Annual Disbursement of Funds

As a worldwide organisation, Rotary is dedicated to serving communities in every continent, something it does by collecting and distributing funds annually to support a very extensive variety of projects, charities and groups.  In accordance with this ethos, the Rotary Club of St Andrews met virtually on Wednesday to hold its own annual disbursement of funds. 

In a challenging year, donations in excess of £17,000 have been made to a wide variety of organisations.  In welcoming representatives from seven of the receiving organisations, President Hamish Tait described the meeting as being very special.  He then invited each of the representatives to explain to members how the current COVID pandemic had impacted on their respective operations and how the donations were to be used.

One charity that had been supported was Maggie’s in Kirkcaldy and Dundee, where the pandemic had caused the whole support network to move online.  The same was true with CHAS, where a virtual hospice had to be created to support children with life-limiting conditions, and their parents.  The virtual hospice has provided pharmacy, medical and bereavement advice, as well as therapeutic care, all under the banner of ‘keep the joy alive.’  For Home Start, the main way in which the small team of four have kept in touch with those families needing help is by telephone, as face-to-face contact has all but been curtailed.

Other organisations that were given grants included Scottish Charities Air Ambulance (who now operate a second helicopter out of Aberdeen, in addition to the one based at Perth Airport), the Memory Café and End Polio Now.  Members heard of the really positive steps that were being taken to eradicate polio, there being no new cases of wild polio reported worldwide in the last six months.

One local organisation that received financial support was St Andrews in Bloom.  Having gained a Gold Award in the Britain in Bloom competition in 2019, this year will see upwards of 6,000 plants blossoming around the town in 137 hanging baskets and 43 tubs.

The 7 presentations were from:

Memory Cafe

Home Start N. E. Fife

Maggies in Kirkcaldy and Dundee

Scottish Air Ambulance

Children's Hospices Accross Scotland (CHAS)

End Polio