Summary of Club Activities

As we come towards the end of 2025 it is worth reflecting on another very busy and productive twelve months for Chipping Sodbury Rotary Club.

Boosting our charity funds we have staged and supported five fundraising events during the year, namely the Rotary Charity Golf Day, the Rotary Classic Run, a Charity Race Night (a first), the Sodbury Slog and the annual Chipping Sodbury Christmas Sunday. It is the proceeds from events such as these that enables the club to make financial donations to a range of deserving organisations and people in our community and beyond. For example, we have supported a number of local and national charities, local primary and secondary schools for a variety of projects as well as organising Young Innovator and Young Chef competitions and, internationally, we have donated to broader Rotary urgent needs to support humanitarian and disaster relief efforts worldwide.

For the fourth year running we have organised, with the support of the members of Chipping Sodbury Inner Wheel Club and the local branch of the Alzheimer’s Society, a programme of five Rotary tea dances in Chipping Sodbury Town Hall. All donations made by attendees go to dementia related causes.  Our Christmas special on 16^th December was well attended and enjoyed by all. The next tea dance will take place on 28^th January 2026. We continue to support the Oasis Memory Café in the Baptist Church which provides opportunities for those living with dementia and their family, friends and care companions to form new friendships and meet others in a similar situation. We also support the local Blonde Angel Street Team where volunteers provide clothing, food and other items to the homeless in Bristol and Bath. Most latterly club members have donated warm weather clothing and a good number of individual Christmas Spirit bags filled with practical items and with a touch of festive cheer.

In June a number of club members and partners travelled to La Spezia in Italy where the local Rotary club welcomed us and Rotarians from clubs in Mannheim and Toulon for a twinning get together. In mid-2026 we will host the next twinning meeting in Bath.

A particularly memorable event for the club was the participation in the parade and wreath laying ceremony at the recent Chipping Sodbury Remembrance Day Service and, for the first time, that in Yate.

Recently, our club President, Ian Joseph, had the great pleasure in presenting Long Service Awards to two former members, Graham Miller and Barry Riley, in recognition of the many years of selfless service they gave to Rotary. Also, at our club Christmas dinner on 15^th December, Ian presented Paul Harris Fellow awards to two club members John Wells and Stuart Fraser in recognition of their significant contributions to our club activities and the Rotary movement more broadly.

We also support the litter clean up activities of the Upper Frome Friends Group and the Physionet charity collecting surplus NHS equipment destined for countries in need.

We entered teams in the annual District Rotary boules and skittles competitions with mixed success and enjoyed a range of social get togethers.

Club membership remains steady at around 40 but we would very much like to welcome new members. Perhaps reading this account of what we do you might wish to find out more about potential membership. If so just drop us a line at csrotaryapplication@gmail.com. We are a friendly bunch of like-minded individuals from a broad range of backgrounds. And you can follow our progress throughout the year via our club articles in the community pages of the Yate and Sodbury Voice, published monthly and on this facebook page.

From all of us to our local community and beyond, warm wishes for an enjoyable festive holiday period and a healthy 2026.

We are keen to attract new members from all backgrounds. If you would like to know more about Rotary and the varied activities of our club, contact us at csrotaryapplication@gmail.com.

CLUB ACTIVITIES 2024/25