December saw the Rotary Club of Retford very busy with both fundraising and fun events, and over the next couple of months there will be reports of some of the donations made to local charities arising from these efforts.
The beginning of a New Year is a good place to reflect on another way in which the Rotary Club of Retford supports local communities. The Percy Laws Memorial Trust was formed back in 1988 as the result of a bequest from the widow of Percy Laws, a founding member of Retford Rotary Club.
The Club, through the efforts of the Percy Laws Trustees and the Percy Laws Management Committee (PLMC) uses the income from the Trust to make a difference to individuals, families, groups and local organisations. The aim is to support and improve life opportunities locally by both supporting individuals and groups.
Applications for assistance are directed to the PLMC via the Club website, and from other committees within the Club who may request match funding towards projects. The applications are diverse in nature, covering a broad range of ages and requests. Careful consideration is given to them all.
In November, members of PLMC attended the New Roots Annual Achievement Awards which had received Percy Laws funding. Members of PLMC had already visited New Roots in the preceding week to assist the care staff in selecting the recipients of the awards. The young people who received the awards were delighted and encouraged to have received such recognition from both their own care staff, and the PLMC members.
The Rotary Club of Retford, through the Youth Committee and the PLMC Committee has also recently provided additional support to the already established SVP school uniform project. This project was set up nearly two years ago when it was recognised that there was a real need in the area for families to access, free, quality second hand school uniforms.
The SVP district funded premises rental and the uniform project was started and runs extremely efficiently with help from SVP Retford members. Extra funding was needed for situations where no pre-loved uniforms were available in the correct size. The donation through Retford Rotary Youth Committee and PLMC means that one or two new items can be purchased on behalf of a family to fill a need where there would otherwise be nothing available.
The Committee members feel extremely privileged to be able to uphold the philanthropic ideals that Percy Laws and his family envisaged when setting up the bequest. The goal is to maintain these fundamental values with each funding award made.
Contact the Club through the website at www.rotaryclubofretford.co.uk.