Cambridgeshire
Essex
Norfolk
The Lions Clubs in District 105EA support many smaller groups that help those less fortunate than us with Physical and Learning Difficulties. To see what a Club in your area has done, please select a County (click on the Lion Logo on the same line) and then find the Lion club listed in alphabetical order by scrolling down the page as required. Some of the work the club has undertaken will be listed, however if there is nothing there it means that they have not reported what they have done, they will have done something!
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We continue to be extremely proud of our international disability swimming gala which was spawned from our twinning with the Lions Club of Voreifel Germany and their twinning partner Bruxelles Royale in Belgium and now continues to foster enthusiasm with other local Clubs. It is an event that is held bi-annually between the three countries and this year it was Billericay's turn to host the event on 9 October.
There was a full weekend, hosting our foreign visitors who arrived Friday evening followed by the swimming gala on the Saturday afternoon which saw eight teams of ten swimmers vying to win the coveted cup that will be presented at the evening presentation/disco. On the Sunday the foreign visitors were entertained with a sightseeing trip to London with a cruise on the River Thames and a flight on the London Eye.
Teams invited and sponsored by Lions Clubs this year are from Barking, Basildon, Brentwood, Romford, South Woodham Ferrers along with the three host Clubs Billericay, Voreifel and Bruxelles Royale. This event always has a high turn out of Lions to assist in the stewarding and to watch and wonder at the performance of those whose spirit is undiminished whilst not being so fortunate as ourselves.
Each week the Club helps with a local "Thursday Club" which caters for Physically and Mentally Handicapped people, predominantly with Transport. Catering is also provided at various events. The Club has also been heavily involved with a Disabled sports day which has run for many years and involves a number of Local Lions Clubs.
We have, for many years now, provided transport for partially sighted persons to attend their monthly meeting in Romford. This is a most valued resource and one which is most appreciated by those involved.
At Christmas of each year we also provide a meal, together with entertainment, for around 100 elderly people, many of whom have physical, mental or learning difficulties. This has taken place for many years now and is a vital part of our service calendar.
Also, we have, for many years been instrumental in funding a group for pre school age children who have severe learning difficulties through a variety of reasons. This group has now grown into a large local charity called "First Step Opportunity Playgroup". They are, at present, endeavouring to raise £1 million pounds to purchase larger facilities in a local disused school. We are still very much involved in fundraising for this cause and are justly proud that we were able to provide the initial funds to enable this group to "get off the ground".
Finally, we have also provide the relevant funds, and have done for many years now, to enable a small group of physically disabled people to attend a holiday in Norfolk, organised by a local lions club.
Dereham Day Services (Day Care Centre for mentally handicapped). We finance special outings and self improvement challenge breaks. We also instituted a 'Student of the Year' Award and 'Councillor of the Year' Award to encourage students. We also help individuals to finance any special trips away.
Fred Nicholson School for children with special needs and difficulties. We purchased special climbing equipment a few years back and the school contacts us with specific projects from time to time.
Dereham Mencap: we have supported individuals financially for holidays. 'The Stepping Out Club' encourages activities in the community and we marshal their charity walks etc.
Special Care Home for mentally handicapped adults in Mattishall. We took them to Pleasureworld on the Lions Day Out two years ago. We have purchased special wheelchairs for two adults.
Social Services contact us from time to time with special cases. The most recent is an adult with cerebral palsy needing a lap top to communicate and seek higher education skills and we provided same.
Handicapped Brownies and Guides: we have paid for pack holidays including helpers when family commitments do not provide necessary funds.
Special Bicycle for a youngster with cerebral palsy: He now rides to school with his siblings and mother: Velcro grip handles and pedals ensure safety. The threewheeler can be modified upwards (ie., seat and bars) as he enters teen-years and beyond.
Learning Difficulties Home sought gardening equipment for the men and they now grow many of their own vegetables.
Hunstanton now runs an Annual Trip to the Hunstanton Fun Fair. There are normally about 150 participants as all the Special Schools and Institutions in our area are invited. They are given free rides by the Showmen and lunch is provided, in the form of fish and chips, by the Club. The whole event has proved very popular and enjoyable day with a good turn out of Lions.
As there are a number of trades men in the Club we have also been able provide disable facilities for a young Englishman who became ill in Spain. This was done in conjunction with a Spanish Club.
In the current Lions year our President has chosen Musical Keys as his project. Musical Keys is a registered charity and has groups around Norfolk who cater for children with special needs by involving them in musical activities and movements.
As a club we are in the process of organising a trip to a local Wildlife Park/Zoo in April/May 2005 for a local school that are in a deprived area.
Each year we also support the Action for Belarus Children where a party from Russia come to England for a holiday and respite care.
Other activities involve organising a yearly respite holiday for 2 people (one being the carer) at the Haven Holiday Camp in Caister Norfolk in conjunction with the Norfolk Broads Lions Club and we have recently supported a 6 year old disabled pupil at a local school by purchasing goods to adapt a computer for his use.
Every year in November,
Thetford (Breckland) Lions hold a disabled swimming gala at Thetford Water
World. This is open to anyone with any physical or mental disability.
There are various races
from 25mtr, 50mtr, 100mtr lengths in backstroke, breast stroke, butterfly, and
freestyle.
All the swimmers submit
their swimming times and then each is put into a race with others with around
the same time. So if does not matter what disability you have.
We have a number of
clubs which attend each year, and everyone is very competitive with their
swimming times and they all want to know if they have beaten their personal best
times.
Each swimmer gets a
participation medal and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd
places get a gold, silver, bronze medal as well.
One year we had a
severely handicapped child, who swam with her inflatable ring in the shape of an
animal around her. She may have come in last but everyone was clapping her in
the final stretch. There was a huge cheer when she finished. At the end when we
were handing out the medals, we gave her inflatable a participation medal as
well. You should have seen the smile on her face.
L.O.A.D.S a group comprised of families with Downes Syndrome members of all ages this association was set up in 2002 by 3 mothers and now has 1500 members. The club is based in Ipswich and the organisers have achieved a great deal in a short time. We send them donations as they apply.
The rest of our connections with disability needs are individual applications we have helped with, A special pushchair for a local child with Cerebral Palsy, A hearing loop for Southwold Museum and we have a sponsored swim for Asthma each year
A group called Forget Me Nots needed a special Duetcycle, which allowed a disabled child to ride on a special tandem.