Speakers Evening

At the virtual meeting of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry on Thursday 19th November, President Irene Brownless announced that, in the run-up to Christmas,  the club was delighted to give a donation of £600 to the charity KidsOut which supports children with mental or physical disabilities and in families struggling financially or in abusive homes. Irene then introduced a video presentation by Steve Cartwright from Cannock Rotary Club to describe how KidsOut has improved the lives of disadvantaged children for over thirty years. Steve's video showed how, from a group of Rotarians in Kingston Rotary Club taking a party of children for an outing to a park, KidsOut has grown into a recognised children's charity. He brought the seriousness of the situation into focus by explaining that in 2019 there were 20,000 children who fled domestic violence at home to find sanctuary in a refuge. Some 4,000 families are located away from their home area, separated from friends and family.

In support of KidsOut, Rotary has started the initiative Every Refuge Every Child. Special Christmas toy boxes donated by the clubs are given to every child staying in local refuge centres. Each box, bearing the name of the Rotary club that provided

it, contains £80 worth of toys donated by toy manufacturers. Children from 0 to 13 years receive toys. Older chidden are given tickets to cinemas or pantomimes. The kids love receiving these gifts  and the mothers who are in refuges with their chidden are also grateful as they may have left all their belongings at home.

Steve Carwright ended his inspirational presentation by describing Rotary and the KidsOut project as 'People of action helping to improve young lives'.