About us

Pages last updated: Saturday 20th January 2024

THE ROTARY CLUB OF LEEDS ELMETE

We now meet  in person at the Bingley Arms, Bardsey, Leeds LS17 9DR on Thursdays at 12.30pm 

for a snack lunch

, BUT on the 1st Thursday each month we meet virtually by ZOOM

 at 7.00 pm. 

Please email for details of the next meeting venue/time/day etc. if required:

email: leedselmeterotary@btinternet.com  

Website address: www.leeds-elmete.rotary1040.org

Registered Charity Number 1033420

OUR CLUB

We are a very small Club of 10 Members (2 Honorary - but active Rotarians!). Like many Rotary Clubs we are growing old together (our average age is about 80!). We are not in a position to do what we have done in the past, and unlikely to attract new members. Our resolve is to continue for as long as we can, enjoying fellowship and helping others where and when we can in the true spirit of Rotary: 

“Service above Self”. 

In that respect we believe that we still “punch above our weight” – to see a summary of our Charitable Giving Activity for 2022-23 click here

PRESENTATION TO IRELAND WOOD SCHOOL 

On Friday 8th December 2023, President Neale and two Past Presidents attended the School Assembly for years 4, 5 and 6 at Ireland Wood School, Cookridge, Leeds LS16. We have enjoyed a long association with this wonderful school, which includes disabled children among it's students, providing an excellent, caring learning environment for able bodied and disabled individuals alike. Each year we try to provide a piece of specialised equipment or a monetary donation to facilitate the work of the school and it's staff. This year, having been introduced to the Assembley by the Head Teacher Mr Blackburn, we presented a cheque for £500 to the school. We know full use will be made of this donation. The picture shows a very happy young man receiving the cheque from the President on behalf of the School. 


CLUB PRESIDENT 2023-24

Our president for 2023-24 is Rotarian Neale Lucas, PHF.  Neale transferred to us in 2017 from the Rotary Club of Bridlington, which he had joined in 1997. He was their President in 2008-9. He was a Bank Manager in that town on the East Coast before retiring to live in the outskirts of Leeds. Shortly after joining us, and with his skill for handling money, he was made our Treasurer and has served us well ever since! A true Rotarian, he was awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship by the Club in 2021 for his Rotary Work - we then found out that he had prevoiusly awarded a PHF in his old Club in 2016!  He is our main contact/support for the Food Bank we are involved with at St Richard's Church in Seacroft Leeds, attending and helping there most Tuesdays.  The picture shows Neale proudly wearing the President's Jewel, with which he had just been presented by outgoing President Peter at our meeting on 29th June. We hope Neale has a Great Year as our President.

This year's Rotary theme:

Lord Mayor's Tea Party 

On 5th October 2023, our President Neale (3rd from right) represented the Club at an afternoon tea at the Civic Hall with the Lord Mayor of Leeds, Councellor Al Garthwaite and her Consort Angela Gabriel, together with several other Club Presidents from the Leeds Group of Rotary Clubs.  

The Lord Mayor has chosen "Women's Counselling and Therapy Services" as her charity for the year, and the assembled group were given a presentation about the Charity.

A very pleasant afternoon was spent by all and a good 'cuppa' was enjoyed.

Support for needy people locally with Food donations
How it all started, June 2020:

We, sadly, live in an era in which Food Banks are needed, and poverty and need in our communities is only too real, worsened by the effects of Covid-19 and more recently with financial uncertainties, many people now find themselves in real difficulty. Since June 2020, we have continued to support (with monetary and food donations) the Parish Larder at St Richards Church Seacroft, Leeds, where clients of the Leeds East (Trussell Trust) Food Bank receive their food donations.  We also provide gifts for children at Christmas and Easter. One of our Rotarians volunters to help at the Tuesday food distribution each week, and other Rotarians when they can etc..


 St Richard's Church is in the Parish of Seacroft in Leeds

UPDATES  2022-23 (in reverse chronological order

December 2023
The demand for help from the food bank has slackened slightly in recent weeks, but many people still use this facility, which for them is vital. Our Club's involvement has been able to be less intensive of late. We have however kept up the tradition of providing a treat for the children at Christmas time - this year in the form of chocolate 'Selection Boxes'.

24th August 2003 
Tuesday morning food distribution as busy or busier than ever. The Club has given a grant of £300 toward the cost of installing a large fridge to store fresh food. HT milk donations from the Club continue and are well received.

Here are the completed figures of numbers of people given food for Jan to Aug 2023. They vary depending on the number of Tuesdays in the month and closures in Easter Week. (Food for one family counted as 1):       Jan 978   Feb 920   Mar 899   Apr 756   May 942   Jun 797   July 853   Aug 1008. They are more than grateful for the support we give, Neale.

6th July 2023 

Neale reports thing are busy again with the numbers of people needing help are rising again, with many new faces attending, including a greater number from the Trussel Trust than before. Otherwise the running of the Larder is going smoothly. Donations of UHT milk from the Club are well received.

9th May 2023.

Food Bank report: Tues 2nd May very quiet, thought to be due to £300 Goverment payments going out. Neale did not attend on 9th, but his wife took food down (see Big Help Out. We have supplied a  2nd Tablet (iPad) to help with booking people in. Lis B. has now left.

Call from Carole at Trussell Trust - they wish us to take part in a trial collaboration with Mind to have 2 caseworkers in the Food Bank helping clients with issues.

Big Help Out: Mike Crawford brought all the surplus food from his development's street party for use by the Food Bank. Well done Mike.

20th April 2023.

Demand on the Parish Larder/Food Bank continues to increase, with an average of about 240 people per week seeking help. (Total number fed in February = 935). Members of the Club continue to suppliment the UHT Milk reqirement each week, and Treasurer Neale helps out every Tuesday.

The Club provided Chocolate Easter Eggs for the children at Easter.

The Trussell Trust and Rountree Foundation are pressing Government to increase help since more and more people are experiencing food poverty.

Lis Bowes, larder manager, will next week leave to move 'up north' to be closer to her family. She goes with our Best Wishes for the future and the grateful thanks of the hundreds, and hundreds, of people she has helped in the Seacroft Area. Good Luck Lis. xx

CLICK HERE to go further into the story so far.

AQUABOX

    (Click on the Aquabox logo to go to their website.) Our members used to try to fill three Aquaboxes each year and deliver them to the Aquabox Depot in Derbyshire. However, because of Corona Virus, we were unable to do this in 2020 - 22.  
Now, Aquabox prefers to receive monetary donations, and to fill the boxes themselves with goods they have sourced (for completeness and quality of the items in the box).


Here is an extract of an email received by Aquabox with a quote from one of the recipients in Somalia of the boxes we sent in 2012: "When I was pregnant, I had worries to cloth(e) my babe. We don't afford food most times so monies for clothes is hard to get. I thought the box was just for water and was happy when I found the towels and the clothes. I cried and hided them for after the delivery. This is the first time I ever had something new to wrap my baby in. My oldest son Ahmed will not leave the shelter without his new books and bag. He is too proud when he carries them with the other boys. Even me, I can share the cooking utensils with my neighbors. It feels like being home again. Truely these are blessings for all of us!"

Makes you feel good that the efforts of a few people in Yorkshire can have such an impact on the lives of people in need so far away! 

Our Webpages

Our Club is one of very many clubs in Great Britain and Ireland currently using the RIBI website template, each club being required to make an ANNUAL payment of £50. This is raising over £70,000 for The Rotary Foundation each year!



Meetings & Venue

Where and when:

We meet on Thursdays at 12.30pm (1st Thurs. ZOOM 7pm)

(No meeting on two Thursdays around Christmas. First meeting of month by Zoom @ 7.00pm WE MEET on Thursdays VIRTUALLY ON ZOOM on the first day of the month, otherwise, IN PERSON AT THE BINGLEY ARMS FOR LUNCH AT12.30pm ) Bingley Arms
37 Church Lane
Bardsey
Leeds
LS17 9DR  01937 572462
W3W:  ///pose.nightlife.grins

Web site about the locality

Rotary News

Be part of a global network of volunteers, trying to make the world a better place. Please also see the 'links & news' page for information from the local district and live feeds from Rotary International and Rotary International in GB&I.

Rotary serving communities through supporting foodbanks

Diversity is part of Rotary’s core values