Community and Vocational Service Report to AGM 2025

As in previous years, we have continued to seek opportunities to lend assistance throughout the whole of our catchment during the past year, albeit with limited success in some of the West Fife villages, as reported in previous years, however we have been reasonably active through the year.

We have achieved many of our objectives in serving the Community with the budget set for the year nearly expended or accounted for.

The full list and details of donations made during the year is covered in the Treasurers report, but can be summarised as follows -

• We have continued to support the local branch of the Salvation Army through their Christmas Toy Appeal and the provision of essential goods boxes. Many thanks in particular to Helen for organising the latter.

• We once again repeated the laying of 4 Poppy Wreaths on Remembrance Day at local War Memorials and sponsored 2 classes at the Fife Festival of Music, attended on the Clubs behalf by Aileen and Robert North.

• Donations were given to the Limekilns and Charlestown Gala, the West Fife Quilters, and the Limekilns Playpark Project, with a commitment made to support the Limekilns Pier Restoration project.

We made a financial commitment to the Crossford Allotment project last Rotary year, but there has been no subsequent contact from the organisers.

We have also continued to assist the New4U Children’s clothing project, now set up independently of the Forth Bridges Rotary Club and will continue to review the extent of our commitment to this project within the new Rotary year.

We are also continuing to assist with the SpecSort spectacle recycling project being run through the Alloa Rotary Club and one of the York Rotary Clubs.

Our participation in local galas is ongoing and will continue into the new Rotary Year.

A possible Timebanking project is still up for consideration but is likely to extend into the New Rotary year.

One disappointing aspect of the year has been the lack of response from Community Councils to our offer of possible assistance, but we will keep pursuing this for the time being.

Many thanks to everyone who has helped with the Community and Vocational work this year and hopefully we will have a busy and rewarding period to come for the rest of this year and the new Rotary year.

Neil Spriddle
Rotary Club of West Fife Community and Vocational Service Committee Convenor 2024-2025