Community & Vocational

Projects running now, supporting the local community include:

Archie Project – an exciting intergenerational dementia awareness project which links Primary Schools and Care Homes to help dispel the fear and stigma often associated with dementia. Stanton Drew Primary School and Nursing Home are now engaged with this programme under the direction of Enterprise Learning, funded by the Club and supported by its members.

Dictionaries 4 Life - in the last Rotary Year the Club presented c.170 Usbourne Illustrated English Dictionaries to Year 3 pupils at 9 local Primary Schools in the area. We are currently in discussions with Head Teachers of these schools to determine the numbers required for presentation to those pupils in the current academic year.

Community Awards 2023 / 2024 – as in past years, we have now written to local Parish Councils requesting nominations for individuals who have made a significant voluntary contribution to their local community and should be recognised for their hard work. We await nominations, following which the Club will vote to decide a worthy winner for the year who will be presented with a personalised trophy.

Chew Valley Rugby Football Club – following the promotion of the 1st Team last season, the Club is assisting the Club by the collection of the ‘entrance fee’ on the gate for this season’s home games.

Community & Vocational Service is responsible for pulling together a wide range of local community related projects, with particular emphasis on those associated with the stated themes of Rotary International; namely Health, Hunger, Water, Literacy & Environment. This body also has responsibility for a specific emphasis on the promotion of youth opportunities. In recent years we have been able to help with the following:

Covid-19 initiatives:

Throughout the course of the pandemic the Committee supported Keynsham Food Bank through donations and a one-off payment applied for from the Tesco Covid-19 Communities Fund.

Morale boosting donation to nurses at the Bristol Royal Infirmary on intensive care wards dealing with Covid patients.

Various monetary donation to deserving local charities, including Make-a Wish, Children’s Hospice SW, Water Survival Box, Kids Out Appeal, Cystic Fibrosis Trust.

The annual Community Award which recognises individuals who have been nominated by their local Parish Council for demonstrating significant voluntary contribution to their local community.

Every year the Committee presents circa 150 Usbourne Illustrated English Dictionaries to children (Year 3/4) in 8 Primary Schools in the area.

Sending one or two students (aged 16-18) each year from Chew Valley School on the Rotary Youth Leadership Award – an exciting week-long personal development programme.

Community Support provides help and funds for local individuals and events who need assistance. This also includes carpark marshalling at the Pensford 10K race, the Stanton Drew Flower Show, the Clutton Flower Show and the annual fireworks night at Farrington Golf Club.

Judging presentations at a ‘Dragon’s Day’ Business Day event organised by Chew Valley School involving students from Years 7, 8 & 9.

Provision and presentation of trophies and medals at the annual inter-Primary Schools football tournament organised by Chew Valley School.

The Chelwood Bridge Business Cup project with Pensford Primary School to encourage awareness of finance and basic business skills.

Donations to local non-profit making organisations who are helping support the local environment.