Yearsley Grove School in Huntington, York

Yearsley Grove School in Huntington, York support Rotary York Ainsty's Polio Eradication project

Yearsley Grove pupils shown planting purple crocus bulbs.

Yearsley pupils ensure a healthy life for 3,000 children

Cash given by Yearsley Grove primary school pupils, as part of their support for the Rotary York Ainsty Polio Eradication project should ensure that more than 3,000 children will have a future free of the crippling disease – poliomyelitis.

The young pupils planted special purple crocus bulbs in the school grounds in October. Now, they have collected and donated £220 to the initiative.

The donation will ensure that more than 3,000 children will get the life-saving vaccination. Microsoft founder and polio campaign supporter Bill Gates has promised to triple any cash raised by Rotary clubs from his own charity – the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. Each inoculation droplet costs about 20p to buy. Many of the inoculators are volunteer Rotarians.

Thousands of bulbs were planted by many city school children, including Yearsley Grove, in October. Purple represents the colour used to mark children’s little fingers to signify that they have been inoculated, thus leading to the project’s motto – Purple4Polio. Rotary sells the bulbs to raise much-needed funds for the world-wide project.

Polio is a serious viral infection that used to be common in the UK and world-wide. Three countries are still endemic: Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria.

Rotary took up the challenge to eradicate polio from the world’s children in 1985, when new cases numbered more than 1,000 a day. This has reduced to only 21 new cases notified in the past 12 months. World-wide, Rotary clubs have contributed more than £1.3 billion to end polio since the project started.

Rotary and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation renewed their long-standing support for ending polio, together with the WHO and other charities.

Rotary is committed to raise $50 million per year over the next three years, with every dollar to be matched with two additional dollars from the Gates Foundation.

This expanded agreement will translate into $450 million for polio eradication activities, including immunisation and surveillance over the next three years. Polio eradication is just one of the causes to which Rotary York Ainsty is committed. The club has many other active projects helping people in the local community and internationally. The public are invited to join… working with fellow members they may well be inspired to start a new own charitable project using the resources and contacts available within Rotary.

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Rotary York Ainsty is developing a project to bring medical aid to a remote region in Albania - in partnership with two other European Rotary Clubs

The remote and difficult to get to area of Fushë Arrëz in Albania

Rotary York Ainsty, working in cooperation with two other Rotary Clubs in different countries, is developing a project which will bring medical aid to a remote region of Albania - Fushë Arrëz.

Financial results of the Santa Sleigh visits in York and area in the run-up to Christmas 2023

Details of the RYA Santa Sleigh in York and area in the run-up to Christmas 2023

Annie Arkwright hands over another batch of SpecSort glasses to the Navajeevana Centre, Sri Lanka.

The highly-regarded SpecSort initiative - a flagship project of Rotary York Ainsty - is expanding its sphere of operation by delivering sorted and graded pre-owned glasses to more countries across the globe.

Hard at work at the York Minster Yorkits workshop 2023

Yorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries

Rotary York Ainsty Rotarians embark on a purple crocus planting campaign to mark World Polio Day on October 24 at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, York.

Rotary York Ainsty Rotarians embark on a massive purple crocus planting campaign to mark World Polio Day on October 24 at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, York.

A 'Signature' project for Rotary York Ainsty. Members collect glasses from opticians then sort and grade them, before taking to Africa. RUTH PEROTT awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's honours. Link: https://tinyurl.com/MBESpecSort

The main projects supported by Rotary York Ainsty as at March 2024...

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York optometrist Ruth Perrott was honoured with the award of an MBE in the Queen's New Year's 2021 list for her work in supporting visually impaired patients in Africa. She recently attended a ceremony where she received her award from Prince William.

A varied series of meetings with guest speakers, activities and projects.

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Rotary York Ainsty membership opportunities are listed and detailed here - click on the image to advance to the detail.

A joint initiative with local organisations and schools to plant crocuses, the purple crocus blooms reminding all of the on-going threat of poliomyelitis to the world's children.

Team players wanted to join us in our many York community-based projects - with local, national and international benefits. Find out more below.

Team players wanted to join us to assist us in our many community initiatives - with INTERNATIONAL benefits... Find out more here.

The main photograph (above), supplied by Tanzanian aid worker Alice Kostrzewa shows a group of schoolchildren in Arusha, the United Republic of Tanzania, proudy displaying their personal hygiene kits, locally made from templates provided by Yorkits.

Yorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries

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A photographic record of some visits (both ways) in recent years

Three examples of how you can assist those less fortunate via Rotary membership

How to show an interest in joining Rotary York Ainsty - A selection of membership application forms

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An archive of Press Releases circulated to the media of York - including cuttings and links to original documents and resources.

Yearsley Grove School in Huntington, York support Rotary York Ainsty's Polio Eradication project

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The heart defibrillator at Copmanthorpe is ready for use, installed courtesy of Rotary York Ainsty.

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WOZA RYA - A Charter Night with a Difference - Rotary York Ainsty Charter Night 2018

Rotary York Ainsty Friends form a vital part of its community structure

Social Activities 2023-24

RYA have an active social program, usually held during the first week of the month in place of the traditional club meeting. This is open to relatives, friends and anyone interested in Rotary.

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