Where The Money Goes

Over the years our Lions club has developed a range of fundraising events and activities, and a flexible policy to decide where the money goes

Every year we get many requests for consideration from the largest of national charities to the smallest of local causes 

At present we select 3 charities to nominate to benefit together from our Festive Walk, Easter Egg raffles and Knowle Fun Run. These may be national charities who have identified ways in which the monies raised can be used to make a difference locally or local charities, even occasionally international. We try to address a variety of needs. We consider all approaches in December and shortlist and interview before making our decisions

For 2009 our nominated charities were Macmillan Cancer Care, Whizz-Kidz & Lions SightFirst Campaign 2

For 2010 they will be Parkinson’s Disease Society, Teenage Cancer Trust & fly2help

In addition we organise our Summer Stroll presently in aid of Diabetes UK and Bikeathon aid of Leukaemia Research 

With an increasing number of local requests we have now increased the proportion which we retain for local causes to upto 30% of the funds raised. The first calls on the ‘local causes’ monies are for our own initiatives:

Support for the Elderly:

• Tea parties
• Coach trips
• Christmas parcels and cards

Support for Youth

• Youth Travel Bursaries
• Grants to individuals

Our Community Services committee then considers local requests on merit, within the limits of the funds available. Some recent beneficiaries have included:

• Friends of Knowle Park
• Dorridge Village Hall refurbishment
• National Trust – Baddesley Clinton & Packwood Houses
• Troop Aid
• This Way Up – Arden School
• Knowle Sea Scouts
• Kixley Lane School
• Chernobyl Children
• Oak Tree Farm
• Save the Children
• Darwin Explorer Group
• Saturday Time Out
• Family Care Trust
• Brain Tumor Association
• Birmingham Christmas Shelter
• Moving On
• Knowle British Legion
• Muscular Dystrophy

In addition, we support national and international Lions initiatives, including

• Asian Eye Camp
• UNICEF projects
• North Sea Lions project
• Lions Clubs International Fund
• Special Needs
• Hilary Lister Trust
• SANDS

If you know of a local cause you feel we should consider supporting please ask them to email us with details of who, how, why, where and when or call the Community Services Chair Lion Bob Thurtle on 01564 777933