in the many international projects supported by our Club are:
Disaster Appeals - Over £12,000 was raised and spent supporting the 2004 Tsunami Disaster, the 2005 Asian Earthquake appeals, the 2008 Burma Cyclone Disaster and the 2008 China Earthquake appeals.
ShelterBox - Each box contains a 3-compartment, 10 -person domed tent, 10 individual, envelope type sleeping bags, water purification tablets, cooking/eating utensils, multi-fuel stove, hand tools and a variety of other essential items including a rope and a torch.
Recently, ShelterBoxes were shipped to Burma to provide relief for those areas hit by the cyclone.
LifeBox - Each box contains 72 items of: tools, clothes, blankets, baby care/hygiene items, toys and classroom materials and is available for both hot and cold climates. The contents lists were specifically tailored by the Red Cross, each box providing vital aid for adults and children.
Recently, LifeBoxes were shipped to China to provide earthquake relief.
Sight Savers - In 1974 a partnership was formed with Sight Savers International which by 1990 had achieved over 500,000 sight restoring cataract operations in India. 1991 saw the launch of projects to train, equip and deploy special eye care workers across Africa. By 1999 the number of cataract operations carried out in India had exceeded 750,000. In support of the work of the Rotary/Sight Savers partnership we recycle unwanted spectacles. These are collected locally and first sent for refurbishment and then on to Third World countries where they are desperately needed and much appreciated.
Water - Approximately 20% of the world's 6 billion population do have not access to clean water. Technology can help improve this situation and to that end we have supported two different types of water projects.
The first is “Aqua Boxes” and "Aqua Filters". The "Aqua Boxes" are sent out to disaster areas as part of a rapid response to emergencies and are intended for short term relief while reliable supplies are being restored. "Aqua Filters" are sent to established communities that have water but need to treat it to have a permanent source of clean potable water . The second is “Water Aid” which finances finding water in arid areas and drilling new wells to provide a sustainable source for local communities.
Polio - In 1985, Rotary launched the PolioPlus program to protect children worldwide from the cruel and fatal consequences of polio. In 1988, the World Health Assembly challenged the world to eradicate polio. Since that time, Rotary's efforts and those of partner agencies, including the World Health Organization, the United Nations Children's Fund, the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and governments around the world, have achieved a 99 percent reduction in the number of polio cases worldwide. The aim was to have eradicated polio by the end of 2005 but new outbreaks of the wild polio virus have delayed that target date to, hopefully not later than, the end of 2015 and by that time Rotary's financial contributions will have exceeded US $1,000 million in addition to the provision of vaccine, assistance to health care workers and training to laboratory personnel to track the virus.
International Understanding - Rotary firmly believes that by promoting international understanding tomorrow's world can be a better place. To this end, the Clubs in our District promote a team of young business and professional people to visit another part of the world to discover how their businesses/vocations are conducted there and to experience life outside of the UK. In return, we receive a similar team from that part of the world and arrange for them to have similar experiences here in the northwest of England. The programme is known as Group Study Exchange with the emphasis spread equally over ‘working in groups’, ‘the study of different ways of business and life’ and ‘ the exchange of ideas’. Rotary also provides scholarships for study abroad. Information about these programmes can be found on our Scholarships & Grants page.
AIDS - In conjunction with other local Rotary clubs we have supported programmes in Africa to educate and prevent the transmission of HIV and AIDS.
Local projects we have supported include:
The Salvation Army - We have been pleased to support the local branch in their work with the homeless and needy.
St. John Ambulance - We were delighted to be able to supply a new defibrillator for the local branch.
Family Relief - From physically helping to refurbish a local holiday centre for disadvantaged children and supporting single parent organisations, to providing ‘toiletry kits’ for the homeless and a Christmas party and gifts for those who would otherwise not have them, we have supported many differing and needy causes locally.
Youth - The programmes range from art exhibitions and public speaking to cooking and essay writing competitions. Also included are Rotary’s own Youth Leadership Award projects designed to provide both training and adventure. All of the events are intended to instil a sense of taking part in local community life and / or personal development.
Health Care - Hospices, day care and nursing care related to cancer sufferers, research studies into cancer, and epilepsy and Down Syndrome relief centres have all received assistance.