What is Rotary?

So, just what is Knaresborough Rotary and what does it do? It is a small club with only 45 active members, but it punches above its weight, supporting local and International causes. During the Rotary financial year 2025-26, which ended on 30^th June, the club has supported both local and international organisations with grants totalling over £105,000.

Amongst the organisations it has supported are Long Lands Common (£14,400), Chain Lane Hub (£20,000) Knaresborough Art Society (£640), Burton Leonard School (£2,500), Harrogate Male Voice Choir (£1,500), Meadowside Academy (£13,700), King James School (£1,560), Christmas Parcels for the Elderly (£200), Carers Resource (£600), Martin House (£237), Artizan International (£800), Open Arms Malawi (£250), PhysioNet (£3,500) Shelterbox (Jamaica Flood £590), End Polio Campaign (£1,250). In addition, it sent two young people on a residential Rotary Youth Leadership course, helped to organise the Knaresborough Christmas Markets, supported the Lions with the Bed Race, marshalled the Christmas Nativity and the Bright Friday Christmas Light Switch on and maintains three of Knaresborough’s defibrillators. The club’s Revolution team maintain and provide the ‘SpaceBus’ as a mobile community asset for young and old, run Roller Disco’s and film nights, and organise the Gravity Games.

Rotary is a global network of more than 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who unite and take action to create lasting change through 45,000 clubs world-wide.

Knaresborough Rotarians have two ways of participation, either weekly with a meal, speakers and discussions, or monthly without a meal using modern online communication. If you would like to join us and support our local and global communities whilst making new friends, then contact secretary@knaresborough.rotary1040.org. and come along to meet us.