Buttsbury Hit Massive Charity Target  

Always a highlight of our Rotary year – presentations from our RotaKids. So,  at our meeting on July 11 we were delighted to welcome the Buttsbury Junior School RotaKids plus headteacher Ann Robinson and teacher Katie McCarty, to give us their annual update on what the RotaKids have achieved this year. It was great to have them with us in person again after two years of Zoom presentations, and to give them the opportunity to bask in the glory of their achievements before a larger audience.

We had to desert our normal  lunch room to accommodate everyone in a private section of the main restaurant of the Beauvoir Arms. Not ideal; some background conversation from other diners but it probably worried us more than the children who spoke clearly and confidently.

Chairperson Danni Obery introduced herself and her fellow officers: Vice Chair Maxwell Sawyer, Secretary Georgina Brown, Treasurer Christopher Markham and PR/Press Officer Poppy Dackombe, who are collectively known as the ‘Core 5’. Each of them then took it in turn to talk us through the major activities for the year.

Total of Over £8,000

First up was a visit by Guide Dogs UK, their chosen charity for the year. One way they raised money was by holding sponsored relay races in the school playground.  Another was ‘Break the Rules’ day in which the children paid a small fine for breaking a school rule (for example having chocolate at break-time instead of a healthy snack).In total they raised a massive £4,795 for Guide Dogs UK.

They also raised £1270 for Cancer Research (wear purple - Go Purple Day), people suffering from genetic conditions (wear jeans on Jeans for Genes day) and Children in Need (animal costumes).

Bringing us right up to date Mrs Robinson added that, too late to include in the presentation, the previous Friday had been ‘Wacky Hair Day’ which had raised just over £1,000, bringing the year’s fundraising total to well over £8,000.

However, fund raising is only one side of what the RotaKids have done.

They have served the local community in practical ways like making dementia blankets and cards for Anisha Grange and creating dementia awareness posters that were displayed in various High Street shops. This work followed from them becoming Dementia Friends last year. They also helped take the children’s harvest donations to the Billericay Foodbank and encouraged healthy choices during ‘Walk to School week’.

Community Service

The RotaKids also do their bit for the school community, helping to run the Parents Association Christmas Bazaar, manning the Christmas Shop stalls and serving at the sale of Mothers’ Day presents – always a popular event. They also participated in Remembrance Day activities.

Speaking to the children over the course of the meal it was clear that they had become good friends and had great fun in their RotaKids roles.

They told us they had enjoyed putting themselves forward for election by their classmates and were proud to wear their RotaKids badges. They certainly have demonstrated the Rotary ideals of fun, fellowship and service.
President Michael thanked them for coming along to tell us what they had done during the year and congratulated them on their achievements.

District Youth chairman Peter Dowse had also been invited for the presentation and added his personal congratulations for all they had done during the year.  Rotary in Great Britain and Ireland runs many competitions open to youth, and he added a plea for them to take advantage of some of these competitions in the coming year.