Community Activities & Programmes

Long term local support

Several of our members are very much personally involved in the running of various local charities and not-for-profit organisations – in particular the following:

ST NEOTS VOLUNTARY WELFARE ASSOCIATION

Started by members of Rotary, St Neots Voluntary Welfare Association runs the Community Centre in Church Walk, which houses St Neots Day Centre.

Open Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, from 10:00 to 14:30, the day centre is for elderly people in need of a bit of support.  Run by professional staff, it offers a safe and comfortable environment in which attendees can enjoy a variety of stimulating activities, an excellent mid-day meal and a chat with friends.

The Day Centre is self funding and St Neots Rotary Club members help on a regular basis, with a number of tasks, plus seven Rotarians make up most of the management committee.

VWA Website

COFFEE POT MEMORY CAFÉ
ROTARIANS EASING PROBLEMS OF DEMENTIA (REPOD)
                            

One of our club members was instrumental in developing the St Neots Memory Café when a previous venture (operating under the wing of the Alzeimer’s Society) was under threat of closure.  

The café provides a meeting place for those suffering from memory loss and for their carers, on the 2nd Wednesday of each month, between 10:30 and 12.00, at Berkley Street Methodist Church, Eynesbury.

There is a ‘Pay-as-you-dine’ lunch on the 1st Wednesday of the month; ‘Musical Memories’ at Peppercorns Music Academy on 3rd Wednesdays and on 4th Wednesdays there is ‘Carers and Companions’ group.

The day-to-day running of the café is carried out by Rotarian Rob Murray and the ladies who started the first club. Other Rotarians from The Rotary Club of St Neots and St Neots St Mary’s Rotary Club are involved and both clubs provide some financial support, although the majority of the funding comes from fundraising and legacies.

ST NEOTS MUSEUM

Four members of the Rotary Club of St Neots are trustees of the museum and several others are ‘Friends of the Museum’. We also financially support some of the museum projects, such as the travelling case shown below,

Rotary Stars – Youth Awards

Led by Bob Hacking, our Youth Committee has been running a ‘Rotary Stars’ award scheme for many years. The award goes to Primary school age children who have shown themselves to be worthy.

Each winner receives a £10 Waitrose Voucher, a bright yellow tee-shirt with our Rotary Club and Star printed in bold blue, plus a certificate and their actual Star.

As to why they are nominated, our guidelines are fairly wide but it’s almost always through showing kindness and generosity of both spirit and time. Bob commented that he is “constantly amazed ” at the lengths nominees will go to help others less fortunate than themselves. Examples include baking cakes or getting sponsored to support some cause they believe in and, in one case, even donating their hair for the benefit of the Princess Trust.

Bob went on to say “All of them go beyond what you might expect from an adult, let alone a young child, and it’s often to the surprise of their parents. I am moved and in awe of the tenacity these young folk show, none of which is focused on themselves or even carried out with the thought they may be singled out for an award“.