Main web page image and text is © Stewart Gilbert - All Rights are Reserved.
Thanks to the generosity of York residents, Rotary York Ainsty's Santa with his Sleigh had a near record-breaking year in the month leading up to Christmas (2023).
Working in partnership with, and for, local charites, the Ainsty Rotarians and 'Elf' assistants started their York travels with Santa in Poppleton on December 1, then throughout December they journeyed around York and district bringing the Christmas message to the various communities.
As well as providing all an opportunity to meet Santa, the initiative is a fund-raiser and every vear many thousands of pounds are collected and donated to charities both near and far (list below). In December 2023, more than £10,000 (£9481.15 + Gift Aid where appropriate) was generated by the project.
1,500 youngsters engaged
During the three weeks of the Santa Sleigh initiative, Rotarians engaged with more than 1,500 children, who approached Santa on his travels - a great outcome.
And, following the success of earlier years, certain locations and collections were dedicated to, and run by, specific local charities - in partnership with Rotary York Ainsty. The charities provided Santa and the collection 'elves'.
A further positive aspect of the Santa Sleigh project in York has been the anaylsis of the volunteer hours involved... In total, more than 200 people (Rotarians and other volunteers) were involved within the project of more than 24 individual events during the three weeks of collection activity. This included 80 hours of planning to give a 'grand' total of 730 volunteer hours. Organisers rated this as a 'fantastic achievement of implementation'.
Among the Rotary supported charities that will benefit from the generosity of the people living and shopping in the areas around York are: (NET DONATIONS are in brackets)
> Vale of York Academy (Poppleton Park) - (£305.00)
> Age UK (Beckfield Lane West) - (£378.00)
> St Leonards Hospice (Middlethorpe) - (£715.40)
> Door 84 Center for Youth (Nether Poppleton) - (£397.00)
> Wilberforce Trust (Beckfield Lane East) - (£472.75)
> York Mind - Good Gym (Woodthorpe 1) - (£534.92)
> Copmanthorpe Scouts (Copmanthorpe 1) - (£304.00)
> Manor Academy (Upper Poppleton) - (£642.10)
Rotary York Ainsty members 'manned' the sleigh and supplied Santa and Elves in the following locations (note - some of these were 'static'):
> Acomb, Front Street - (£338.00)
> The Revival and The Square - (£272.81)
> Tesco Askham Bar - (£387.98)
> Woodthorpe 2 - (£47.61 - Rain affected collection)
> Morrisons, Foss Islands, York - (£470.95)
> Bishopthorpe 1 - (£486.83)
> Morrisons, Acomb - (£534.79)
> ASDA Monks Cross - (£460.75)
> Copmanthorpe 2 - (£657.74)
> Bishopthorpe 2 - (£655.97)
> Tesco Clifton Moor - (£814.06)
NOTE: All figures are sublect to ratification and may change - they include payments made electronically at the particular collection site, where known.
In addition, miscellaneous collections and donations totalled £604.49.
Rotary York Ainsty president, Colin Perrott said: "This year's collection by Rotary York Ainsty has gone beyond the expectations we had at a time when there are many financial restrictions on those in the communities in which we operate. We as an organisation and our 'partners' were overwhelmed by the welcome we received, from adults and children alike.
We give a very special thanks to York City Council, Morrison's Supermarket, at both Acomb and Foss Island, ASDA at Monks Cross and to Tesco at Askham Bar and Clifton Moor for permitting us to collect in their localities + the many other locations that welcome the Sleigh each December - raising monies for the many and various charities at home and further afield that Rotary York Ainsty supports.
"If readers are interested learning more about Rotary and its projects or in helping out / using their skills and talents on any of our community projects, they should contact President 2023-24 Colin Perrott on 01904 704634 (H), 01904 784040 (B), 07903 467792 (M) or e-mail: perrott.c@gmail.com or club secretary 2023-24 Richard Orr 07500 878998, e-mail: orr239.rotary@gmail.com
NOTE TO EDITORS:
Rotary York Ainsty is a constituent part of Rotary International in Great Britain and Ireland (RIBI) within Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire - Rotary District1040.
RIBI is a membership organisation where members use their talents and time to improve the lives of those less fortunate, both at home or abroad, while building friendships and ‘having fun’ in the process. Great Britain and Ireland are served by 1,800 Rotary clubs and around 50,000 members.
Rotary International was founded in 1905 in Chicago and is now the world’s largest membership and international service organisation with more than 1.2 million members. There are clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas across the globe.
'What We Do' Main Pages:
The highly-regarded SpecSort initiative - a flagship project of Rotary York Ainsty - is expanding its sphere of operation by delivering sorted and graded pre-owned glasses to more countries across the globe.
moreYorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries
moreRotary York Ainsty Rotarians embark on a massive purple crocus planting campaign to mark World Polio Day on October 24 at the Folk Hall, New Earswick, York.
moreRotary York Ainsty, working in cooperation with two other Rotary Clubs in different countries, is developing a project which will bring medical aid to a remote region of Albania - Fushë Arrëz.
moreA 'Signature' project for Rotary York Ainsty. Members collect glasses from opticians then sort and grade them, before taking to Africa. RUTH PEROTT awarded an MBE in the Queen's New Year's honours. Link: https://tinyurl.com/MBESpecSort
moreYork optometrist Ruth Perrott was honoured with the award of an MBE in the Queen's New Year's 2021 list for her work in supporting visually impaired patients in Africa. She recently attended a ceremony where she received her award from Prince William.
moreSow, Grow and Share is now an over-arching title which encompasses the various diverse initiatives including Rotary York Ainsty providing growing kits to produce fresh food for participants in the York locale.
moreRotary York Ainsty has honoured York-based charities and individuals who partnered with Rotary to mitigate the effects of the Covid-10 Pandemic on the communities in York and district
moreA joint initiative with local organisations and schools to plant crocuses, the purple crocus blooms reminding all of the on-going threat of poliomyelitis to the world's children.
moreRotary York Ainsty membership opportunities are listed and detailed here - click on the image to advance to the detail.
moreTeam players wanted to join us in our many York community-based projects - with local, national and international benefits. Find out more below.
moreTeam players wanted to join us to assist us in our many community initiatives - with INTERNATIONAL benefits... Find out more here.
moreYorkits - making and supplying washable feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries
moreEco Angels is a Rotary York Ainsty (RYA) initiative that aims to transform waste plastic into attractive Angels. For a voluntary donation to the Yorkits project (which helps to change lives) RYA is providing basic armature shaped kits.
moreA York-based organic nursery and craft workshop is providing a safe and secure community working environment for those with learning difficulties.
moreToyLikeMe is a York-based community-interest company which encourages and influences toy manufacturers to consider disability when designing their products.
moreRotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) is an intensive leadership experience organised by Rotary clubs and districts where teenagers develop skills as a leader while having fun and making connections.
moreHow to show an interest in joining Rotary York Ainsty - A selection of membership application forms
moreFollow the travels of Santa as he tours streets and villages of York bringing the Christmas message to local communities.
moreAn archive of Press Releases circulated to the media of York - including cuttings and links to original documents and resources.
moreYearsley Grove School in Huntington, York support Rotary York Ainsty's Polio Eradication project
moreYork area school pupils aimed for top marks in ingenuity as they swapped their classroom for a design and construction challenge - the RiY Technology Tournament, which was held at the international headquarters of Portakabin, in Huntington, York.
moreRotarians and volunteers have been out and about assisting with Marie Curie cancer care collections in York.
moreThe heart defibrillator at Copmanthorpe is ready for use, installed courtesy of Rotary York Ainsty.
moreA photo-gallery featuring some images taken on the 2018 visit to RYA's 'twin' club in Münster, Germany - Münster St Mauritz.
moreRYA have an active social program, usually held during the first week of the month in place of the traditional club meeting. This is open to relatives, friends and anyone interested in Rotary.
morePage in Development
more