Community Lunch 2024

Both a celebration and a thank you

Here we see Andrew Rowdon, our Youth Development lead, with some of the members and guests including our Mayor Councillor David Rowe and Rotary District Governor Elect Ian  Graham. 

Andrew gave an excellent presentation opening with Rotary’s global role in meeting the challenges of poverty, illiteracy and disease. But the focus of the event was our work in the local community and a review of the club’s projects with big thanks to those guests without whose support they wouldn’t have been possible.

Most gratifying were the comments from the teachers amongst the guests who told of the positive impact of our youth development work.

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Today is a celebration and a thank you to everyone here for the part you all play in helping our community through our Rotary club here in Felixstowe. 

As Rotarians we all pay in to the Rotary Foundation as part of our membership. The funds from Foundation help us to advance world understanding, goodwill and peace by improving health, providing quality education, improving the environment, and alleviating poverty. The foundation allows us to meet these challenges with solutions that leave a lasting impact - a prime example of this is the near eradication of Polio.

Rotary provides a platform to build meaningful relationships with like-minded individuals, and in many cases build lifelong friendships. We uphold ethical standards and promote integrity but, most importantly, we foster a culture of service above self, to make a positive impact on society.

We engage in fundraising and community service projects locally providing support and assistance where it is most needed. Fun Run, Boxing Dinner, Golf Day and Rudolf are now well established on the Felixstowe calendar. Over the year we’ve raised well above £50,000.  And there is a lot more including our youth development projects with ITFC, Clip ‘n Climb, and the Yeo Group.  

But none of this would be possible without the support of individuals and organisations in the local community to whom we are so very grateful.

Including:  

·       Howard Brunt who provided Rudolf with a new trailer. 

·       Mo from Walton Pharmacy who at the drop of a hat was able to help us get supplies to Ukraine. 

·       Rev Andrew Dotchin, the go to person at St John’s Church, helping those in deprivation and poverty through his foodbank activities that we support. 

·       Carl and Dibbs from Bushfire Photography who often assist the club by taking great photos of our events. 

·       Cath from Save the Children who are partners in our Santa and Rudolph.

·       Sue from the Spotlight - you guys always support us particularly with our Fun Run project. 

·       The guys from ITFC who provide us with the all-weather ground for our junior school’s football tournament.

·       Mark from Clip ‘n Climb - providing a session for many disadvantaged young children

·       Louise from the Yeo group today who enable our Kids Kitchen at the Alex.

·       Suffolk Careers, who with our support have been able to provide over 20 young carers with an opportunity to spend time with likeminded piers, build friendships, have fun and…just be children.

Providing children in particular with opportunities and experiences is beneficial to their development and growth. Building confidence prepares them to face challenges and overcome obstacles in the future. Meaningful experiences create lasting memories for children, shaping their identity and providing a sense of connection and belonging in this upside-down world we live in.