Ludlow Rotary Cares 2024 – Results and feedback

LUDLOW ROTARY AWARDS COMMUNITY GRANTS

The South Shropshire Youth Forum’s Ludlow Garden Help Scheme, the Ludlow ME Support Group which offers practical support to those suffering from chronic fatigue syndrome, the Orleton Evergreens which is a local community group for senior citizens, and the Gallows Bank Millenium Green Trust which cares for a valued green space in the town were four of the local organisations to benefit from this year’s community grants scheme run by Ludlow Rotary Club.

‘Ludlow Rotary Cares’ is the name the Club has given to the scheme which offers local charities and other organisations supporting community life the opportunity to apply for a modest grant of up to £750. Over the past nine years the Club has been able to invest over £45,000 in almost 100 local community projects in and around Ludlow through this scheme. At a special meeting of the club last Tuesday (14 May), a further nine grants amounting to over £5,000 were awarded.

The full list of award recipients comprises:

1^st Ludlow Scout Group

South Shropshire Youth Forum

South Shropshire Engineering Ambassadors

Shropshire ME Group

Orleton Footpath Maintenance Group

Orleton Evergreens

Girl Guiding Ludlow

Gallows Bank Millenium Green Trust

Cleobury Mortimer Friendship Club

In addition Rockspring Community Choir and Kyrebrook Daycare Centre CIC have also been awarded grants

Speaking at the event Club Vice President, Robert Hodge, said “Apart from the opportunity to offer practical support to many local and valued initiatives, these occasions bring home the amount of unseen but dedicated care and volunteering which goes on in our communities. It’s good that we are able to recognise and applaud it in this way, and make a real difference to small organisations.”

“However, our support is possible only as a result of our fundraising efforts each year. Notable amongst them is our annual Dog Day event which, this year, is taking place on 28 July at Stokesay Court and, for the first time this year, our Duck Race taking place at Dinham Bridge on 27 May. We hope both of these will, in turn, attract widespread interest and support.”

Barry Forrester – Ludlow Rotary Club 15/05/24.

Post Script

Council decided to also award grants to the first reserves – Kyrebrook Daycare and Rockspring – Rockspring Community Choir.

Feedback

1st. Ludlow Scouts

Hello both, Just to let you know that we have now spent the grant that you so kindly gave is. £111.97 on four first aid kits. £79.99 on an emergency shelter. A total of £191.96.

As the shelter was cheaper than we were quoted the balance of the grant was spent on hiring a GPS tracker for use in Scout expeditions so we can continuously track where the young people are at any time. It worked better than any of our expectations. It also saves the Leaders a lot of time looking for them when they take the wrong turning or divert because they don’t like the look of the cows.

Thanks again, Philip Sandell, Treasurer 1st Ludlow Scouts

Orleton Evergreens

It is with grateful thanks that I can report a most successful visit by Orleton Evergreens to the National Memorial Arboretum last Thursday, 25th July. We had an amazing day, funded by the very generous grant from Ludlow Rotary Cares.

We had a most informative, 50 minute ride on the Land Train which took us a good way round the 150 acre site, pointing out a variety of memorials. There is the imposing Armed Forces Memorial remembering all the service men and women of the British Armed Forces who have been killed since the end of the Second World War. We of course saw many military memorials recognising the sacrifices of the Army, Navy and Air Force, but also memorials dedicated to GCHQ, the Police forces in the UK and so many others besides. It would take more than a day to do justice to everything there is to see.

The visit was enjoyed by all, both Evergreens and members of the wider community.

Please relay my heartfelt thanks for the contribution from Ludlow Rotary Cares.

I have attached a few photos for your information.

Kind regards, Sue Turner

South Shropshire Engineering Ambassadors

Shropshire ME Group

“Back in July I contacted the two surgeries in Ludlow with the good news of your generous donation and sent a proposal of how we might work together for the benefit of ME patients and the surgeries (copy of proposal attached).  You will remember the funding is ring-fenced to protect our existing services in Ludlow and to supplement these by establishing a “partnership” with GP’s to ensure everyone diagnosed with ME is made aware of the support we can provide to live better with ME. Additionally, the funding has enabled us to provide a 1:1 “buddy” helpline that we believe will help people come to terms with their diagnosis.

Portcullis Surgery responded positively and suggested a preference for a direct referral of patients to our charity rather than merely handing people a leaflet or displaying a notice.  That’s wonderful because we also believe that works best.  I have since sent them a suggested pathway for referral (copy attached).  We are keen not to place a heavy admin burden on surgeries so have invited Portcullis to make suggestions or simply give comments.  I now have a fairly long list of detailed questions from them as quite rightly the devil is in the detail.  Mainly of these concern ethical questions and the skill levels and dbs checks in place for our volunteers who will be helping referred patients.

This week I sent my response and am now waiting for them to press the button as it were to go ahead.  It seems the wheels of the NHS turn slowly but I am hopeful that my responses to their questions will be acceptable and we still aim to launch in October.   DBS checks are in place and our “buddy” volunteer has training in Mental Health issues so fingers crossed Portcullis will be satisfied.  We have established a dedicated helpline number that we are keen to publicise when we hear that Portcullis are satisfied.

I have been less successful with the Station View Practice.  They haven’t declined our proposal but there have been difficulties in establishing communication!  However, I will keep at it and I think the summer is a busy time for holidays and so once again this week I have been in touch with their Patient Services Manager.

At the moment I can’t offer photos to you but will certainly do so  once both (surgeries are on board)

We also have funding to launch a similar scheme in Shrewsbury where 11 surgeries are talking to us.  I am hopeful that Ludlow will be a pioneer for improving services across Shropshire and once again I thank you for your help and support.

I will be in touch again next month with a further update and in the meantime I am attaching a small leaflet about ME and our charity’s work.

I hope the dog show was a huge success.  Fundraising is hard work!

Best wishes

Paula

Chair of Shropshire ME Group

Charity No. 1072171

Once again we would like to say a very big thankyou to you committee for the grant which allowed to enjoy this lovely experience.”