WELCOME TO THE ROTARY CLUB OF

NORWICH ST. EDMUND

Rotary has been working hard for many years to eradicate Polio and is now very close to success

Rotary

Rotary International is a worldwide organisation of men and women who volunteer their time and talents to serve communities at home and abroad. Rotary is inclusive of all cultures, races and creeds. It is non-religious and non-political, and there are no age or gender restrictions

Rotarians provide humanitarian services, encourage high ethical standards in every vocation, and help to build goodwill and peace in the world. 

Rotary Club of Norwich St. Edmund

A Message from our Co Presidents - Sarah Bannon PHF and malcolm Goodson PH:-

Since 1986, our Club has been active in supporting many Local and International Projects, especially in support of small local charities that rely almost totally on charitable giving & international projects in the developing world.

Since 2014, we have undertaken a Christmas Tree Festival at St Peter Mancroft Church in the centre of Norwich allowing around 30 small charities to showcase their work. With a 6000 footfall during pre-Christmas, this brings awareness of the many yet demanding needs in our community.

Internationally, we have, for the past twenty years, worked with our international partner clubs to reduce child slavery in the developing world which in recent years has developed to all slavery and exploitation even in the UK.

We are currently embarked upon a project in Zimbabwe to refurbish a School in the Muda community, a rural location where there are no teaching aids or resources, no toilets, no power, no health professionals, not even pencils or paper. Since July of last year, we have provided 1000  books, pens & pencils plus teaching aids. A roof has been added to a derelict teaching block & later this year, we plan to add irrigation to a garden area so crops can be planted with assured harvesting. Three years of drought has led to failed crops. The reading age of a 16 years old in Muda is equivalent to a 5 years old in the UK, we Are confident that the children's enthusiasm to learn will ensure that opportunity & aspiration can be achieved.

Our Club meets at the Maid’s Head Hotel on a Tuesday or on Zoom at 7pm.  For further details see "Meetings and Events".

If you want some action and to do good in the world, then how about joining Rotary? Rotary is a great way to combine friendship alongside doing good in the world through international and community projects.

Get involved….pop along  - no initial commitment - just come and see….why wait?

Contact us via this website or Facebook, just send a message and we'll respond. Looking forward to meeting you!

Rotary Year Overview

Below is an overview of events which may take place during the Rotary year.  It is not set in stone, but more to give an idea of events which may take place either as a one off or on a more regular basis.

Crucial Crew – schools activity highlighting the need for safety in and out of the home

Kids Out – activity for disadvantaged children

RYLA  - Rotary Youth Leadership Award is an intensive leadership experience organised by Rotary Clubs and districts where you develop your skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.

Garden fund raisers– Rotarians hosting activities in their garden to raise money for worthy causes

Christmas Tree Festival – celebration highlighting charities and organisations through a display of Christmas trees

Young Artist Competition – a national competition offering creative opportunities for young people.

Rotary Youth Speaks – a debate competition – run by Rotary in schools or other organisations – to enable young people to perform, persuade and entertain the audience with their display of knowledge of a topic of their choosing. 

Frugal Meals – Members of Rotary host meals in their homes raising money for good causes

Tripling Event – a weekend activity whereby Norwich St. Edmund Rotary Club joins together with clubs from Germany and France.

Quiz and Puds – a fund raising opportunity

Young Carers – an activity for young carers to get together

Antiques Valuation Day – working with a local auction house to give people the opportunity to have valuables assessed and raise money for charities

Bucket Collections – street and supermarket collections take place from time to time where people are able to donate to good causes

Music Concerts – concerts involving local schools and/or local music groups join together to perform, entertain and raise money

Awards – to recognise the achievements of people in our community, a certificate plus framed photograph is presented on behalf of the Club to nominated individuals, as a way of saying thanks.

Community and Vocational

Community and Vocational activities seek opportunities whereby Rotarians are actively involved, fostering good relations, and developing networking opportunities. We assist the vulnerable, socially marginalised and those with medical needs, in order to enhance the quality of people's lives, across all ages. 

We also assist with educational activities with school age pupils, such as hearing readers, help with literacy skills and the gifting of dictionaries. The organising of an outing for physically disabled pupils in connection with Kids Out fosters confidence building. Fun activities for Young Carers in conjunction with the Benjamin Foundation provides freedom from caring responsibilities, and aiding safety awareness for Year 6 pupils is achieved through Crucial Crew days. 

In the past year, we have supported and participated in the Christmas Tree Festival at St Peter Mancroft Church, worked with The Salvation Army to provide Christmas hampers, toys, and vouchers for local families, and supported the Norfolk Lowland Search and Rescue organisation and the Norwich branch of the Multiple Sclerosis Society. 

Each year we facilitate the opportunity for attendance at the Rotary Youth Leadership Award scheme and put a spotlight on local people who show Service above Self through the President’s Certificate of Recognition. 

We have a great deal of fun and fellowship through quiz nights, frugal suppers, by donating to foodbanks. We try to make a difference, if you would like to join us, or sample Rotary for yourself, please contact Alan Longmuir  

Christmas Tree Festival

In collaboration with St. Peter Mancroft Church each year we stage a Christmas Tree Festival which supports local charities. 

Various businesses and professionals sponsor the trees and help us raise funds for charitable purposes.

International 

The  Club is deeply committed to supporting international humanitarian aid and development.

In March 2024,   Rotarian Tania Sidney-Roberts (a former Head Teacher)  visited The Rotary Club Harare Central Zimbabwe. The Meeting led to a visit to the rural community of Muda some 75 kilometres from Harare where she found a forgotten School, where pupils had little hope of achievement. A school with a derelict teaching block, where children of all ages sit together often with four pupils sitting on a bench made for two and a single desk. No teaching aids were present, no text-books, no pens, pencils nor paper, no toilets, no power for heating of lighting, no clean water, yet the pupils were desperate to learn. Both Harare Central and Norwich St Edmund set about improving the school infrastructure also providing teaching aids. In the Autumn of 2024, the broken borehole was repaired and fresh water connected. The first batch of 500 textbooks with pens and pencils were delivered and a further 500 text books, pens and pencils plus lesson aids are in transit. With Community help, a roof has been added to the derelict teaching block and all but 12 windows have been fitted with frames and glass. The second phase will be to provide irrigation to the land around the school. Three years of crop failure through changing weather patterns has severely affected children’s health so irrigation is an urgent need in order that seeds will flourish. It is planned to complete this phase before the planting season later this year. In 2026 we hope to begin a major phase to provide solar power and toilets. Currently, the reading age of a 16 years old pupil in Muda is equivalent to that of a 5 years old in the UK which means there is no hope of aspiring to employment other than labouring on the land. Our aim is to see pupils passing State Examinations in the next ten years, that aspiration replaces hopelessness and the children can compete with their peers in urban schools.

In addition, we are also providing English text-books to a school library in Namibia with our partner Club in Mainz Germany.

Books delivered to the school

Construction of the new roof

The finished article

Modern Slavery

We are very proud to continue our support of the "Rotarian Action Group Against Slavery" founded by our Club member Mark Little.

Find out more...........................

Our membership is open to Individuals, and organisations who can join us as Corporate members.

If your organisation wishes to work closely with us and get involved in the community, this is the perfect opportunity to become a Corporate Member. 

Whether you join us as Individual or Corporate members you will participate in:

                        Providing clean water       

                        Supporting mothers and children 

                        Supporting educational opportunities   

                       Growing local economies

                        Promoting Peace   

                  Fighting Disease

Where others see problems we see solutions, and through our collective effort we contribute to overcoming difficulties.

If you would like more details please contact us by using the following e-mail address;

roconse@gmail.com

Thank You