News from our newest Satellite Club

News from our newest Satellite Club

Rotate was set up as a potential satellite of the Rotary Club of Amersham in Autumn 2018. Rotary in Amersham had been considering for a few years ways of broadening the appeal of Rotary Membership. Rotate offers both a membership and a volunteering opportunity so that individuals can choose what suits their lifestyle. Membership of Rotate automatically gives membership of Amersham Rotary and the advantages of attending the main club’s events as and when it suits without the commitment of attending regular lunches.

We are all passionate volunteers who believe there are many people, of all ages, who would love to help in the community, but may not want to commit to something regular or don't know how or where to find out what they can do to make a difference. Our aim is to identify issues in our community and provide local people with an opportunity to assist in alleviating them. We now have 13 members and a group of volunteers who regularly help at our events.

We have many ongoing projects and have held several events including a launch event, winter warmers collection and a tool collection for WorkAid. Rotate has had a traditional games stall at both the Amersham Festival and Old Amersham Heritage Day. Both were very successful and we raised nearly £300 in total.

In 2019 we have been focusing on the issues surrounding loneliness and the elderly. We run a monthly Coffee Companions session at a local independent coffee shop, Rotate members facilitate the sessions and we often have visitors from Chiltern District Council, Community Impact Bucks and other local groups.

Rotate members assist with driving and helping at an inter-generational lunch that is organised by a local CIC. This is a monthly lunch with the elderly and primary school children coming into to sit and chat to the guests who are provided with a hot lunch.

One of our members has researched and started up another cross generational project with a mother and toddler music group and the elderly. the first session was a month ago and was very successful with both generations having fun.

We are delighted that on 1st October, we are taking part in the United Nations Day of Older Persons and have organised a ‘Try Something Different Day’ at local church. This is a pop in free event with lots of different activities for guests to have taster sessions, stalls which may interest the elderly and a cafe with cakes made by the WI Angels. We hope events like this make the elder people in our community feel valued and appreciated.

Rotate has many events planned for the coming months and hope to expand both their membership and volunteer base steadily; and to apply imminently for registration as a satellite of Rotary in Amersham.

Sejal Sachdev
Amersham Rotate