Many children who rely on free school lunches during school terms risk being undernourished in the holidays if their parents cannot afford to feed them properly.
Hive Hope is a Northfleet charity that runs a food bank but it also provides free lunches for those children during school holidays. During August it did this twice a week.
Members of the Rotary Club of Gravesend helped Hive Hope with these meals, helping with setting up, food preparation and entertaining the children with games. “Our members enjoy helping their community by rolling up their sleeves and giving practical help.” said club president Andrew Moffat “This can give a greater sense of involvement and satisfaction”
More information about Hive Hope and Rotary’s contribution is below these photographs:
Hive Hope is a charity created to provide hope to the residents of Northfleet and surrounding areas. This area has been identified as one of the neediest in terms of unemployment, low income and social deprivation.
There are approximately 7,600 residents in Northfleet North, 4.3% are unemployed which compares with an average of 2.9% in Gravesham.
Our primary aim is to provide food for local people in crisis. We also want to create a place where local people can help each other when times are tough and strengthen community ties.
The need for an organization like Hive Hope is growing. In five years we have fed over 1,200 different people on average seven times. Hive Hope works with other organizations to signpost clients to a whole range of support services including advice on benefits, debt and housing and help with budgeting.
Rotary has
supported Foodbank financially for several years now which has helped us to
cover our overheads and provide extras like our Christmas party for local children.
Last year we started offering “Make Lunch” as part of the TLG (Transforming Lives for Good) franchise. In school holidays we provide free lunches, craft and games to children and their families. So far this year we have run 13 sessions and served meals to 256 eligible children and 118 eligible parents (eligibility refers to entitlement to free school meals). This has only been possible due to the sterling efforts of 28 volunteers. 12 of these have been Rotarians or their wives or children. We could not have served anywhere near this number without the support of Rotary.
Rotary’s commitment to supporting Hive Hope has had a real impact on improving the lives of local people. Thank you for all that you do.
Ben Bassi, director, with Andrew Moffat, club president
At lunch on 12th August 2019 the members of Gravesend Rotary inducted Meopham Valley Vineyard Ltd as a Corporate Member of the Club. Membership Leader Tony Muckley reintroduced Mr. Ben Bassi, Director of Meopham Valley Vineyard Ltd, to the assembled Club members and recalled that Ben had already attended lunch and supported the Club’s activities on several previous occasions.
Tony recognised Ben’s entrepreneurial work with the wine business and noted several members’ comments on the excellence of the range of wines produced.
President Andrew Moffat took Ben
through the induction process as the Principal Representative of the Corporate
Member. The President said “I now present to you the badge which all Rotarians
are proud to wear and the booklet which gives an introduction to Rotary, here
and world-wide. … Rotarians, I present to you Meopham Valley Vineyard Ltd
represented here by its Principal Representative in the Club, Ben Bassi. We all
welcome you”.
Ben thanked the President and
looked forward to participating in the social, networking and “Service above
Self” activities of the Club.
The annual match of Bat & Trap against Rochester Rotary Club on Sunday resulted in a win by Gravesend and our member Simon Lancaster winning the best batsman cup for the highest score.
We are grateful for the hospitality of the Rochester Club and of Paddy Marsh who hosted the match in her garden following a buffet lunch.
Gravesend Rotary was invited to take part in a community day at KCC Library at Marling Cross. Several charities and voluntary organisations were represented such a Girl Guides, Age Concern, St John Ambulance and Embroidery Guild.
We were there to tell visitors about the work of Rotary and how we can help the local community. We will be doing the same at the Dashwood Library on the 16th August.
Gravesend Rotary held its
outgoing President’s lunch and handover on 1st July 2019 at Nurstead
Court. All those attending enjoyed a two-course meal with wine. It marked the
end of the 2018-19 Rotary year and heralded the start of the next year.
Outgoing President Tony
Muckley welcomed fellow Rotarians, spouses, members of the Inner Wheel Club of
Gravesend, friends and guests. He thanked them for attending the event and
hoped they would enjoy the meal, the fellowship and the handover process to the
President for 2019-20.
After the meal President
Tony reflected on his two back to back terms of office. He had found the two year
term to be very useful for continuity of purpose and crystallising actions to
pursue the primary objectives for the future of the club.
Toy hands over to Andrew
..and presents a tie pin
He said: “Our Club is
recognised for “punching above its weight” over its long tenure, and we
continue to do so. However, like many other Rotary clubs, we face the
challenges of sustaining and necessarily growing our Club to be able to
continue our support of charities and needy causes, our Service above Self. Our
approach, established by consensus, some eighteen months ago reflects the need
for change to the Club’s structure and functionality to enable the necessary
targets of increased membership and heightened public image to be pursued. Essentially, the club will look and act differently
to continue its role in the community and to attract new members”.
Looking
back
President Tony took the
opportunity to recognise the following:
The tireless efforts of Bob Denby in
pursuit of new members, both individual and Corporate membership.
The 33rd annual On Your Bike
ride was held successfully on 12th May 2019 with over 550
participating riders. Again, Andrew Moffat expertly led the task group that
worked for over 8 months to deliver the event.
The establishment of a new Promotions task
group that is gaining strength under the creative leadership of John Dyke.
The development of business networking
synergy with Gravesham Council. This being a key plank for the Club to be in
step with the evolution of the Gravesham business and social communities. A way
of getting back to the Club’s roots.
President Tony had encouraged the Community
Service and International Committees to visit projects they support and get more
deeply involved with sleeves rolled up working at the coal faces of activity.
Chris Keeble, Di Trimm and their spouses could not attend the lunch because
they were busy in Kenya for two weeks supporting the charity called Footsteps. Locally,
John Baker and his team have coordinated the Club’s support for Hive Hope
foodbank’s new venture to provide meals in the school breaks for children who
qualify for free school meals. In essence, to make sure the pupils and their
siblings continued to be fed. Literally sleeves were rolled up to prepare and
serve the meals as wells as doing the washing and drying up.
In development is Gravesend Rotary’s
intention to work with the G&M and NwEGC Rotary clubs and Gravesham Council
on how, together with active entities such as Sanctuary, the impact on
addressing the homeless situation in our Borough can be maximised.
In 2017 members of Gravesend Rotary
visited its twinned club in France, Cosne-Sancerre. At the end of May this year
the French club reciprocated with 10 members visiting Gravesend for a weekend
of camaraderie and exchanges of ideas. It was an excellent weekend of
activities. We look forward to traveling to France in 2021.
The support for ShetlerBox for disaster
relief has continued. In addition to
street collections and other social events, connections with several schools,
particularly primary schools, were renewed. Learning about disasters is part of
the primary curriculum so the Club is using inhouse skills to give talks to the
pupils. Several schools have staged events to raise money to fund ShelterBoxes.
Last week a visit was made to Cecil Road School to receive a cheque for £1,069.80,
almost enough for 2 boxes. A fantastic effort by the pupils and council.
Other staple events such as the International
Committee’s Quiz Night and annual competitions with local Rotary clubs continued.
The above is just a taste
of the range of activities the Club undertakes.
Andrew presents flowers to Sue
Struggle with a tie pin!
Many of the activities
greatly benefit from the unrelenting support of the members’ spouses, the
members of the Gravesend Inner Wheel Club and Friends of Rotary. The President
conveyed the members’ thanks. He also appreciated the members’ trust and
support during his term of office. Finally, he thanked his wife, Sue, not only
for her unending and generous support but also for her patience and guidance.
A
new President
In the handover phase of
the event Tony Muckley introduced Andrew Moffat as the incoming 2019-20 Club
President. Andrew has been a Member of the Club since 1980 and had been President
for the Rotary year 1990-91. He has held several positions in the Club including
leading the task group for our signature On Your Bike event.
Tony Muckley passed over to Andrew Moffat the club
regalia comprising two ribbons that bear the names of all the Presidents since
the club was founded in 1927, some 92 years ago. He also handed to Andrew the
President’s lapel and tie pins. He was wished good luck for the new Rotary year
and assured of the support of all the members.
President Andrew started his year by thanking Tony Muckley for his work as President in the preceding two years and presenting him with his Past President’s badge. Also Sue was given flowers.He also presented Brian Portway with his President Elect’s ribbon and Dilly Singh with his Vice President’s ribbon.
On Saturday 29th June 2019 Rotarians Bob Denby, Andrew Moffat and John Dyke pitched the Gravesend Rotary gazebo at the School fete.
It was a very hot day, but it didn’t deter many pupils,
families and friends of the school arriving for the fun, and games.
The Rotarians offered freshly made, free popcorn to all
comers. The smell of cooking and loud popping noise of the corn attracted
children and adults alike to our gazebo. All agreed that the popcorn tasted
good and was a welcome part of the festivities. Indeed, some families returned
for a second helping.
As usual ICE (In Case of Emergency) cards were given to the
users of mobile telephones. This additional security measure was welcomed by
all.
His Worshipful the new Mayor of Gravesham Cllr Gurdip Ram Bungar stopped by several times to meet the Rotarians and to discuss Gravesend Rotary’s activities and support for social needs in the Borough. Also enjoying the popcorn were Bob Lane, the Chairman of Shorne Parish Council, and his wife.
President Tony Muckley said, “we enjoyed meeting many people and giving them a taste of the popcorn as well some information what our club does. We are very grateful to the Friends of Shorne School (FOSS) for giving us this opportunity. We hope to participate again next year and to explore projects with the School”.
USA cyclist Edwin
Valarde set out on a 1,200 kilometer (740 miles) EPiC Journey from Gravesend to
Hamburg on Monday.
Gravesend
Rotary saw him off from Mid Kent Golf Club, Singlewell Road, for the 45 mile
route to Canterbury. Then the following day it was to Dover and ferry across
the Channel.
Gravesend Rotary President Tony Muckley sends Edwin Valarde on his way with escorts John Dent and Chris BarnettEdwin is cyclist on left next to President Tony Muckley
Edwin lives with
type-1 diabetes, This is Edwin’s fourth EPiC Journey to raise awareness about what
he calls the growing Global Diabetes Epidemic.
“Over 425 million have diabetes around the
world. Sadly, 3.8 milion deaths are caused by diabetes and high blood glucose
each year,” said
Edwin.
“That is
greater than the number of people living in Brussels, Amsterdam and Hamburg combined!
If we do not do anything about the fast-spreading Global Diabetes Epidemic, the
future numbers will grow exponentialy.”
“Gravesend
Rotary has just held its giant charity cycle ride and so giving Edwin a send
off is extra special for us,”said President Tony Muckley
“Also we have
family members with diabetes and know what a huge challenge this must be for
him to take on.”
Gravesend Rotary held it 33rd annual fun bike ride on Sunday 12th May 2019. His Worshipfulness Cllr. David Hurley the Mayor of Gravesham started the assembled riders at 08:45 sharp and wished them a safe and enjoyable ride. 550 riders cycled the 15, 30 and 45 mile routes starting from Gravesend Promenade and
returning back there.
Upon their return each rider received a slate coaster and certificate to commemorate their success. The ideal weather, the strong organisation, the beautiful Kent countryside and an atmosphere of camaraderie boosted riders’ enjoyment of the event with many vowing to return next year.
Our President, Tony Muckley, said:
“On behalf of the members of our Club I would like to congratulate the riders and thank them for their generous donations that will flow to the charities and needy causes we support. My thanks to our members, their spouses, friends, sponsors and support organisations that worked hard to set up the event, commencing last September, and to bring it to life last Sunday. Our members are eager to continue to support communities in this way. I am proud of what our club achieves and encourage the support of the local business community and the public to help us continue our work. Together we can make a difference.
“Let’s make next year’s event even better. Again, thank you.”
nThe Gravesend Rotary team participated at this year’s Munchies on the Meadow event in Cobham on Saturday 4th May. We assisted the smooth coordination of the event and pitched our gazebo to advertise the On Your Bike ride on 12th May and to hand out ICE (In Case of Emergency) cards.
At times the weather was not kind but it did not deter the
Gravesend team and gave an opportunity for them to provide hospitality in the
gazebo during the hail and rain storms. Bob Denby struck a new friendship with
Bella in the refreshment tent to keep Gravesend Rotary team well-nourished
during the long day.
President Tony said, “It was an enjoyable day for everyone including for the Mayor of Gravesham David Hurley who will start the OYB event next weekend. We were very happy to roll up our sleeves and support the Munchies organisers for the second year in a row. Many people visited our gazebo and showed much interest in the imminent OYB cycle ride and were amazed by how dynamic our club is in the local business and social communities. The ICE cards were a hit and very much appreciated by event-goers for the added safety provided in case of an emergency.”
Deborah Keys and her willing band of helpers were again
providing meals for youngsters who are eligible for free school meals, this
time at the Northfleet Central on Saturday 20th April.
Following on from the assistance given by Andrew Moffat
and Tony and Sue Muckley, this time John Dyke and John Baker rolled up sleeves
and joined in the fun.
John Dyke proved himself to be a dab hand at drying up
dishes etc, and John Baker went back to childhood, and endeavoured to get
racing cars running on a track.
After playtime of around 30 minutes, some 20 local
children and parents were provided with a two-course hot meal and drinks.
Another example of the Rotary Club’s involvement in the
local community, and particularly where we can help other Charities in the Town
who are supporting the more needy.
