Andrew Moffat

Rotarians visit Footsteps in Kenya

Oct 152019

On Tuesday evening two of our members Di Trimm and Chris Keeble gave a presentation to the three local Rotary clubs about their trip to Kenya.

The purpose of the visit was to spend 2 weeks in and around The Sunshine Centre in Naivasha, Kenya.

The Centre is organised by two special people, Martin and Mary Print, who raise funds to support the centre which currently has 72 boys living there during school term time.

The Rotary Club of Gravesend has supported their charity FOOTSTEPS INTERNATIONAL over many years.

As members of our International Committee Di and Chris decided, with their partners Malcolm Trimm and Marion Keeble, to go to Kenya to see the work that Martin and Mary were doing.

It turned out to be an incredibly moving and uplifting experience.

As some of the pictures show we were involved in various tasks and had the opportunity to visit the boys’ homes to which they return for the school holidays.

We also visited several primary and secondary schools and a technical college to which the boys go.

Footsteps International also sends food to other schools in the Kibera Slum in Nairobi which we visited.

It is hard to sum up all the emotions that we experienced but felt that the money we had sent to Martin and Mary, over the years, had changed so many lives for the better. It gave the boys the opportunity to develop as individuals and look forward to a life of which some could only dream .

Through the generosity of Rotarians and other friends we have been able to give Footsteps £1,728.50. That is enough to pay for education for 12 boys in primary school for a year.

More information about Footsteps International and how we help it

Primary school class

Helping in the primary school

Meal time in school

Sunshine school buildings

Kara secondary school class

Start of the Marafun half marathon

Queuing for dinner

Home with family

Reservoir in need of renovation

Working on the reservoir

Clearing the reservoir

The well house

Warer purification system for the well

Learning a trade at the technical college

learning welding at the technical college

Mechanical class at technical college

The visiting Rotarians Di & Chris with Malcolm & Marion

If the slideshow above does not display properly in the email version please view it on our web site

Petanque challenge

News, Social

Sep 202019

The three Rotary clubs in Gravesham (Gravesend, Northfleet and Gravesend & Meopham) met on a sunny Sunday afternoon (8 September) to play petanque.

Gravesend Rugby Football Club has top quality petanque courts. The cover over part of the courts is the one recently removed (legally, we are told!) from the car park by Gravesend Market. Some of its members were there to guide the less experienced of us and enforce the rules.

After the games the afternoon was rounded off by a buffet and drinks in the club’s bar.

Networking Lunch 28th October

Event, News

Sep 192019

At the Gravesham Borough Council quarterly breakfast networking meeting Tony Muckley, Leader of Membership and Business Networking, announced to the attendees our club’s networking lunch arranged for Monday 28^th October 2019.

In brief, Mr. Florian von Steinkeller, CEO of Britannia Refined Metals Ltd, will make a presentation about his operation in Northfleet, its part of the global Glencore Group and its approach to sustainable development, especially the environment and support for the local community. A light lunch, which will be for a relatively small cost, and the presentation will last for about one hour.

If you and/or your colleagues and friends are interested to attend please let Tony know by email to akmuckley@aol.com by 30^th September 2019.

The event is an opportunity to hear about a long established local business and to network with like-minded people. There will be opportunities to make contacts and to share experiences about the opportunities, challenges and responsibilities of operating within the Borough whilst addressing global dynamics. It features within Gravesend Rotary’s programme of activities in support of the evolution of the local business and social communities.

Help for Hive Hope children’s lunches

Community, News

Sep 112019

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:

View other information about Hive Hope on this site

About Hive Hope

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.

Deborah Keys (Hive Hope)

Meopham Valley Vineyard Joins Rotary

Membership, News

Aug 142019

Ben Bassi, director, with Andrew Moffat, club president

At lunch on 12^th 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.

Meopham Valley Vineyard online shop: click here

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