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Gosden House School
Gosden House School. It is an outstanding school for young people with learning and additional needs. For the last 5 years a group of Rotarians from Guildford have been helping to clear the gardens and the grounds generally.
Each year Rotary in Guildford together with the Vivace Chorus hold a Charity Concert at Holy Trinity Church Guildford to raise funds for the 'Mayor's Local Support Fund'
The next Schools Got Talent will take place at GLive on Thursday 13th March 2025. We will once again welcome Christ’s College, Prior’s Field School and Duke of Kent School. Ash Manor School will be joining us for the first time.
The Mayor of Guildford’s Diversity Show is a triumph
An audience of nearly 200 people attended The Mayor of Guildford’s celebration of inclusion and diversity on Saturday night (5 April). The Diversity Show, held at Holy Trinity Church in Guildford, highlighted the richness of cultures, talents and voices in our community.
Nineteen exceptional performers and groups, from different cultures, took the audience on a rollercoaster journey of emotions. The performances showed when people from different backgrounds come together in an environment where they feel valued and heard, we create opportunities for everyone to thrive.
The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE, in her welcome speech paid tribute to last year’s Mayor, Cllr Masuk Miah, who had the original idea for organising the show:
“This event brings to life Guildford Borough Council’s corporate strategy and one of the key priorities within it – for Guildford to become a more inclusive borough. One where we share a vision of a community where everyone belongs and can thrive, and in which we create an environment where every resident feels valued, respected, and heard.
She went on to say:
“I hope this show will be a living testament as to what we can achieve when we celebrate our differences, rather than allow them to divide us, and it will be a powerful reminder of how diversity enriches us all.”
A shadow puppet performance, set to original music and song by young asylum seekers, was particularly moving and received a standing ovation. Surrey Arts and Big Leaf Foundation had spent the day working on the project, called Music Connects. This brings young unaccompanied asylum seekers together with the community.
Surrey Arts, Inclusion Manager, Jim Pinchen, said: “It’s been really joyful to work with the young people today, breaking down barriers through the medium of music and art.”
Kayte, The Programme Manager at Big Leaf Foundation, added: "The courage of these young people in sharing their story so honestly and with such craft, was truly rewarded in the compassion, acknowledgement and warmth that was shown to them on the night."
Big Leaf Foundation will receive around £4,000 raised by the show.
The evening was supported by The Rotary Clubs of Guildford Wey & Chantries and Guildford Inner Wheel.
Guildford Borough Council is committed to creating an inclusive borough and an environment where everyone has a voice. Sentiments echoed by MC, Nick Wyschna, as he closed the evening, saying: “Let’s continue to champion diversity and make a meaningful impact together!”
Photos by www.grantpritchard.co.uk may be seen HERE
(click on each picture and press top right for description)
04 March 2025
Rotary in Guildford presents cheques totalling £4,700 to Mayor’s chosen charities
Last Thursday (27 February) representatives of Rotary in Guildford presented the Guildford Veterans Hub and The Matrix Trust with cheques totalling £4,700. The money was raised at the Mayor of Guildford’s Christmas Concert, organised by Rotary in Guildford, and shared with projects chosen by the Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE.
The annual concert is a popular and well supported event that has been a significant fundraiser for the Mayor’s charities for many years. The latest concert, performed by Vivace Chorus, raised £3,500 for the Guildford Veterans Hub and an additional £1,200 through a retiring collection for The Matrix Trust.
‘Making connections for the wellbeing of our communities’ is the mayoral theme for this year. Sallie chose these projects to benefit from the Christmas Concert because of a strong personal connection with their aims and objectives.
Having served nearly 20 years in the Territorial Army, Sallie recognises the tremendous sacrifice and service of the Armed Forces community. The Guildford Veterans Hub, based at Guildford Fire Station, provides invaluable support to both active and former military personnel by offering a safe and welcoming environment where veterans can gather, build friendships, receive advice, and access various services.
With eight years of experience as a teacher, Sallie is deeply committed to making a positive impact on the lives of young people, particularly those who are vulnerable and at-risk. The Matrix Trust excels in this area by establishing long-term relationships with young people and providing activities that nurture, inspire, connect, and empower them.
The Rotary Clubs of Guildford Wey & Chantries said in a joint statement:
“We’d like to extend our sincere thanks to all our supporters and attendees for their generous contributions. We are especially grateful to our event sponsors, AJ Bennewith & Co and the Guildford Butchery.”
The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE said:
“Rotary in Guildford has a magnificent history of supporting the Mayor of Guildford’s initiatives. I’m truly grateful for all they do.
“The Vivace Chorus delivered a wonderful performance that brought joy to the audience and will leave a lasting legacy through the money gifted to The Guildford Veterans Hub and The Matrix Trust.” The special presentation took place at Guildford Fire Station. Cheques were presented to The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE, Pat Sheridan of the Guildford Veterans Hub, and Dan Setterfield of the Matrix Trust by Rotary Wey Club Vice President, Andy Bowen-Ashwin, and Rotary Chantries Club President, Trevor Perrott, on behalf of Rotary in Guildford.
Also present were members of the Guildford Veterans Hub, Dennis Booth, Veterans Hub Chairman, the Rotary Concert team, Chris Shorter, Chris Hodgson, Andrew Jackson, (Rotary Guildford Wey) and the Chairman of the Vivace Chorus, Richard Dacey.
The next Mayor’s Christmas Concert is scheduled for 7pm on Sunday 14 December 2025 at Holy Trinity Church. Please mark your calendars and stay tuned for more information later this year
Photos below:
*Rotary in Guildford presentation at Guildford Fire Station
*The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE, and Andrew Jackson of Rotary Club of Guildford Wey, charity fund treasurer, holding a cheque for £3,500 raised from the Rotary in Guildford Vivace Christmas concert 2024
*The Mayor of Guildford, Cllr Sallie Barker MBE with Dan Setterfield of the Matrix Trust
Once a month Rotary members give 2 hours of their Saturday morning time to assist Gosden House School in clearing and recovering some of their lost 45 acres to enable the use of the land to the benefit of the pupils.
This Saturday we cleared an area of mountains of garden waste so that it could be re-purposed for a new chicken run. This will add to the area that presently houses pigs, goats and bees to provide additional outdoor experiences for the pupils and one of many possible career paths.
A challenging area to clear
After 2 hours of work a new cleared area to the left of the goat enclosure had been created for the planned new chicken run.
On Sunday the 8th December Rotary in Guildford, despite the appalling weather brought by storm Darragh , was pleased to be able to supply stewards/marshalls at Challengers' Santa Fun Run where over £8,000 was raised for the Charity that gives disabled children and young people the opportunity to play, have fun, and make friends in a safe and supportive environment.
Following the very successful Schools' Got Talent event our President, Andrew Day, was able to present cheques for their ticket sales to the schools represented.
Duke of Kent School
Christ's College
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Schools Got Talent
2024 was the Eleventh year that Rotary has organised this exciting event at G Live. Schools taking part once again were the Duke of Kent; Christ’s College; Priors Field and St Teresa's.
Each year Rotary in Guildford together with the Vivace Chorus hold a Charity Concert at Holy Trinity Church Guildford to raise funds for the 'Mayor's Local Support Fund'
Tangent in Guildford supplied the mince pies and wine at the intermission
The latest event held on the 10 December 2023 raised overall £4,500 for local charities. £1,350 was raised from the retiring collection for the Mayor's nominated cancer charity, the 'Fountain Centre' in Guildford, and a further sum of over £3,200 was raised from the event itself and donated to the 'Mayor's Local Support Fund'
July 3rd 2023 saw the retiring President Philip Rambech (L) hand over the
Presidency for 2023-24 to Rotarian Andrew Day (R)
Ukraine – minefield clearance
The Rotary GB&I Ukraine Crisis Taskforce meets regularly with our colleagues from District 2232 in Ukraine, and one of their major projects is to stop people from entering minefields sown as the Russians retreated. The total area affected is the size of the British Isles, but of course this is scattered over the regions, especially in agricultural areas and around Kharkiv. The immediate plan is to provide warning signs which the Civil Defence teams can post around suspected areas. The BBC highlighted them in an article posted at https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-65204053. Please note the Rotary symbol at the bottom edge (see attached photograph)
At The District Conference held on the 21st January 2023 two Guildford Rotary members, one Guildford Chantries memberand one Rotary Leatherhead member were awarded a District Service Award for outstanding service in promoting the Rotary Foundation in relation to their work on the Charity ,Guildford Eye Project and in its working name Global Sight Solutions. They have also been involved in many other Rotary projects.
The Award was given to Andrew Jackson & Dr Sam Das of Guildford Wey Rotary Club, John Miles of Leatherhead Rotary Club and Fiona Miles of Guildford Chantries Rotary Club.
At a recent Rotary lunch the members of the new Rotary Club of Guildford Wey were pleased to award a Paul Harris Fellowship to the Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, Michael More Molyneux, in recognition of his support to Rotary in Guildford and its surrounding areas over many years.
Michael was an Honorary Member of the Rotary Club of Guildford for many years before its recent merger in November with the Rotary Club of Guildford District to form the new Guildford Wey Club. Michael has always been only too ready to offer his support to Rotary, as was his father who also had received a Paul Harris Fellowship many years ago.
Paul Harris was the original founder of the Rotary organisation over 110 years ago and the award is granted by members to people, to quote the citation ” in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among people of the world”
The photo is of the President of the Rotary Club of Guildford Wey, Michael More Molyneux, and Rotarian Andrew Jackson
On the 1st November 2022 The Rotary Club of Guildford and the Rotary Club of Guildford District joined forces to form The Rotary Club of Guildford Wey which will operate as Rotary in Guildford.
On the 1st November at a ceremony in the Guildhall Guildford, the new Club President, Philip Rambech, was presented with its Charter by District Governer Roger Stent.
(Meetings held Monthly.
Venue and times can change so please check with our Secretary should you wish to join us)
Grantley Arms The Street Wonersh GU5 0PE
Rotary News
Be part of a global network of volunteers, trying to make the world a better place. Please also see the 'links & news' page for information from the local district and live feeds from Rotary International and Rotary International in GB&I.
Rotary serving communities through supporting foodbanks
Diversity is part of Rotary’s core values
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