The Rotary movement started with the vision of one man, Paul Harris in Chicago in February 1905, and his aim for Humanitarian Service. Rotarians connect with others within their community developing leadership skills and work together on projects that can benefit their societies. Rotarians come from all different backgrounds and volunteer their time to serve others.
The Rotary Club of Ashford was founded in 1965 and the Rotary motto “Service above Self” has always been the theme of the Club.
Since that time, we have involved ourselves in local activities. We have supported the Scouts, the Girl Guides, the food banks and other local organizations and individuals with various needs. A safe playground area and a specially adapted bicycle and a BUGZY, a specialized mobility device, these were all for children with special needs.
We have supplied dictionaries to year five pupils in all of our primary schools in Spelthorne each year. We have sponsored young adults for the RYLA course held at Dorking to promote leadership skills and run Junior Technology Tournaments where primary school children can utilise their STEM skills to become engineers of the future.
We have supported the Princess Alice and Sam Beare Hopices. We are involved with the Classic Car Show in September and have a Christmas collection every year when Santa visits many children in the Ashford area and our collections have been donated wherever it has been needed.
Many of the Rotary Clubs in Surrey and Sussex are now working together to raise money for new medical equipment required for the extension of the Royal Surrey Hospital, our local Cancer Centre of Excellence.
In addition to helping local charities and individuals we have supported the QEF Foundation with their recent expansion to assist more disabled patients in our area and also the Air Ambulance. Ashford Rotary’s name is on the current local helicopter.
There is also an International Division that supports, Shelter Box, Water Aid, the Sand Dams project, Mercy Ships which are floating hospitals, visiting areas where medical provision is poor and also Rotary’s fight to eradicate polio from the world. This has been ongoing but we are almost there with our immunisation programme!! Soon a world where children will not fear this dreadful disease!!
SO COME AND JOIN US, we are a small band of flexible and local people and we welcome volunteers and New Members and we also have "Friends of Rotary", people who help us with activities when needed. Be involved in something which can bring much satisfaction, helping your local community and make a difference which is now so needed in this modern world.
Our Social Media