Vocational Activities

Vocational Service is one of the five Avenues of Service along with Club Service, Community Service, International Service and Youth Service. 

Vocational Service is concerned with the knowledge, skills and talents each Rotarian possesses which are used to make a contribution. In this sense Vocational Service underpins the other avenues of service. 

The skills each Rotarian brings to Rotary are critical and pivotal to the success of Rotarians as individuals and to Rotary as a whole. The skills are unique and can be acquired in a variety of ways – through professional background, through hobbies and interests, through community commitments, though general life experiences and through the time in Rotary. The skills are used to develop ethical projects and are shared with fellow Rotarians. The skills and how they are applied are Rotary’s greatest assets and the roots of the Rotary organisation are strengthened by a plethora of diverse and expert skills.

“Vocational Service is in all, because of all and for all. It is about placing vocational at the heart of everything that Rotary does.” (Debbie Hodge, President Rotary Great Britain & Ireland, 2018-19) 

Some examples of Vocational Service in the Rotary clubs of Rotary District 1145: 

• Vocational Visits – Croydon Jubilee RC; 
• Planting Flower Beds on Worthing Seafront – Worthing RC; 
• Working on a School Garden – Ewell RC;  
• Working with older people through PACE (Purley & Coulsdon Centre for the Elderly) – Croydon & Purley RC; 
• Working with younger people through the Whitehorse Youth Centre – Croydon RC; 
• Tidying Station Road Gardens – Billingshurst RC; 
• Litter Pick with Purley Business Bid – Purley RC; 
• Improving St Martin’s Churchyard – Dorking Rotary Clubs; 
• Painting the Denningsbery Centre - Godalming Woolsack RC; 
• Mock Interviews with 6th Form students, Thomas More School, Purley, - Croydon RC. 
• Making Facemasks to combat Coronavirus – Highdown Rotary. 

 Some examples of Vocational Service in the Rotary clubs of Rotary GB&I: 

• Community centre renovation – Fordingbridge RC; 
• Mock interviews – Wrexham Erddig RC; 
• Young carers’ catering training – Lowestoft East Points RC; 
• Mentoring 19-24 year olds for employment – Bexleyheath RC; 
• Rotary charity shop – Launeston RC; 
• Vocational study exchange – District 1210, Midlands; 
• Young Persons Business Awards – District 1200, Somerset; 
• Skills Database – District 1090, Thames Valley. 

 Other possible vocational activities: 

• Vocational speakers; 
• Vocational Skills audit to identify gaps and use in membership recruitment; 
• District vocational projects database – to share ideas amongst clubs; 
• Pro Bono consultancy to help community service and small charities; 
• Video of vocational service in action; 
• Mentoring in Job Centres – advice with CV’s and interview skills; 
• Helping primary school children read; 
• Aspiration days in schools to talk about jobs and support careers departments; Invigilating school examinations; 
• Provision of transport for the elderly to lunch clubs. 

 The list is ENDLESS. It supports Rotary’s motto “Service before Self”.

2020