Ludlow Rotary Cares 2016 – Making a difference in our community
Here is some feed back from some of the recipients of Ludlow Rotary Club grants in 2016:
Ludlow Scout Group – The Ludlow Rotary Cares grant has been used to fit new doors between our two of the halls to create a snug area so that we can have more than one group doing activities at the same time. The first 2 photos show the new doors and the third shows the snug area. As always, there is more to do including in the near future painting the new doors and making further improving the snug area. Many thanks Philip Sandell – Treasurer, Ludlow Scouts
From Caroline at the South Shropshire Gymnastics Club – The grant has been put to good use with a wonderful practice beam being purchased, the balance being put towards one of our young coaches level one coaching course, I have great pride informing you that she passed her exam and now is a fully qualified Level 1 Gymnastics coach. Our new practice beam and newly qualified coach means, we have been able to increase the children taking part in Gymnastics at SSGC by 6 per class. An total increase of 24 new children taking part in Gymnastics in Ludlow. This has helped us decrease our ever-growing waiting list and also given the existing SSGC members new peace of equipment to experience. The Gymnasts have enjoyed the challenge of learning new skills on the beam, whiles increasing their balance, strength and co-ordination whilst having fun.
From Riding for the Disabled – Since receiving the award in October last year we have been pleased to use the money to subsidise 45 riding lessons for our children and young adults. Daniel, who enjoyed meeting you all at the presentations at the Mascall Centre, has been a regular attendee and we have all seen a significant improvement in his riding and general health.
Here’s Daniel on Hazy, with Stephanie his Teaching Assistant, and 2 of our volunteers trotting in our sand arena on a cold, but sunny, January afternoon. Kane, who also attended the presentations, was riding really well before Christmas, but has had to have some time off this year. Gavin, his father and one of stalwart volunteers, continues to help with our Tuesday rides There are many obvious health benefits to riding, including developing strong core body strength and strong legs. There are also many less obvious benefits, such as increased confidence and introspection. Recent research that one of the most important beneficial factors of horseback riding for children and for human health appears to be associated with the horse’s vibrations. Riding can improve the ability of children to learn to respond with an appropriate action depending on the situation or to use self-control appropriately. Ludlow & District RDA is proud to have been able to help our disadvantaged riders & carriage drivers in these ways over many years.
From Clare – Neen Savage Parish Hall – The work was completed by a local builder at the beginning of February and the invoice is attached. Unfortunately loft insulation is not a great photo opportunity! Needless to say, the hall feels consistently warmer and drier and I am sure that all users will continue to feel the benefits for years to come. I remember a time when there were a variety of grants and “pots of money” available to small local community projects, to help maintain the fabric of their limited facilities. However, times have changed , so we were particularly grateful to find Ludlow Rotary Cares offering help and support. Thank you very much. If you ever need a venue in the south east of Shropshire, we have a beautifully located, rural hall with a good car park and great loft insulation!
From Lisa – Craven Arms Youth Group – Our play day will take place on the 7th August and therefore we do not have anything to send you at this point. Plans are underway and activities have already been booked for the day including the climbing wall and junior football.
From Linda – Ludlow Area Youth Partnership – The fireworks took place on Gallows Bank supported by volunteers from the local community as well as from Tesco’s, Local Council, Marches Lions, Ludlow Foyer and Rotary Club. The police came with information in their mobile van and we had a local band providing music. Refreshments were on sale at Rockspring Centre enabling everyone to enjoy the night. Following on from last year’s event, we have started up a Facebook page raising the need for more volunteers on the night and have started a working group encouraging more local involvement.
From David – Ludlow Male Voice Choir – 2017 has got off to a good start for the choir. We have gained several new members and now have 22 singers who are all enjoying evenings with our Musical Director Amy Evans, supported by our superb accompanist Jane Nelson. Since our sextet caused Robbie Burns to turn in his grave on the 27th January the whole choir decamped to Leominster Baptist Church to give a concert in support of Amnesty International and Mary’s Meals on Saturday 18th March. This was well received by an audience of about 100. We have future concerts planned at Milson Church, and at Ludlow Methodist Church for our own choir funds. In closing I must again thank Ludlow Rotary Cares for the award which came at a time when the morale of the choir was quite low and finances stretched. We are now on a firmer financial footing with a growing membership, which we hope will continue to increase. We are definitely on the up.
From Ruth – Bishop’s Castle Public Hall – In October 2016 you kindly awarded a grant to Bishop’s Castle Public Hall for us to use for the installation of a small kitchen area in The Underground. We purchased 1 x 1000 unit, 1 x 1000 corner unit, 1 x 400 unit and 1 x 500 unit plus two lengths of worktop and I am pleased to be able to report that the kitchen has now been installed and I enclose some photographs of our new kitchen.
We were very fortunate in also receiving a kitchen sink and taps from a committee member, an end of roll piece of anti – slip flooring and fitting from a colleague in the flooring trade and the kitchen being decorated and the units fitted by volunteers from the local community. This support along with your very helpful and valued grant has really enhanced The Underground area and it has been well used by musicians, community groups and young people. Our final task is to tile the walls to create a splashback and we have a volunteer willing to undertake this work. We have already purchased the materials from income raised through bookings so in a few weeks we will have a completely finished kitchen.Our new kitchen, which we have also equipped with a coffee machine, fridge, microwave and water boiler, has been well received by users and really made use of the space that we had available. We have also been successful as part of a joint youth bid to deliver some music workshops in conjunction with the About Music Project and the Town Council during the coming year for young people aged 8 to 16. Having a kitchen will certainly help us to deliver this service as we need to offer refreshments. Additionally, as part of the programme, young people will host open mic nights, enabling them to build on the skills they will have acquired, by performing live in front of an audience. Again the kitchen will enable refreshments to be served at these events.
Overall your grant award has enabled us to significantly improve The Underground facility for all community users and we are very grateful for your support. On behalf of my fellow committee members and the local community of Bishop’s Castle I would like to express our huge and grateful thanks for the very helpful grant which has enabled us to install our small kitchen. It really is appreciated.
From Claire Jackson – Home Start Shropshire – As a small scheme making a huge difference to families, the support you have given us has ensured we can continue to offer help where it is most needed across the county. In the last year we have supported 88 families with home visiting volunteers, who visit each home monthly. The support we offer varies and is individual to each family. This year we have seen a focus on mental health and its impact on families. We have also seen an increase in cases of domestic abuse within the families we support. The funding you have given enables us to support families that fall outside the Big Lottery Funding we receive. Thanks again for your support without which we would not be able to continue to offer assistance to vulnerable families in Shropshire.
From Lisa Bedford – Craven Arms Play Day 2017 – Thanks to a wonderful grant of £500 from Ludlow Rotary Club, Craven Arms Area Youth Group were able to organise a fantastic FREE play day for South Shropshire on the Monday 7th August. The weather held out for our event and we were grateful to the following organisations for attending and supporting the range of activities we had on offer: Homestart Shropshire; Children’s Centres; West Mercia Police; Shrewsbury Town in the Community; Scrappies; Middle Marches Lions; St Andrews Community Church; South Shropshire Furniture Scheme; Shropshire Hills Discovery Centre; Shropshire Youth Association; Shropshire Council Leisure Services; South Shropshire Youth Forum; Shropshire Housing Group
The fantastic activities included football, glitter tattoos, bubble making, arts and crafts, climbing wall, bouncy castle, soft play, large garden games, space hoppers, sand play, test out the police car sirens and splat the rat!
We gave out stickers to over 200 children which was a fantastic turnout, with over 150 adults as well attending.
Feedback on the day and after the event was very positive with residents very grateful for the event. We also managed to collect almost £50 in donations towards the event for next year.
Service providers such as Homestart, Children’s Centres and the police were able to engage and offer support to families and signpost people in need of additional information, therefore our aim to provide information and support in addition to lots of fun was achieved.
People attended from all over South Shropshire with the majority from Craven Arms, but there were also a number of families from Ludlow and Church Stretton.
Posted – May 2017 – updated September 2017