Looking back on the past year its easy to write it off as the year that stood still – but looking back it was not a wasted year –

The year of the Zoom meeting - Nobody had heard of it a year ago - suddenly we all became experts! 

(can you hear me, I can't see everyone, dodgy backgrounds,cats and kids weve seen them all this year - but we are all it guru's now!)

When the first lockdown was imposed in March 2020, our members discussed how we as a club might best help our local community. It was decided that we could reach more people directly in need, by supporting the local Food Banks.

https://bromleyborough.foodbank.org.uk/

https://lewisham.foodbank.org.uk/

Up to the end of December we have made monthly donations to two sites in Lewisham and Bromley totalling £4500.

 During the year, we have also supported local NHS workers by donations of hand and face creams and snacks etc valued at £1000,

We also joined with the Rotary Satellite club in Orpington and with other local clubs and supporters we have collectively sewn and donated more than 1000 masks for local hospital staff at Orpington, the PRU. Queen Elizabeth’s and Lewisham hospitals. This is in addition to 4000 wash bags

Zoom meetings became the norm.

Some of our members were in the shielding category but they still continued with their community service work by supporting local organisations via the end of a telephone or on a screen.

Amongst our members we have clocked up 100’s of hours of service in various roles from being being school governors, treasures, committee members, food bank drivers, Support workers, admin assistant’s, Mentors, telephone befrienders for many different organisations.

Our biggest fund raiser is our annual Xmas collection is when we normally collect between £10k to £11k for The Small Community Grants fund unfortunately this collection in the normal format had to be shelved for this year - We don’t carry a reserve for this fund as every penny collected is always distributed to good causes locally at the start of the year.

So, we decided to run a Silent auction in its place

Due to the generosity of the doners and the bidders we were able to raise over £2200 in early December

Which was donated £1000 to St Christopher’s Hospice, and £200 each to Bromley young Careers, Bromley and District Talking Newspaper Cruse, The Samaritans, Bromley and Croydon’s women’s aid and The Calmzone.net

At our meeting in November, it was suggested we might bring a ray of sunshine to one or two local families who appeared to have slipped below the radar of the welfare system, by providing help over the Christmas period.

We sought advice from two local Churches, and in the week before Christmas we personally delivered to the two families.

Family 1 received, a turkey and all the trimmings plus enough food to last 2/3 weeks, and also a tablet which was much needed by their 9year old daughter to assist with online home schooling.

Family 2, where the mother had been struck down and incapacitated by MS, we delivered suitable presents for the family and a selection of festive food and treats to see them through to the New Year.

We have received letters from both families expressing their gratitude and saying how much our care for them has meant. One of the recipients, rounded off saying. ” We did not know that such people existed, and we have not experienced such care and love since we came to this country 10 years ago.”

Mid December we were contacted to help with vaccination program

And a number of members have worked weekly  at various sites around the area

Our Rotarians took on marshalling duties guiding patients to the correct place, helping complete forms, and generally helping out to free more qualified staff to attend to patients at various sites aroun the area including Beckenham Beacon, Bromley Community House, Penge, West Wickham

Up to mid-February we have completed 70 shifts – and have been asked to help out at the Bromley Civic Centre when it comes on stream.

As we move into spring – we are hoping to run an environmental project in conjunction with a couple of local clubs and hopefully start back at Bromley Court with our regular face to face meetings.

 Presidents Message

The Ravensbourne Rotary Club has recognized the advice today  given by the UK Government about Coronavirus and have decided forthwith to temporarily suspend all Meetings and Events of the Club until further notice. 

This decision will take effect immediately (18^th March 2020) to safeguard our Members, as well as the wider communities that we serve. 

This temporary suspension of Face to Face club meetings will remain in place until it is again safe to share social contact with others.

 

Please check back to this website for any updates

Although the club is not currently meeting regularly many of our members are still working within the community

If you wish to make contact with the club please contact us via the contact page.

 

 

Hi

I’m the President of the Ravensbourne Rotary Club 2020-2021

I am the Club’s first virtual President as we have met on Zoom since April 2020 shortly after the Corona virus  pandemic started.

 

Our membership base of 25 covers many trades and professions and interests. 

I am glad that you’ve found your way to our Club website. We hope that you find this site informative and that it gives you an insight into what we do and the great enjoyment we take from doing it. 

At the club, we believe that we need to have a positive impact on our local community and those in need further afield – Many of our members have a link with the local area either by working or living in the area 

We are also lucky enough to have in our midst Rotarians who have run several local and international projects including working with the Scouts, Healthcare, Youth work, the homeless.

Rotary is not all about fundraising. It is about social events and meetings with like-minded people. It is about networking. It is about community service. It is about friendship. It's about caring for our local environment 

The Ravensbourne Rotary Club is providing a space for good men and women to do something to help those around them... and to have a good time doing it! Please visit us to see what we do, how we do and where you can fit in and help us.

In normal times we would meet at the Bromley Court Hotel on Wednesday evenings 6:30 for 7pm - where you can be sure of a warm welcome, but like so many organizations we are currently unable to have face to face meetings. We do have weekly Zoom catchup meeting,  feel free to contact me via the contact page if you wish to make a virtual visit.

 Ravensbourne Rotary club endeavor to serve the local needs of the people in the Catford and  Bromley areas and the wider world under the umbrella of Rotary

  If you would like to get in touch about a visit or to find out more, or if you would like some help, please click on the 'CONTACT' box and get in touch. We look forward to hearing from you.

 

With best wishes,

 Beryl Ross Martyn

 

President, Rotary Club of Ravensbourne 2020/2021