OUR WEEKLY COMMUNITY ACTIVITY UPDATE

 

We undertook 36 transactions this week and  we signposted 7 requests that we were unable to help.

 

We were able to support a  patient waiting to leave hospital by supplying essential furniture and bedding.

 

We helped a  young man with  special needs to find a bed that he could sleep in, so ending  sleepless nights for his whole family.

 

We purchased a table top dishwasher for a senior with a disability who was unable to stand and washup because he was in so much pain, making a big difference to everyday life.

 

We provided beds and bedding for a mother with 3 children who moved to an unfurnished home.

 

 

This week we completed 34 orders and were unable to help in 5 instances but signposted these to other charities and organisations. We are currently processing 4 more complicated requests.

We received three boxes of new shoes from Goods for Good, which will come in very handy as our demand for proper shoes increases after a hot summer when flip flops sufficed

We have been given an additional £3000 for our Beds for Kids initiative - more news on this to follow.

We have received a number of requests for warm clothing from homeless men as the colder nights start to set in.

A number of families are given caravans as emergency accommodation; they are also feeling the cold at night and require warm clothing and bedding.

A Mum and her children have escaped domestic abuse by travelling halfway across the world with nothing in order to feel safe. We have helped them by providing clothing and shoes.

We are helping an increasing number of families on 'Child in  Need' plans and children with disabilities .

 

 

This week we undertook 51 transactions. An extremely busy week catching up with orders and sorting out new ones.

We were unable to fulfil 6 requests this week but signposted these to other charities.

This week we have helped several families housed in empty houses and flats with nothing by supplying them with basic furniture .

We have received an increased number of requests for warm clothing and shoes.

A number of families and individuals are being housed in caravans as temporary accommodation until suitable permanent accommodation can be found. This means that extra warm clothes, bedding, and so on are required because it gets cold at night.

There has been an increased demand for bunk beds because families are being housed in accommodation with limited space such that the only way that children have a bed to sleep in is if bunk beds are provided because there's no room for single beds.

We have had increased requests for cots, with many babies sleeping in Mum's bed or in a crib that is too small for a growing baby. Both these situations are dangerous for a young baby.

 

This week we completed 23 transactions and were unable to help 8 others, signposting these to other options for help.

We received 6 microwaves, 6 toasters and 6 kettles from Match My Project this week. This is great because we had very little stock of any of these items.

We have been inundated with requests this week, most of them complicated, and have only been able to action two-thirds of them this week. We are working on the rest. We have alerted professionals that orders may take longer at this time because of the number of requests. However, as always we are prioritising urgent need cases.

During August we worked 476 hours on community work and travelled 780 miles. 

We have received a large number of bed requests for children following our recent 'Beds for Kids' appeal.

We have also had a number of beds donated.

 

 

We fulfilled 28 requests this week and signposted 4 requests to other agencies.

This week there was a large increase in the number of families looking for school uniform.

More families fleeing domestic abuse needed our help this week. Our biggest job was kitting out an empty flat with essentials for a Mum and her children who had escaped domestic abuse, leaving with no possessions.  We provided them with all the basics: crockery, cutlery, toaster, kettle, microwave, cookware, lamps, bedding, towels, clothes airer, table and chairs, and so on. This request was turned around in less than a day.

We would all like to thank fellow Rotarian Mary for her tireless work selling donated items that are not suitable for our clients' needs, enabling us to buy items that we don't have but need. In 2024/2025 Mary raised £2064, and in 2025/2026 she raised £4486.86 - an amazing achievement. A great deal of hard work and commitment to making life better for so many in need. 

 

 

We fulfilled 32 requests this week, and assisted with an increased number of domestic abuse cases including a pregnant Mum.

We were unable to help with 3 requests but signposted the individuals concerned to charities that could.

School uniform orders are starting to increase with children returning to school in early September.

In July we worked 577 hours on community projects and travelled a total distance of 1138 miles.

 

 

This week we fulfilled 20 requests – a quieter week because many of our Rotarians were on holiday – with most of the requests coming via Chichester Foodbank.

We were unable to help with 6 requests but signposted these to other charities.

We are receiving a high number of requests from families for summer clothing, and have been able to meet the majority of these requests with donated items.

 

 

We were able to provide assistance in respect of 36 referrals this week. We were unable to help with 9 requests but were able to signpost the individuals concerned to other charities.

We supported a family without a cooker, that would never have the means to buy one, by providing a new electric cooker with National Lottery funding. Mum said: "The cooker has changed our lives, being able to provide hot meals instead of fast food. I am starting to feel like a proper Mother".

We delivered three cots and bedding to two Mums, one of whom is expecting twins. The cots were donated by St Richards Hospital, and we are very grateful to them.

Hyde Housing Association gave us a large quantity of new Trutex polo shirts, shorts and skirts, which will help families on low incomes have good quality summer clothing that is nice to wear and washes well.

We received £17.50 from Astra Recycling this week.

 

 

We were able to provide assistance in respect of 33 referrals this week. We were unable to help with 6 requests but were able to signpost the individuals concerned to other options/charities.

We gave a cooker to a grandmother who has been given her four grandchildren to look after. We were able to do this with National Lottery Grant funding.

We assisted with a number of domestic abuse cases this week where families had to leave their homes without any of their clothing.

We were able to give a young man with a disability a laptop to enable him to do his work.

We were donated 50 footballs by Hyde Housing Association, which we've passed on to Boxgrove Primary School and Parklands Primary School.

We gave two recliners to two elderly gentlemen, enabling them to sit in a chair during the day rather than spending the whole day in bed. Both recipients were delighted. We were able to do this thanks to National Lottery Grant funding.

 

 

We fulfilled 26 referrals/requests for assistance this week; the number would have been greater, but the extremely hot weather hampered deliveries, with many clients being either hard to reach to arrange deliveries or them forgetting about deliveries.

We were unable to assist with 12 requests but signposted these to other organisations where we could.

Wiley's staff in Bognor Regis collected clothing for us. We are very grateful for their continued support.

We were able to help a disabled lady with many items for her new home thanks to National Lottery funding.

 

 

We were able to provide assistance in respect of 38 referrals/requests this week. We were unable to help with 4 requests but were able to signpost the individuals concerned to other charities.

In addition, we are currently working on 3 very complex requests with social services.

In May, Community Team members travelled 1124 miles on Community business and worked 567 hours on Community business.

We supplied a lot of bedding to families, thanks to funding from the Woodger Trust Grant.

We were able to action a number of requests from the early intervention/safeguarding team for cookers and washing machines with grant funding received from the National Lottery.

 

 

Of the 42 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week we were pleased to help on 36 occasions.

We were unable to help on 6 occasions this week; however, we were able to signpost most of them to other agencies.

We were given a box of new summer trainers and a large box of new men's t-shirts and sweatshirts. It is great to have such nice items to give to families in need.

Two of the Hyde Offices collected two boxes of ladies' summer dresses for us to give out to families. A lovely collection of dresses of all sizes and styles.

We gave a gentleman who is living with advanced Huntington's disease a riser-recliner chair. His condition has progressed such that a riser-recliner is no longer simply for comfort but is an essential piece of equipment for his safety, mobility and overall quality of life. He was struggling significantly with transfers, posture and prolonged sitting. This was causing him considerable discomfort and increasing the risk of falls. Our chair has provided the necessary support to improve his daily functioning and has greatly reduced the strain on both him and his carers. Life is so much better for him now. We were able to purchase the chair with grant funding from the National Lottery.

I am still awaiting details of hours worked on Community business from many of our team for May and mileage in respect of Community business.

 

 

We were able to provide assistance in respect of 35 referrals/requests this week. We were unable to help with 3 requests but were able to signpost the individuals concerned to other charities.

At Chichester District Foodbank we were asked for laces in the case of a gentleman who had a pair of work boots but could not wear them because he had no laces. One of our members removed his laces and gave them to the client. Our member went home with string in his boots. A quick thinking act of kindness.

We helped a gentleman with severe mental health issues with bedding and personal products. These items will help him to live with dignity.

 

 

We were able to provide assistance in respect of 23 referrals/requests this week, with 14 complex requests ongoing.

We were unable to help with 2 requests, but have signposted these to organisations that can help the individuals concerned.

We helped two families this week by providing large fans, one to cool a child's sick room and the other to help a family in very poor accommodation who are frightened to go out  because they do not feel safe.

We gave a number of items to a young homeless man who had been given his first home. He had asked for cleaning products and he was genuinely over the moon with a toilet brush we gave him. He had spent hours cleaning his toilet and remarked "Now I can keep it nice and clean".

 

Of the 31 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week we were pleased to help on 28 occasions.

We were unable to help 3 families this week; however, we were able to signpost them to other charities.

We were able to help a young man who had been homeless for many years. With the help of Lottery Grant funding we purchased some lovely second-hand furniture for his empty new home. He kept asking us "Are you sure, I am so happy".

We distributed two orders of curtains this week, giving families privacy from prying eyes and allowing them to feel safe, especially those fleeing domestic abuse.  Families on low income have little or no chance of purchasing curtains and rails  and as a result can feel very vulnerable. 

We have had an increased number of families asking for summer clothing for their children and have been able to fulfil  most of these requests with previously donated items.

 

 

Of the 51 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week, we were pleased to help on 45 occasions, and the remaining 6 requests we were able to signpost to other organisations that could help.

Hours worked on Community business in April: 582. Mileage in delivering donations: 1064 miles.

We helped a mother with three children by providing her with a washing machine. Her machine had broken down several weeks ago and she was washing everything by hand and finding that she couldn't keep up with the washing and was running short of clothes because she couldn't dry them quickly enough with hand-wringing. Understandably, she was very relieved to get a washing machine.

The demand for clothing from victims of domestic abuse has been especially high, particularly for children, as a consequence of families having to leave their homes at short notice, often taking only very few possessions with them.

We helped a family with very little money to purchase a bike for a little girl who had suffered much trauma, and this is helping her on her path back to happiness.

 

 

Of the 47 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week, we were pleased to help those in our community with very little on 41 occasions.

For the 6 requests we were unable to assist with we signposted them to other organisations that would be able to help.

We helped a mother with two children with special needs who needed a disability pushchair to take her children out safely. Mum said the pushchair would be life-changing, not only for her but for her son. It means that they can enjoy adventures safely and comfortably. 

We helped a family of four with bedding and clothing. Previously the family were sleeping on the floor with very few possessions and no comfort.

Many people this week needing basic clothing.

 

 

Of the 45 referrals/requests for assistance received this week we were pleased to help on 39 occasions.

For the 6 requests we were unable to fulfil, we were able to signpost them to other agencies.

We helped a family by providing them with a table and chairs. They thanked us and said that it had changed their meal times, reporting that meals were now calm and happy times around the table with their children. We purchased the furniture with the help of a Woodger Trust grant.

We helped a family with four mattresses; previously they had been sleeping on the floor and now they are all enjoying a good night’s sleep. We purchased the mattresses with a grant from the Woodger Trust.

We have been donated eight cots with mattresses from St Richard's Hospital. We are very grateful.

 

 

Of the 55 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 49 occasions.

We were unable to help 6 clients this week, but signposted them to places where they could get help.

We purchased a tumble dryer for a family who have little money, and who are caring for their grandmother who requires her bed to be changed several times a day. A tumble dryer will help the family keep on top of the laundry. We paid for the dryer from Woodger Trust grant funding.

We purchased two sofas for a family who had everything condemned by an Environmental Health Officer after an infestation of mice. The family had no money to replace the sofas. They are so happy to have comfortable  furniture to sit on. We purchased the furniture with Woodger Trust grant funding.

 

                                 

Of the 49 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 43 occasions.

During March we worked 552 hours on community business and travelled 1249 miles in the course of doing our community work.

We purchased exercise equipment  for two very autistic boys. Mum was trapped at home with them because it was impossible to take them out safely on her own. Being able to exercise will help the boys to self-regulate and also give them lots of pleasure. The equipment will mean a happy home. Woodger Trust grant funidng enabled us to make this purchase.

We had a high demand for clothing this week, with many parents telling us that they are unable to replace their children's clothing and shoes as they grow.

Additionally, Tesco donated many useful items that we can store for use at Christmas.

 

 

Of the 36 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 30 occasions.

We helped an elderly couple who had to dispose of most of their goods because of a rodent infestation.  Environmental Health asked us to help. We purchased bedding, a double and a single bed, chest of drawers and a wardrobe. The gentleman was so pleased with our help he rang twice to say how happy he was and that he never expected any help, he had resigned himself to having to do without the items they had lost because they had no money to replace the furniture. We used Woodger Trust grant funding to purchase the items needed. 

We helped a Mum by finding a little desk for her 4-year-old daughter who was scared by witnessing her mother’s domestic abuse. She loves colouring and drawing makes her feel happy. Woodger Trust grant funding paid for the desk and chair.

 

 

Of the 33 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 28 occasions.

We delivered furniture to a young man who had been homeless for a number of years. He had been provided with a flat and was being supported to cope with the responsibilities of having his own home. He was delighted with his furniture and sent a special message saying how very happy he was. The Woodger Trust funded this donation.

We had a number of families this week fleeing domestic abuse that needed clothing, and we were able to help them with items from our stores.

We helped a Mum fleeing domestic abuse by purchasing a bike for her little girl who had to leave all her toys behind. This donation was funded by the Woodger Trust.

We purchased a backpack for a young man living in a tent who had all his belonging thrown into the canal. He had managed to get help from other agencies but needed something to put his belongings into so that he could carry them about with him. This donation was funded by the Woodger Trust.

 

 

Of the 34 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 25 occasions.

We purchased an electronic game for a young man who  had been treated badly and who had become very aggressive - his professional support noticed that he became calm and happy when given a chance to play games. This game will help him progress in his journey to regulate his behaviour.

We helped a family with a sick child (who needed their bed changed many times a day). Mum could not  keep up with washign and drying bedding and it was making her depressed, she has 3 other children. All are happy now with the tumble dryer we gave them.

We helped Occupational Therapy with a chair for a lady who needed a wooden chair in order to do essential exercises to help her walk.

We also helped Occupational Therapy with a two-seater recliner sofa in leather for a double amputee. It is a great comfort to him as he starts a very different life.

In February we worked 376 hours on community business and travelled 686 miles to undertake our work.

 

 

Of the 33 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 27 occasions.

We gave the children of  a refugee family  living in poverty beautiful home-made quilts made by a member of the Community Craft Group. The family were so touched that their support worker wanted us to know how much these quilts meant to the family. "Something they will treasure for the rest of their lives because they were made with love and looked so beautiful."

We were given 10 boxes of new trainers and tops from Goods for Goods.  We have already given out some tops, and these have been well received  - nice and warm and smart.

Hyde Housing Association are to give us £100 for pants, and their offices have also collected new pants for families.

The family leaving Woman's Refuge we helped with small electric goods and bedding had everything they owned destroyed by the abuser.  We helped them with some essential items for their new safe home. The girls were especially excited by a new sandwich toaster.

 

 

Of the 33 referrals/requests for assistance received this week, we were pleased to help on 28 occasions.

We provided some storage boxes to help a Mum start tidying her home and demonstrating that she can care for her children. Mum was not coping with looking after her children but with a bit of support she is turning things around. The storage boxes are just one step on that journey.

A family of 4 children had outgrown all their clothing. Now they all have a full set of everything including underwear. The children were very excited, even the 13-year-old girl who got some trendy outfits.

A double buggy will help Mum to transport her youngest two children to the GP surgery. Both children are quite poorly and need regular medical intervention. The buggy has really helped make Mum's life easier.

 

 

Of the 32 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week, we were pleased to help on 25 occasions, with 5 complicated requests  awaiting the arrival of missing items.

We had an emergency call for nappies and wipes for a female refugee living in Tangmere. She had used her last nappy and had no money to buy more. We were able to come to her aid.

We supplied a double buggy to a mum fleeing domestic abuse. She had had to leave everything behind when she fled for her life. In her temporary flat in the middle of nowhere she was isolated with 2 small children. The buggy has meant she can get out, shop, meet people, and go to the playground. Mum said it has changed her life, made the children happy, and helped her to see a better future.

We gave a lightweight stroller to a mother who lives in a flat on the fourth floor (no lift) with her 18-month-old daughter who has sclerosis. She was trapped. With our help she is now able to enjoy going out with her daughter, who loves looking at buses and cars driving past as they go for their daily walk.

We helped a Mum who has escaped domestic abuse, and put together a uniform so that she could get a job working in a cafe.

We helped Early Intervention support a family in which 4 children have been neglected and are on a Child Protection plan. We supplied bedding and clothing for all the children. This has helped Mum who was struggling and has opened the door for the Intervention Team to start working with Mum to look after her children. 

In January 2026 we worked 217 hours on community business and travelled 402 miles to complete community work.

 

 

Of the 41 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week, we were pleased to help on 35 occasions.

We gave a double amputee a leather armchair, which will give him comfort.

There was great need this week with most of our requests coming from families and individuals with nothing.

Match My Project agreed to allocate funds for 6 irons and 6 microwaves.

We received £20,000 from the National Lottery Community Fund. We are immensely grateful to the National Lottery for their support

We helped a family with furniture. They had to leave their home because of mould.  Their young son was admitted to hospital because he was unable to breathe. The family lost everything in their home because it was contaminated. 

 

 

Of the 36 referrals/requests for assistance we received this week, we were pleased to help on 28 occasions, and in addition are working on several more.

V2 Radio are doing a 'Beds for Kids' appeal in March on our behalf.

We gave a lot of warm clothing to the homeless in Chichester, both men and women.  The numbers are growing weekly. Many are sleeping out in all weathers. Many have mental health problems.

We are giving a single bed with a mattress to a family with 2 children aged 3 and 6 years. They are on a Child Protection plan due to neglect. One child is currently sleeping on a mattress on the floor and the springs have gone and it is extremely uncomfortable.  This will make a difference to a little boy getting a good night’s sleep.

Local publishing company John Wiley is giving us Easter Eggs this year for families in need.

Application made to 'Match My Project' for irons and microwaves.

Professional partners (e.g. social services, early help, housing associations) have been informed about our Easter Eggs for families in need initiative.