Community & Vocational Service

‘We’re for communities’

Service defines Rotary's character; whether local or international, it promotes Rotary's appeal and visibility in the community, and is the reason Rotary continues to grow.

Rotary is at the heart of every community. In just about every town and city, there is a Rotary club, and its members are passionate about the community in which they live and work.

Members of Rotary are community champions. They stand up for what is right and positive within their local community and in communities overseas; they support those who need help; they strive to improve lives; they fight injustice and challenge wrongs within society. They bring about positive change in their neighbourhoods by fostering and building strong communities.

Every event, initiative or project we run is rooted in the notion of 'Community'. Because we believe that society works better when we work together.

Our Mission
Rotary's mission is simply: to serve others; to give something back; to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace by utilising the skills, talents and energy of our members collectively.

• We want to bring about positive change in our neighbourhoods by fostering and building strong communities.
• We want to provide opportunities that will improve lives.
• We want to help eradicate poverty, hunger and preventable disease across the world.

Our motto, Service Above Self, exemplifies the humanitarian spirit of Rotary members worldwide to serve the community and put its needs before the member's own. Around the world, our main focuses are:

• Economic and community development
• Peace and conflict prevention/resolution
• Disease prevention and treatment
• Water and sanitation
• Maternal and child health
• Basic education and literacy.

In the Rotary Club of Dundee, we focus on helping local charities and environmental projects. We can provide financial support, hands-on practical assistance and sometimes, simply advice or putting the right people in touch with each other.

Some of the local community projects supported are:

• Brae Riding
• Dens Park outings
• Food on Friday
• Deaf Action Tayside
• Tayforth Veterans
• PAMIS (Promoting a More Inclusive Society)
• Hawkhill Harriers
• RNLI - Broughty Ferry lifeboat
• Hot Chocolate Trust
• The Inclusion Group
• Clic Sargent
• Tree planting
• Heritage Walking Guides
• Whitehall Theatre Trust
• Dundee Women's Aid
• Baldragon School
• Kids Out
• Meningitis Research
• DDCA
• Mid-Lin day Care

Aim & Objectives
The Aim of the Community Projects & Vocational Committee is to provide the primary interface between the Club, the communities which it seeks to support and the local voluntary and support environment.  In managing requests for financial support received via the Club website or elsewhere, the Committee will assess and prioritize requests and make recommendations to Council.  It will identify opportunities to offer members’ professional and vocational skills and experience in local projects, against which specific fundraising activities can be coordinated with the Fundraising Committee. 

Specific Objectives are as follows:

• Making maximum use of personal and Club networking, develop and deliver community service and/or vocational projects, engaging with, and supported by, the Club’s membership to match members’ skillsets with local needs; target – minimum of 2 projects p/a.
• Seek opportunities to work in partnership with other voluntary service providers in support of their priorities and activities, identifying funding requirements which could potentially be met with targeted fundraising, and coordinating any such requirements with the Fundraising Committee.
• Engaging with the broader membership, raise the Club’s profile, providing a presence at relevant local events, including WestFest, and serving to maximize our visibility within the community.
• Review financial requests from local community groups and projects, making recommendations to Council and advising applicants on the outcome of requests.
• Following payment of the final annual instalment this year, review the Duncan of Jordanstone College of Design bursary, and in liaison with the Youth Committee identify and make recommendations to Council on alternative beneficiaries of this funding.
• Working with the Admin, Fellowship & PI Committee, identify and exploit potential PI opportunities of the Committee’s community and vocational activities, demonstrating and emphasizing the Club’s vibrancy, visibility and volunteering credentials.

If you feel that your organisation might benefit from the values and support of Rotary then please select the appropriate application from one of the pages over to the right of the page.

Photograph: Donation of electric trikes to Dundee’s Green Health Partnership