About What We Do

The National Youth Speaks Competition is a well established and successful competition promoted by Rotary International in Britain and Ireland (Rotary GB&I). We hold an annual local competition round for students aged 11-13 years - the winners can progress through to District & National Finals

Young Photographer Competition Another national annual competition promoted by Rotary GB&I for full-time students (in 3 different age groups) designed to support and encourage development of photographic skills. There are 3 levels to the competition: local club; district and a national final. We held our first local competition in March 2014 at Yeovil College.

KidsOut - The first Rotary-sponsored national Kids Out day took place in 1990 and since then some 25,000 disadvantaged children have been taken on regional excursions. At Yeo Vale we have participated in this event for a number of years and will again be taking a group of youngsters to Creely Park near Exeter in June. In the past there have been a number of children who have never had such an opportunity before.

Yeovil Opportunity Group - Our members have worked closely with Yeovil Opportunity Group (providing respite care and special provision for families and children with additional needs) for a number of years on both practical projects and raising funds.

Practice Interviews - having run practice interviews for students in their final year at Stanchester Academy for many years, in 2014 we introduced a similar event for students at Yeovil College. These events are taken very seriously by the students who, in many cases, will be experiencing their first formal interview by professionals outside the educational environment.

Fundraising events:

East Coker Night - a social evening with meal, bar and an interesting speaker - normally held on alternate years and usually attended by over 120 local people.

Swan Theatre - with the kind assistance of the Swan Theatre management committee we sell all tickets for one performance to raise funds for named charities. In 2018 we were able to donate £600 to British Heart Foundation from this source.

Mufulira (Zambia) - for many years we have worked closely with The Rotary Club of Mufulira to provide enhanced health and educational facilities for the local populace. Some of the funds have been provided on a match-funding basis by Rotary Foundation (Rotary’s own charity)

Classics & Supercar Show (Yeo Vale stepped down from the organising body in 2021)

Wells rehabilitation project - working with other Rotary Clubs in the District and with grant support from Rotary International we are busy raising funds to pay for the refurbishment of 100 water wells in Uganda by The Busoga Trust

Emergency Assistance - in 2014, together with other local Rotary Clubs, our members helped with emergency flood relief on the Somerset Levels.

Club members have volunteered to marshall at Covid vaccination centres in our area.

Club Nights & external events - Our members and their partners enjoy a variety of invited speakers covering a wide range of interesting topics; engage in various sporting activities such as Rounders, Bowls & Skittles; and visits to local businesses