Rotary 'Bid 4' Awards Stage II

CHARITIES AWARDED CASH BY ROTARY DRAGONS

Rotary Bid 4: Round 2 

On Thursday 21 November, the Holiday Inn hosted Kenilworth Rotary’s annual “Bid 4 Awards” evening, when 8 charities shortlisted for grants presented their ideas to a judging panel.

The main grant awarded was to the Priory Theatre who were given £2000 towards the estimated £3000 they need to raise to replace the theatre’s sound system. As Neil Thomas explained on behalf of the Priory, this system update is necessary to replace an antiquated installation and enable the theatre to continue to guarantee a high standard of service for audiences and also for the wide variety of local organisations that use the Priory’s facilities.

 A heart touching presentation by RoSa Support saw them awarded £1000 to help fund a training project. RoSa covers the whole of Warwickshire, and offers practical support and counselling to survivors of rape and various types of abuse, and to their families. Their work focuses on empowering people to regain control of their own lives.

Grants of £600 and £500 each were given to St John’s Primary School and to the ILEAP charity.

St John’s School are working to establish a sensory garden, which can be used as a special place by all pupils, staff and visitors, but will be of particular benefit to people, especially pupils, with special needs.

ILEAP work successfully with vulnerable people who have all types of special needs. They meet and work at The Kenilworth Centre, and amongst other things, teach culinary skills, enabling members to gain a Food Hygiene Certificate, and hope to provide a little cafe for other users of the Centre. The money awarded will go towards providing kitchen and cooking equipment and ingredients.

Four other organisations making presentations were Balsall Common Primary Academy for a sensory room, Myton Hospice for virtual reality technology, Salvation Army “Way Ahead” project for replacement computers, and the Parenting Project for Parent Sing family support. They were each awarded £100, and the Salvation Army were pointed towards a possible source of computers by “dragon” David Myskow of the Holiday Inn.

Rotary Bid 4: Round 1 

Quotes from our first awards programme; all can be published.

Lynne Barton, Director of Entrust Care Partnership said

‘We were delighted to receive funding from Kenilworth Rotary Club. This has enabled us to run a Siblings Group for the brothers and sisters of disabled children, which is really needed and would not have happened without this support, but just as important it has enabled us as an organisation to build a relationship with the wonderful folk at the Rotary Club and to make new connections’                                                                                                  

Holly Hewitt of The Kenilworth Centre wrote:

‘The process of applying and then presenting our bid via a 'Dragon's Den' style format was fun and we were made to feel relaxed and that all the participants’ bids were worthwhile. It was a great way to find out about other projects, and some of the other local causes then ended up helping each other with ideas and tips.

The money we were given has allowed us to achieve a number of things.

- A young person working with Warwickshire Youth Justice Service had the opportunity to make reparation by painting the youth room. He learned some new skills, found it satisfying to have achieved something positive and we enjoyed having him with us. We will continue to work with WYJS in this way.

- We have been able to freshen up the youth space and are waiting to have a youth cafe area created based on the designs of those using the space.

- We are having lighting installed to allow the atmosphere in the room to be controlled by those using it.

- The young people coming back to us after the holidays will have a space with a clear identity that they have influenced to use and enjoy.

We are very grateful to The Kenilworth Rotary Club for the opportunity to bid for the funding and for their ongoing support to our projects for the Kenilworth Community.’                                                                            

Robyn Leigh, Trust Officer, Corporate & Trust Fundraising, Myton Hospices, said:

‘The grant from Kenilworth Rotary Club’s Bid4 Fund has been really helpful for our patients here at The Myton Hospices. Patients taking part in our Gardening and Horticultural Therapy project have commented that it helps relieve their symptoms, such as anxiety and shortness of breath. The patient group looks forward to Thursdays and are always keen to know what is coming next week! Group members have even said in group feedback that the gardening has been the highlight of their day. Thank you Kenilworth Rotary for awarding us a Bid4 Fund grant, you have provided many happy hours here at Warwick Myton Hospice!’  

@12 August 2019