We are People of Action

Welcome to Rotary in Cumbria & Lancashire 

Rotary is a global network of 1.2 million neighbours, friends, leaders, and problem-solvers who see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.

Rotary in Cumbria and Lancashire comprises over 1300 members in 60 clubs throughout Cumbria and Lancashire. Rotarians solve real problems through their commitment and vision. Since 1905, Rotary's people of action have used their passion, energy, and experience in order to take action on sustainable projects. From literacy and peace to water and health, we are always working to better our world, and we stay committed to the end.

Rotary members believe that we have a shared responsibility to tackle our world’s most persistent issues. Our 35,000+ clubs work together to promote peace; fight disease; provide clean water, sanitation and hygiene; save mothers and children; support education and grow local economies.

We provide service to others, promote integrity, and advance world understanding, goodwill, and peace through our fellowship of business, professional, and community leaders.

We are constantly on the look out for new members of all ages to help support our local and international community projects.

Click on this link for details of clubs in our district.

Taking the Sting Out of Polio

Click on this link to download an order form.

Purple4Polio
Special Edition Quality Street Tins

District Conference 2023
"Giving Young People A Voice"

District Governor Kath Bromilow and her conference team invite fellow Rotarians and guests to join them on Saturday 18 March 2023 for a one day conference to be held at the Barton Manor Hotel, Barton, Preston, Lancashire PR3 5AA. Cost per delegate is £35 to include a bacon butty (with vegetarian option) prior to the start of the conference, mid morning refreshments and a buffet lunch.

Featured speakers include Ed Sherry OBE, a specialist in Youth Volunteering; Jean Best, Creator of the Peace Project; Natalie Parr, Youth Justice and Peter McCall, Police & Crime Commissioner for Cumbria.

Open Conference webpage to register online

Conference Bookings Now Closed

Rotary International President Elect Gordon McNally Announces 2023-2024 Rotary Theme

On 9th January Rotary International President-elect Gordon McInally called for members to capture the world's attention and lead the way toward possibilities far beyond our current expectations.

McInally, a member of the Rotary Club of South Queensferry, West Lothian, Scotland, revealed the 2023-24 presidential theme, Create Hope in the World, during the Rotary International Assembly in Orlando, Florida, USA, on 9 January. He urged members to promote peace in troubled nations, help those affected by conflict, and maintain the momentum of initiatives begun by past leaders.

McInally spoke about a woman he met in Ban Taling Chan, Thailand, where Rotary members helped build houses, a meeting hall, and childcare and health care facilities following the tsunami that devastated South Asia in late 2004. The woman had lost her husband, her daughter, and her son in the tsunami, as well as her livelihood. But she still had a gift to offer McInally: a beautiful seashell.

"She went on to tell me that Rotary... had restored her optimism. We gave her hope," McInally said.

"This is how Rotary brings lasting change to the world," he added, "one restored or newly created hope at a time."

Promoting peace

A significant way to bring hope to the world is to put a greater emphasis on peace, McInally said. He cited the action Rotary members have taken in the past year to support the people of Ukraine after the invasion by Russia. Rotary has made humanitarian relief a priority, attracting more Ukrainian members in the process. But McInally noted that true relief won't come without peace — not just in Ukraine, but in Yemen, Afghanistan, Syria, and dozens of other places around the globe.

"Peace is the soil where hope takes root," McInally said.

McInally also emphasized the power of continuity, calling for Rotary members to continue the work of some past leaders. He pledged to maintain the Empowering Girls initiative launched by 2021-22 President Shekhar Mehta and uphold the emphasis on diversity, equity, and inclusion throughout Rotary. He also noted recent events that underscore the importance of Rotary's continuing focus on polio. In the past year, polio cases have emerged in many areas around the world, making it more crucial than ever for Rotary members to lead the fight against the disease.

To do that, McInally said, Rotary must continue to raise at least US$50 million each year to receive the full 2-to-1 funding match from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Only about 1 in 12 members currently gives to the polio eradication campaign, with fewer than 1 in 5 clubs donating each year.

McInally asked the district governors-elect for support creating a new sense of urgency in their clubs to help realize Rotary's vision of a polio-free world. "This is the time for us to go beyond what's necessary year to year and make sure we provide every resource necessary to succeed as quickly as possible," he added.

Focusing on mental health

In addition, McInally said, Rotary members should offer hope to those affected by mental health challenges — a crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Many people have lost family members, many more have found their social networks uprooted, and young people especially have had their educational and developmental paths interrupted. As a result, more people around the world are facing mental health issues. And yet, seeking assistance is often perceived as a sign of weakness.

"Nothing could be further from the truth," McInally said. "Reaching out for help is courageous — and continuing on a path toward wellness is even more so."

He added that Rotary will work to improve mental health services in the next year and beyond. Rotary should be known as an organization that takes care of its members as well as the people it serves, McInally said. "Any mental health professional will tell you that by helping others, we essentially help ourselves."

McInally ended his speech by describing his ideal balance of continuity and innovation. "Rotary helps create the conditions for peace, opportunity, and a future worth living," he said. "By continuing what we do best, by remaining open and willing to change, and by keeping our focus on building peace in the world and within ourselves, Rotary helps create a more peaceful world — a more hopeful world."

Treekly App
Good for your health. Good for our planet.

Treekly is an app which turns “footsteps into forests”, helping large communities, businesses, and individuals remove harmful carbon emissions already in the atmosphere. Mangrove trees are planted as a reward for users who adopt and maintain a daily walking habit of 5000 steps. Good for your health. Good for our planet. Treekly was spotted by Peter Bradley (Club President of Rotary Edgware & Stanmore), who engaged with Tony Sharma (District 1130 PDG) and David Ellis (Chair of RGBI Exec) and they soon realised it could play a major part in helping with Rotary’s 7th area of focus, the environment.

Rotary London and Rotary East Anglia have negotiated with Treekly to provide their fully automated Steps League technology for free and create a Rotary GBI Community League (ranking clubs based on Average Steps per member and Total Trees Planted). This is something which Treekly charges other organisations £1.99/month per user. To help Rotary achieve maximum engagement from their members, Treekly have also agreed to provide the following:

1) One mangrove tree (planted in Madagascar) is gifted to each person who joins their club’steam in the League.

2) Treekly have also created a “Club Voucher Pack” of 1500 Trees. These are made available in the form of 25 vouchers of 60 Trees, enabling a Club to gift one voucher to any Rotarian that participates by joining their club’s team in the League.

3) To support Rotary’s stated ambition to recruit new members, Treekly have included in the Club Voucher Pack an unlimited number of ‘10 Trees’ vouchers. These are for the club to gift to people in the local community as a way of inviting them to join in and represent their local Rotary Club’s team in the league, plus act as an opener to a wider conversation about Rotary in general.

The Club Voucher Pack is available for £200 and provides a minimum 1500 Trees (13.3p per tree). This works out to be a 60% discount. Individual users of Treekly pay between 33p-50p to purchase Tree Packs. The 13.3p cost per tree drops even lower depending on how many non-Rotarians are gifted the ’10 Trees’ vouchers by their local club.

Full details are avaialbel on the Rotary Treekly website. 
Rotary GB & Ireland | Treekly