Community Service
Charity begins at home and with Rotary it's no different! The Rotary Club of Belfast is proud to support our local community.
Current projects include: click on link below to go to topic direct
Kids Out Day
On 10 June 2010 we took part in Kids Out Day for the fourth year. This is an event carried out by a large number of the Rotary Clubs throughout UK and Ireland on the same day – taking kids with learning or physical difficulties to some fun place for the day.
Once again we continued our association with Mitchell House Special School and with a large party of Rotarian volunteers, helpers and staff took the 23 pupils with 16 in wheelchairs to Belfast Zoo. They aged from 4 up to about 11 – quite a range.
We arrived at the School at 9.30 and after introducing ourselves and a chant of ‘we’re going to the Zoo, Zoo, Zoo’, how about You, You, You’, we helped to get the children into the 3 buses.
We met the rest of the Rotarians when we arrived at the Zoo and they all climbed into the buses to get a lift to the top of the Zoo grounds – it’s a steep walk otherwise.
First thing was a refreshment stop at the outside tables at the top with fantastic views – what great weather after 2 days of rain.
We started to stagger down the hill holding on to wheelchairs desperately and first passed
the lions. We had a scary moment when Albert got a bit close to them!
Then we saw a tiger, chimpanzees (who were in a huddle apparently having a deep discussion), then onto the penguins, seals, peacocks, etc.
We got down rather late for lunch at 12.15 but managed to get the sausages, chicken or beef burgers and chips plus food for the 10 Mitchell House staff in time for the first bus home at 1 pm. The younger ages had to be back earlier that the rest.
The older ones then went for a talk and animal show provided by the Zoo.
This started off hilariously with a tarantula being taken round. Most of the kids were fine with this except one little toughie who almost had hysterics (together with a couple of the teachers!). The python snake was taken in their stride and all the rest were fascinating.
Finally we reloaded all the children and teachers back on the remaining buses and waved goodbye. They all had a really good time and thanks go to all the Rotarian helpers, Brian Clements, Brian Ferguson, John Williamson, Eric Rainey, Gordon Millington, Alan Rundle, Courtenay Thompson, Albert Baird, Craig McClelland and also, representing Inner Wheel, to Gilly Morrison.
What joy and pleasure this project brings to all the kids as can be seen from the photographs. (Click all images for larger version)
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Harmony Community Trust - Glebe House 
Harmony Community Trust is a Charity established by Belfast Rotary Club in 1975 when it was decided to create a local facility which would provide children with the opportunity of respite and the experience of mixing together in a neutral environment. Glebe House, an old Rectory with 16 acres in Kilclief near Strangford, was purchased and the organisation was set up to run a holiday centre where children from both sides of the divided community in Northern Ireland could meet in a neutral environment, learn to understand one another and contribute towards a better and more peaceful future for the Province.
Throughout the last 33 years this centre has provided an essential facility, which is still very relevant, even in the current climate, to promote reconciliation and understanding. The Belfast Club has remained closely involved through continued representation on Harmony’s Committee and currently Gary Bennett and David Boyd are the Club’s representatives. In recognition of the huge input to the Trust by the late Harry Corscadden, the new Activity and Conference Centre was dedicated and named after him at a ceremony in May 2009. more……
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Mitchell House School
Mitchell House School is a co-educational special school located in east Belfast for up to 80 children between the ages of 2 and 19 years with physical disabilities. The Belfast Club has provided Christmas Parties for the children. The 2009 party for the whole Junior School was a great day, the kids had a ball and the enthusiasm was contagious, all the party of Rotarians really got a buzz also. more…..
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Montgomery Bowl In 1993 the Club Council took a decision to introduce a special fund which was to be used to make life easier for children in hospital or in special care units with close ties to hospitals in the Belfast area. The fund was to be financed from a portion of the weekly Montgomery Bowl contributions which in 1993 were £15 per week rising to £20 in 1997 and £25 in 2002.
For many years the Montgomery Bowl money was used to buy flowers. Typically they were sent to people in hospital. In practice however, hospital staff did not have the time to arrange them in vases and in some wards they were not allowed at all. It was therefore decided that when each member was asked to contribute, they would be given the choice of sending flowers or making a donation to the Children in Hospital Appeal.
During the first year of the new system, half of the money was donated to the Appeal. Since then, the amount donated has averaged around 90%. Contributions are channelled through our trust fund to enable us to reclaim VAT. However members are reminded that when there is an appropriate recipient for flowers, they should choose that option.
This year we decided to make a single contribution to Heartbeat-NI which, among other charities, supports the Clark Clinic at the Royal Belfast Hospital for Sick Children. The clinic is the paediatric cardiac centre for Northern Ireland and our contribution of £1000 will be used to help purchase an MRI Scanner for this unit. Heartbeat-NI has undertaken to raise a quarter of the one million pounds required to purchase this scanner. Three other charities will raise the balance and they have all agreed on a time scale of one year! When purchased, the Health Service will take over the running of this equipment. Over 200 babies with heart conditions are born in Northern Ireland each year. At present they have to be transferred from the clinic to the adult scanners in the other hospitals. These scanners are not set up for babies and there are risks during the transfer process. A dedicated scanner will be a huge asset to the Clark Clinic and will bring real benefits to the many children who will require heart surgery there. As the Chairman of Heartbeat-NI said to me – if only he could find another 249 organisations like the Rotary Club of Belfast!
On behalf of all the children who benefit from our Children in Hospital Appeal we express very sincere thanks to all our members and the hope that we can continue this work for many years.
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Christmas Family Appeal
The Belfast Rotary Club was pleased to initiate, and continue involvement with, The Christmas Family Appeal - now a joint venture between The Salvation Army and the Society of St Vincent de Paul, supported by BBC Northern Ireland - which collects and distributes Christmas toys and gifts for families in need across Northern Ireland who, for what ever reason, would not otherwise get a present at Christmas.
The Appeal has grown and grown as has the need to help. Club members bring in gifts on the first meeting in December and it is a very humbling experience to see the public's generosity with all the fabulous new toys, books and games and gift vouchers left in to collection centers.
Before Christmas teams from the Club with volunteers from the Salvation Army and St Vincent de Paul sort and wrap the donated presents and this year the generosity was incredible as there were more than enough wonderful gifts for each child to get a parcel with a major gift ( a radio controlled Helicopter/car for example), to receive two lesser presents, some stocking fillers and a book or game.
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The John A Savage Memorial Trophy
The John A Savage Trophy for 2010 was presented on 21st February 2011 to the Belfast Rotaract Club. Inaugurated in 2009 the Trophy is awarded by the Club to the individual or group selected as giving great service to the Community.
Presenting the award, President Brian stated he was personally delighted to present this award given his long-standing association with John Savage and the connection with the Rotaract Club.
The award was collected, on behalf of the Rotaract Club by President Tom Eisenhart and founder member Laura Garland. Information on the Belfast Rotaract Club can be seen here.
The Cup has been created in memory of former member the late John Savage and with the excellent assistance of Eric Rainey, the old "R R Bowman" Silver Cup has been newly engraved as "The John A Savage Memorial Trophy". PP Craig McClelland kindly supplied a wooden plinth for the Cup which will display Silver shields listing the winners in 2009 and each subsequent year. R R Bowman was a Rotarian in our Club who died about 50 years ago. He was a great Horticulturist and had particular ability in growing beautiful scented Roses. The Silver Cup, given by him to our Club, was awarded for many years at our Autumn Flower Show, for the best Rose in Show. It was often won by the late Rotarian David A. Dorman, O.B.E. K.O.L - a Belfast Rotarian for well over 50 years and a wonderful Horticulturist.
John Savage, born 12.04.1929 was also a Rotarian in our Club and died nearly 20 years ago. A man of action with great ability, high ethical and moral standards - his Scouting career was unique! - Scout Master; Group Scout Leader and latterly President of his own Group. John resigned as Director (having followed an engineering career) in Craig's in 1972 to follow a career that he much loved, in Scouting - an extension of his lifetime hobby. With many awards for his Community Service he was Field Commissioner 1972 - 74 and Executive Commissioner 1974 until his death. He brought three Scout Associations in Ireland together.
‘A man behind everything’ he was appointed J.P. for his work in Juvenile courts; was a member of SELB from 1985; Chairman NI Standing Conference of Youth Organisations; member of the Board of Governors, Special School for Handicapped children, Newtownards; and a member of the Programme of Training Sub Committee (London H.Q.).
On joining the Rotary Club of Belfast, John quickly entered into the Work and Service under the Aims & Objects of Rotary. Possibly, one of his greatest contributions in Rotary and Scouting was his re-establishing the Rotary Boys' Camp, at Crawfordsburn Scout Centre 1977, with Pat Smyrl and Denise O'Neill, Scouts and Ranger Guides. He nurtured the disadvantaged children attending the Camps, as they enjoyed the experience of sleeping under canvas with a simple Scout programme, and he made a lasting difference to many lives.
The first recipients of the Trophy were the Harmony Hill Presbyterian Church Youth Group for their work on the Duke of Edinburgh Scheme and commitment to young people. The Trophy was presented on 23rd November 2009 by President Arthur to Heather Best, Harmony Hill Open Centre and, by chance, two of PP Alan White's grandchildren - Peter and Sarah White were on the winning team!
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Thank you for Life Campaign
Christmas 2010 The Rotary Club of Belfast, in conjunction with Tesco, supported the ‘Thank you for Life’ campaign, which we hoped would capture the essence of the Christmas spirit. 25’ Christmas Trees were erected outside two Tesco Extra stores they were not purely decorative but provided a simple, yet poignant, way of remembering, acknowledging and celebrating the lives of loved ones amid the hustle and bustle of the Christmas season. Shoppers were invited to write a private, personal message on ribbons which were then attached to the Tree.
Whilst there was no charge, we asked for a donation to the local and international charities chosen by The Rotary Club and Tesco, including: CLIC Sargent, Help our Heroes, SOSBus, Spina Bifida, Walkaway Community Association, Bothar, Cystic Fibrosis and St John’s Ambulance.
Thanks to the generosity of the Northern Ireland shoppers, who dug deep into their pockets despite freezing temperatures and atrocious travelling conditions, together with the very hard work of members, over £28,340 was collected. President Brian distributed the funds to the nominated charities in February 2011 at a Club meeting. more
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SOS Bus
SOS Bus is an award winning charity based in Belfast. The project originated from a similar project in Norwich which has approximately 50% of the population of Belfast and where over the past 8 years some 5500 people have benefited from this service. After a 2 year consultation process a case was made for an SOS Bus to be established in Belfast and it was launched on 27th November 2007.
The project has a small fleet of vehicles including 2x60ft ‘bendy’ bus each equipped with a fully functioning medical centre that are crewed by a Pro Paramedics medical team together with audio visual equipment and IT access wherever they go, a bespoke minibus and 2 towed generators.
Since its inception the bus has been used in Shaftesbury Square, Belfast as a means of support for people who have become distressed or vulnerable through over-indulgence of either alcohol or drugs or who feel threatened or isolated after becoming separated from their friends. The dedicated teams of volunteers reach out to those in need and bring them to the bus where they receive tea and biscuits, medical attention if required and safe transportation home.
From October 2010 their second bus has been deployed at the Odyssey Arena where already they have saved lives and protected vulnerable youngsters in quite desperate need.
Overall this project has been a huge success and drawn praise from many quarters including the PSNI, local politicians and the media.
To date SOS bus has interacted with over 94,000 people and provided in-depth support to over 1,350 individuals on the streets of Belfast including helping potential suicide victims.
Without the generosity and dedication of about 140 volunteers and supporters the bus could not operate. Several Club members have worked on a weekend shift in Belfast and have found the work gratifying and powerful and intend to continue working to make a difference.
Funding is desperately needed to build their internal resources and fund a volunteer coordinator to manage recruitment and training.
Community Outreach is a becoming significant area of their work and they commenced delivery of this activity during 2009 in Ballymurphy, Sliabh Dubh and Glencairn. Having ascertained local needs from June 2010 they now bring the SOS Bus to the Hillhall Estate, Lisburn – a community suffering from significant social disadvantage. Key projects currently being delivered include:
- Diversionary projects for young people to help reduce anti-social behaviour
- Support for carers of people with long-term illness
- Taster sessions on areas such as IT, numeracy and literacy
- Community clean-ups
- Intergenerational projects involving the elderly and young people to promote active partnership and respect
- Health projects with local partners
- Community volunteer programme
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