Lend With Care

Wadebridge Rotary changing lives with loans

Wadebridge Rotary is celebrating a landmark charitable achievement as one of hundreds of Rotary clubs across the country which have combined to contribute over £1 million to Lendwithcare, a microfinance charity which enables people in the UK to make small loans to entrepreneurs from poor communities around the world. 

Since October 2011, Rotary clubs across the UK have been raising funds to make small loans to entrepreneurs in developing countries, enabling them to start or expand their small businesses and work their way out of poverty, feed their families and send their children to school.  

More than £1 million has now been lent by Rotary to farmers, tailors, market stallholders and food producers, to name just a few of the types of businesses Rotary have helped in 11 countries across Africa, Asia and South America. 

The first Rotary club to join Lendwithcare was Currie Balerno Rotary Club in Midlothian. Wadebridge Rotary followed suit in 2017, since when they have lent a total of £2265, contributing towards the national £1 million landmark, with the club lending to entrepreneurs in 11 countries. The club’s 84 loans have helped 505 Entrepreneurs and 1313 family members, and created 307 jobs. So far 50 of the loans made have been repaid, 34 are in the process of repaying and none have defaulted.

Rotarian Tim Jones, a member of the  Club's International Team, said “Wadebridge Rotary is proud to be a part of this fantastic initiative. Lendwithcare is a great way to help people out of poverty. You see exactly who the money is going to, and what they will use it for.

“The entrepreneur uses the funds to help them to earn a living, often employing family members and neighbours as well, helping to lift their communities out of poverty. They pay the loans back, which are then lent again to person after person. We have assisted entrepreneurs such as Edison, 29, a small scale coffee farmer  in Ecuador, who used his loan to buy coffee plants to plant, and pay four labourers to help with weeding and harvesting.”

Rotary is one of the world’s largest and most successful global membership and humanitarian service organisations, with 1.2 million members in over 200 countries volunteering their time and their talents to tackle challenges at home and abroad to promote peace, fight disease, provide clean water, support education, save mothers and children and grow local economies. 

Wadebridge Rotary President Nigel Davey said: “We have a proud history of fundraising for charitable causes through community events, and Lendwithcare is a fantastic cause very popular with our members. Local people have given generously to our club and others and it’s testament to their generosity that overall we’ve managed to reach an incredible £1 million. And that money will keep being paid back and lent out again, over and over, translating into many millions of pounds worth of loans over the coming years.”  

Head of Lendwithcare, Tracey Horner, added: “Through Lendwithcare, Rotary have helped change the lives of more than 5,000 entrepreneurs around the world so far. We’re grateful to every Rotary member who lends their time and energy to raise funds to lend to people trying to earn a living in some of the most challenging environments in the world. It really is life-changing for the people we work with, and we want to extend our huge thanks to Rotary Great Britain and Ireland, and everyone at Rotary Club of Wadebridge.” 

Anyone can make a loan through Lendwithcare, or buy a Lendwithcare voucher as a Christmas gift. Loans start from £15 and will typically be paid back over 6-12 months. Follow Wadebridge Rotary’s footsteps and visit www.lendwithcare.org to make a loan and change a life.

Kevin Smith       Press Officer, Wadebridge Rotary