News

At our February Business meeting we were presented with a cheque in the amount of £3,330 by Martyn Sheldrake and Lynn Burgess of Toad Hall Garden Centre where we manned Santa’s Grotto in the lead up to Christmas 2018. We, in turn, presented cheques in the amount of £1,500 each to Footsteps and the Chilterns Centre for Disabled Children, both local organisations focused on helping local children and young adults.  The additional funds will go into our charity account and will be used to support other local causes supporting children.

On Sunday, 3 Feb 2019, 11 teams of swimmers swam 901 lengths in a valiant effort to raise money for charity. This year’s teams were from Henley Sea Cadets, Henley Marine Cadets, Henley 1st Brownies, 1st Henley Guides, Nettlebed School, Valley Road School and St. Mary’s School. Mayor Glen Lambert opened the event and each of the teams swam for 40 minutes trying to swim as many lengths as possible. The Valley Road Dolphins came top with 104 lengths closely followed by the Sea Cadets & Marine Cadets combined Starboard team which swam 97 lengths. Valley Road Warships were third with 92 lengths. Half of the funds raised will go to the charities of the individual organisations and the other comes to Henley Lions Charity Fund.

For the 16th consecutive year Henley Lions have procured, packed and delivered a number of Christmas Food Parcels to some of the needy families and individuals within our area. This year we packed 86 parcels each containing a mix of staples and a few Christmas ‘extras’. Before taking on the entire task of procurement, packing and delivery we delivered parcels which were organised by the now defunct Henley Community Services Committee.  Henley Lions would like to thank the clubs, individuals and organisations who helped make this all possible.

Santa arrived at Toad Hall this morning and assisted the mayor of Henley, Cllr Glen Lambert, in opening the fabulous grotto.  Santa will be in his grotto each Saturday and Sunday from now until Christmas. On Saturdays he’ll be there to see the children from 10:00am until 5:00pm and on Sundays from 10:30am until 4:00pm. Tickets to see Santa are available at the Toad Hall tills. They cost £6.00 per child and every child gets to choose a present from Santa’s magic toy box. Half of all the money raised goes to the Henley Lions Club who use it to support local children’s charities.

HENLEY LIONS WINTER FUEL PROJECT

2018 Appeal

Imagine it’s bitterly cold outside and you cannot afford to top up your electric or gas meter. You are receiving all the benefits due to you but it’s just not enough to fully provide for yourself and or family.

For the past 2 years Henley Lions have helped keep the heating on and cooker running with the generosity of others donating all or part of their Government Winter Fuel Allowance.  Last winter alone Henley Lions supported 20 families and individuals in our area survive the winter with donations amounting to £5097.

With winter coming we are again asking for your help.  Pensioner generosity last year helped many families and individuals who were struggling to pay their fuel bills for a variety of reasons.  All the money donated was distributed to help with the cost of heating, lighting and cooking. Individuals and families were identified whose benefits were not enough to keep them warm through the winter, or who were in debt and just could not meet their fuel bills.  All sorts of emergencies can mean people move from managing to not being able to cover all their costs and Lions working through NOMAD and Citizens Advice Henley identify those in most need.

We have had a wonderful summer, but we do not know what winter will bring.  Can you help by being a true Father Christmas and donating some of your Government Winter Fuel Payment to help those locally who are in need, so they can stay warm?

Donations can be made online via www.henleylions.org.uk  – click on ‘Donate’ and please identify your donation as ‘Winter Fuel Project’ Please complete “Gift Aid’ if you can.  Donations can also be made by cheque or bank transfer. Please email donate@henleylions.org.uk or telephone 0845 833 7387 for information.

All monies raised will be deposited in the Henley Lions Charity Trust Account and will be ring-fenced for the Winter Fuel Project

If you know of someone who is in need of help, they should first approach NOMAD and Citizens Advice Henley for help and guidance to ensure they are receiving benefits due to them and assistance in starting to manage debt or in some cases help to move back into employment

Thank you for your support

For more information Contact:   Ian Tritton, Henley Lions Community Service      07789 201760

 communityservice@henleylions.org.uk