Rotary Dragons Fund Middleton Heroes

On Friday 17 January we announced that through our Dragon’s Den initiative, we have awarded local charities, charities with Middleton priorities, causes and individuals £5650.

Our Dragon’s Den initiative gives grants of up to £500 to charities, groups and individuals either based in Middleton or supporting Middleton people, causes or priorities. The money is raised from the donations given during our annual Father Christmas Float that tours the streets of Middleton throughout December.

The scheme opened for applications in August 2019 and we invited applicants to give us a short presentation about their bid, these took place in October and November.  All applicants were asked to support our Christmas Float by providing volunteers and they did this in huge numbers.

The funding will help the following groups and individuals in 2020:

·         Support Cardinal Langley students on their two-week expedition to Borneo staying in the rainforest itself and not only collecting vital data but also carrying their our work in a way that ensures the ecotourism in Borneo is boosted and that the local community are benefitting from what is being done

·         Provide funds for the newly formed Friends of Alkrington Woods to help with their overheads to make sure that they prosper and grow in 2020 and beyond

·         Help Fund Rochdale, Oldham and District Samaritans in the vital work they do to help make sure fewer people die by suicide and their mission to make sure that there’s someone there for anyone who needs someone

·         Provide funds to be used locally for the NSPCC’s “Speak Out, Stay Safe” Schools Service.  A service designed to equip a generation of children with the knowledge and understanding they need to stay safe from abuse and neglect

·         Funding to help St. John Fisher Scout Group buy lightweight and waterproof kagools for their younger members – the Otters aged 5-7.  This will keep the little ones a bit dryer when marching and on parade

·         Spoons – a charity set up to support parents who have babies on Neonatal Intensive Care Units at North Manchester General Hospital and the Royal Oldham Hospital and beyond. Their aim is to alleviate the stress and anxiety in caring for a premature baby

·         Help Middleton Band buying their new Stage Uniform

·         Buy new headguards for Boarshaw Boxing Club’s away matches

·         Provide a coaching training course for the students of Cobra Kai Ju Jitsu club, this will allow them to take on additional responsibilities, coach each other and learn new skills such as leadership, planning and communication

·         Provide funds for Cardinal Langley’s Music Department’s planned trip to St. Ives to perform in St. Ives Parish Church and the Tate Gallery in October 2020

·         Help with purchasing a special race suit called a ‘Skin’ for a local competitive swimmer who competes for Manchester Aquatics Swim Team

·         Fund lightweight replacement tables for Alkrington and Providence URC so that they can continue to put on their weekly coffee morning and monthly free film show and have the right equipment for charity fundraising

·         Fund the cleaning up and green up of part of Middleton conservation area, focussing on the old Chapel Steps which were made famous by L.S. Lowry and Morton Street. Historic Cheapside will also create a “fairy town” in homage to Samuel Bamford, Middleton’s famous poet, author and people’s champion

·         A donation to St. John Thornham PTFA to help with creating a purpose-built library and sensory space

·         Provide financial support to keep Middleton Amateur Swimming Club affordable, accessible and provide valuable swimming opportunities to the community of Middleton – their mission since 1895

Dragon’s Den will open its doors again in August 2020 for applications from Middleton’s charities, groups and individuals and details will be posted on our website and Facebook.