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Goring, Woodcote and District Lions Club
Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club is part of Lions Clubs International which has just been recognised by the United Nations as one of the premier NGOs in the world.
We have a Dinner and business meeting once a month on the 2nd Monday of each month at the Caversham Heath Golf Club.
We fund raise in the villages of South Oxfordshire, from South Stoke to Whitchurch on Thames. Over 80% of our money is put back into the local community with some going to Lions Clubs International projects around the world and some the National Lions projects in UK and Ireland.
We have no upper age limit (21 is minimum) and membership of the club is open to men, women and couples.
In the Woodcote area, the main noticeable things we run are the annual Lions Santa Float, the annual 10k Run and we have helped organise the Woodcote Fun day. We organise an annual conker competition held at the Cross Lanes Fruit Farm open day and support both Langtree Primary and Secondary schools.
Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club Charitable Trust Fund No: 1131754
For more information please see our website - www.lions-gwd.org.uk or contact at info@lions-gwd.org.uk or president@lions-gwd.org.uk or on 0845 833 9837 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 0845 833 9837 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Lions BBQ to celebrate new President
At a recent BBQ party Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club outgoing President Sally Bergmann handed over to Lion John Bridgens who becomes Club President for the year ahead.
As outgoing Lion President Sally handed over she thanked the Club members for all their support and for helping to raise just over £10,000 in charitable funds during her year of which £6,441.94 had so far been dispersed. This included helping Bishopswood Special School with a donation for their new minibus and for equipment given to the local Scouts and Guides, Frontiers Group, as well as Langtree School, Woodcote and Kidmore End Primary Schools. Through LCIF ( Lions Clubs International Fund ) Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club have also contributed funds to disaster relief efforts that are ongoing and organised via the local Lions Clubs in both Cockermouth U.K., in Haiti and more recently in Pakistan.
On becoming Lions Club President for the fourth time John Bridgens said “After such a great year under Sally's leadership I hope to continue in the same way. I’m very impressed with the enthusiasm being shown by all our members both new and old which means we should have a very good year.”
He further announced his chosen charities are the local MacMillan Nurses and Air Ambulance will be main beneficiaries of funds raised by the next Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Annual 10k Charity road run which is planned to take place on Sunday 9th January 2011 starting at 10.30am from Woodcote Village Green.
John receiving the President's chain of office from Sally.
Local Lions Club members and their partners.
Big Easter Eggs and Spectacles from Lions
Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club collected a grand total of £509 at the Easter weekend through the sale of £1 draw tickets to win 5 extra large chocolate Easter eggs. The giant eggs were put on display for tickets to be sold at the Sun pub at Whitchurch Hill, Caversham Heath Golf Club, the Police Rehabilitation Centre, Flint House in Goring, The Hare & Hounds at Sonning Common, and the Pet Shop at Sonning Common.
The Lions also raise funds for charity projects through users of the ‘Great Weather Lottery’ and ‘Cottage Cakes for Charity’ which are sold at Sue Ryder Care Centre sales days in Nettlebed, and at several other local events during the year.
All throughout the year local Lions members also collect unwanted spectacles which are recycled free to visually impaired people in third world countries who would not otherwise have access to spectacles. A total of 1,300 pairs of old or unwanted spectacles were gathered in by Goring, Woodcote and District Lions Club this year. This would not have been possible without the kind help of Sonning Common Health Centre, the Boathouse Surgery Pangbourne, at both the Goring and Woodcote Medical Centres, Woodcote Way Post Office, Caversham, and the reception area at S.O.D.C. Offices, Crowmarsh where collection points are established.
Lions Run stopped but still helps get a Bus
Following donation by Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club of a cheque for £2,000 Bishopswood Special School in Sonning Common is now half-way to raising the £40,000 they need to buy a new specially adapted minibus.
For more information about the school and it’s fundraising activities please visit www.bishopswood.oxon.sch.uk.
Lion President Sally Bergmann with fellow local Lions Club members David Freear and Charles Slater presenting their cheque to Headteacher Jenny Wager at the School.
In thanking the Lions for their donation Mrs Wager said ‘Our existing minibus is now over 11 years old and we use it every day. It needs replacing to safely take groups of children with their helpers and supervisors out and about on school trips, to go swimming and horse riding locally. This is a small school serving a large catchment area in South Oxfordshire and beyond, and it is quite hard to fund raise with only about 30 pupils and families.’
This donation from the Lions was made possible despite having to cancel their Annual 10k Road Run charity fundraising event in January this year for safety reasons due to the heavy snowfall that closed the single track roads used for the course. But, thanks to the generosity of more than 350 runners who pre-paid deposits when registering their entries in advance and sponsorship from local businesses, the Lions were still able to raise around £3,000 for their charitable projects this year.
In addition to helping Bishopswood Special School with funds for their new minibus the Lions have donated money to the local Scouts and Guides, Frontiers Group, Langtree School, Woodcote and Kidmore End Primary Schools.
Through LCIF ( Lions Clubs International Fund ) Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club have also contributed funds to the disaster relief efforts ongoing by local Lions in both Cockermouth U.K. and in Haiti.
Lions Fish Supper & Charity Race Night
The Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club invite you to come along for a fun evening with a difference. Enjoy a special fish & chip supper and filmed horse racing with your friends at Woodcote Village Hall starting at 7.30pm on Saturday 17th April 2010.
Why not make up a party with your friends to attend this special annual event and help your local Lions continue to provide help for people in need.
The advance entry ticket price of £10 per person includes a Fish & Chip Supper and a lucky number for a Grand Raffle Prize.
A bar will be open to buy drinks on a cash basis from 7.30pm onwards.
Tickets are available now from any Goring, Woodcote & District Lions Club member, by email at info@lions-gwd.org.uk or by telephone to 0845 833 9837 or 0118 984 2744.
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