About the Knowle and Dorridge Lions
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HISTORY
The Knowle and Dorridge Lions Club itself was formed in 1976. We are possibly best known for the Knowle Fun Run, Heart of England Bike Ride and the Festive Walk but we run many more events. As a volunteer charity, no member is paid. And with the exception of event expenses and a small contribution to LCIF, all monies go to good causes. Since formation, Knowle and Dorridge Lions has raised and distributed over £1m to charities and to community projects.
Knowle and Dorridge Lions is a part of the Lions Clubs International Foundation. The Lions themselves were initially founded in 1917 in the United States. The Lions mission is to serve our community, simple as that.
Some examples of moneys distributed. Include:
Leukaemia Research, £20,000, 2011
British Heart Foundation, £15,400, 2015
Motor Neurone Disease Association, £12,263, 2017
Breast Cancer Haven, £8,831, 2018
We do not just contribute large sums to established charities. On a smaller scale we have:
funded tents for Knowle scouts to enable them to do D of E expeditions
made a contribution to refurbishment of Knowle Village Hall.
bought benches in Bentley Heath.
Made a contribution to the knot garden in Knowle maintenance
paid for counselling for a local forces veteran with P.T.S.D.
Contributed to the Knowle guides- to attend jamboree
help to private individuals in need.
We are proud to have provided a youth travel bursary for over 20 years.Two awards up to £1750 for local young people aged 16-24 to help fund an award on an artistic, cultural or scientific field, or involve work in an underdeveloped country.
But we are not just about raising money. We are also keen on supporting the community in every way possible. For example, we run free coach trips for seniors to places such as Ludlow/ Chester and we organise free tea parties. We have created walking trails such as the Lions Safari and the Easter Egg Hunt. And since covid lockdown in 2019, it is estimated Lions have spent about 400 hours litter picking in the area, plus another 150 hours attending the car park at the Balsall Common Vaccination Centre and Arden Medical Centre. We also support the Knowle Christmas Lights Switch On and Dorridge Day.
We like to support our local schools and in the last 12 months alone, we have contributed £500 each to the 4 primary schools in our area.
We only exist with the goodwill and support of our community. That includes members and non-members.
2022/23 President
Stuart Davis
2022/23 Secretary
Jamie Walsh
2022/23 Treasurer
Ian Gedge
Stuart Davis is our new President for 2022/23. From Mayor to President.
Many people in B93 will know Stuart Davis as the former Mayor of Solihull in 2017 /18 and 2019 / 21, but we in Knowle and Dorridge Lions know him as a loyal colleague who has been a Lion for 38 years.
Stuart joined Brixham Lions Club in 1984 followed by Tenerife Sur in 1987 ( where he was working ) and was Club President there in 1990 before joining our Club in 1996 and becoming President in 1999.
We will benefit from all these years of administrative experience as we emerge into the post Covid world. We have a big job to do to rebuild our funding which in turn helps us help so many individuals and charities. To do this we need to recruit new Lions and to grow our KDL Friends our wonderful band of volunteers.
As Stuart takes on his new role he paid tribute to our former President Lion Adrian Harris who for two Covid years guided us to emerge strong and determined to carry on the work of Lions both locally, nationally and internationally.
