Speaker - Anne Tait, The Association of Fife Rotary Clubs

Tue, Sep 12th 2017 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm


Anne Tait gave a talk to Kilrymont St. Andrews Rotary club about the history and work of the Association of Fife Rotary Clubs. 
David Pirie, of the Leven club, was the first chairman of AFRC. The Leven club had links with Fife Young Carers and in 2007 took a group of local youngsters to Lochore Meadows.
Fife council was developing a Natural Connections programme and liked Leven's plan but insisted the idea must involve the whole of Fife.
With help from donors and grants, 20 young Carers took part in a pilot scheme delivered by the council's countryside rangers.
A second more ambitious plan was developed for 2010 but the Leven club knew that it alone could not sustain the funding and transport manpower demands. It was therefore decided to try to form an informal body of like-minded clubs and AFRC was born with 10 clubs initially involved.
The first NC programme run by the association was successfully completed in 2011. Now 13 clubs work together and the scheme has evolved to consist of two full weeks of outdoor activities during the summer and October school holidays and an overnight or weekend stay at Lochore, Perthshire or this year Loch Lomond.
The NC programme covers five key areas--team work, adventure skills, navigation, countryside adventure walks and helping the environment.
The three partners, Fife council, Fife Young Carers and the AFRC, have recognised the great benefits of the challenging programme to young carers of which there are estimated to be around 5000 in Fife.
These young carers often assume a level of responsibility normally associated with an adult.
Young carers can often be isolated with their time taken up carrying out tasks such as domestic chores, personal care and looking after siblings. The NC programme lets them get to know other young carers and share experiences.
Anne said that Kilrymont's role in the NC programme, apart from helping to fund it, is simply driving the youngsters to Lochore Meadows and back. Each programme cycle costs £2000.
AFRC now also supports Disability Sports Fife.
Anne ended her excellent talk with some poignant quotes from the youngsters.
David Sandford proposed thanks.

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