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OVER 50 YEARS SERVING THE COMMUNITY |
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Welcome to our Web Site |
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Please Support Devizes Lions |
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We are also able to accept To make a donation from your mobile, simply - text DEVIZESLIONS to 70450 to donate £2 Texts will cost the donation amount plus one standard network rate message. |
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Devizes Lions Club (CIO) is a Registered Charity No.1185977
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| To enable us to continue arranging fund raising events in the town and deliver much needed support to the community, COME ALONG AND HELP US .....
Our Club Needs You! WE NEED NEW PEOPLE WITH NEW IDEAS TO HELP US .....If you would like to find out about how you can help us, click here:
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Forthcoming events see more Santa's Sleigh - December 2023 This year's itinery will be published during November - follow this link for more details and routes: 2023 Santa's Sleigh And you can find out about last year's float here: #2022 Santa's Sleigh Sports Coaching Weekend 06 and 07 April 2024 Find out more here: 2024 Sports Coaching and follow this link to see what we did last year: 2023 Sports Coaching Charity Golf Day 09 May 2024 Our annual Charity Golf Day run jointly by Devizes Lions and Devizes Rotary. Lions on the Green Sunday 09 June 2024 Find out more about the 2023 event here: 2023 Lions on the Green Visit our Calendar for a full list of our forthcoming events. |
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Please Support Devizes Lions Devizes Lions Club (CIO) is a Registered Charity No.1185977 |
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Lions are like-minded men and women in your town who are committed to helping its citizens live better lives, and to help make your town a better place for those who live and work here. Because we are local, we can serve the unique needs of our communities and because we are global, we can address challenges that go beyond our borders, and because of our numbers we can help to influence positive change around the globe. When it comes to meeting challenges, our response is simple: "We Serve." It's something that unites Lions around the world. We help wherever, whenever and however we can. |
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With almost 1.5 million volunteers, Lions is the largest humanitarian organization in the world. Lions aid the blind and visually impaired, support youth initiatives to build strong character and end bullying, feed the hungry, address global epidemics like diabetes, come the aid of communities when disaster strikes, and are committed to filling other community needs throughout the world. |
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Lion Dr Patti Hill is Lions International President for 2023-24 |
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Devizes Lions welcome Lion Dr Patti Hill from Edmonton, Alberta as our International President for the 2023-24 Lions year. Would you like to join us in Changing the World and change someone's life for the better? Contact our membership team at: membership@devizeslions.org.uk |
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Our Patron is Her Royal Highness Duchess of Edinburgh
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Her Royal Highness |
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A Brief History of Lions Clubs International |
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In 1917, Melvin Jones, a 38-year-old Chicago business leader, told members of his local business club they should reach beyond business issues and address the betterment of their communities and the world. Melvin Jones' group, the Business Circle of Chicago, agreed. After contacting similar groups around the United States, an organizational meeting was held on June 7, 1917, in Chicago, Illinois, USA. |
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The new group took the name of one of the invited groups, the "Association of Lions Clubs," and a national convention was held in Dallas, Texas, USA in October of that year. A constitution, by-laws, objectives and a code of ethics were approved and they elected Dr. William P. Woods of Indiana as their first President. It was thanks to the support of Canadian Lions and the intervention of Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, that the first Lions club in London was founded in 1950. |
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About Devizes Lions |
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Devizes Lions are part of Lions Clubs International with almost 1.5 million men and women serving their communities all over the world. Devizes Lions are dedicated to helping the people of Devizes and those in the areas surrounding the town. |
| If your organisation or group is in need of help and you think we can assist, please visit our Contacts Page and get in touch now.
If you would like to join us in changing someone's life for the better contact our membership team at: membership@devizeslions.org.uk With the support of the local community Devizes Lions have raised many thousands of pounds to help support local people and various charities. Whether a group needing funds, a community action group or just someone seeking help, Devizes Lions try to make the problem smaller. During a typical year Devizes Lions raise funds through a variety of events, sales, collections and concerts, and distributes around £30,000 to worthwhile causes, including local individuals, families and groups that have approached us when in need of support. In addition, we have enabled groups to raise their own funds through our popular Sponsored Walk and Swimathon, and we provide around 500 local children with new sporting experiences over our Sports Coaching Weekend. Naturally, while working together in our joint endeavours, we form close and long-lasting friendships with other members and their families. To find out more, download these publications: |
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But it's not all hard work! Here are some Lions enjoying a planning meeting! |
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TO CONTINUE PROVIDING SUPPORT TO THE COMMUNITY WE NEED NEW MEMBERS TO HELP US
Now is the time to take this opportunity.
Find out more about becoming a Devizes Lion by contacting us now:
- phone us on 0345 833 6749
- e-mail us at Devizes Lions Club
- follow us on Facebook or Twitter
- visit our contact page for more options​
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| What has been said about Devizes Lions
"Chase LOVED seeing Santa last night again, thanks so much to the Lions Club for continuing such a wonderful tradition that I can share with my child, that I remember doing as a child myself! Keeping Xmas magical." Cassie on our Facebook page. "Big Thank You to Devizes Lions for organising the sponsored walk; we've managed to raise over £1400 (and still counting) for Victim Support" "I just wanted to take this opportunity to thank the Devizes Lions again for their continued support for First Stages. It means a great deal to us to know that our work is recognised, and we are very proud and grateful to have been among so many worthy recipients last week. The support the Lions gives to the smaller local groups is so important. Thank you!" Carole Berry. "The Monday Club would like to thank ... the Lions who have worked so hard to support us." Jackie. "The cheque given to us will help keep our club afloat and enable us to give our members some little pleasures." - Devizes PHAB. "It's all great news people! More then 500 kids took a part in sport weekend this year - I know, because I asked... I can see so many advantages, not only fun some of them will continue, for some of them it was perhaps the only opportunity to try some sports, more sport - better health! More 'inspired' kids - more 'sporty' adults in the future! All voluntary job by Lions Club, how amazing!" Asia K. And recently posted on Facebook: "My daughter has come back from a canoeing session, with Don Jones 's autograph! Seriously, a huge thank you and well done to Devizes Lions for organising their sports weekend again. My girls have respectively canoed and played badminton. It's a fantastic opportunity for our youngsters to try their hand at something new, or at something that their parents might not otherwise be able to afford for them to do." 100 Years Serving the Community Two members of DEVIZES LIONS Club have together amassed over 100 years of voluntary service to the local community. This milestone has been reached during the year in which the Club marks the 50th anniversary of its founding.
Soon after the Club formed in 1970 David Bousfield joined, and John Hurley did so a few months later. Over the years they have helped to organise many Lions’ events, including assisting individuals and groups in need of practical or financial help as well as organising large scale events such as Gymkhanas and the May and Christmas Fayres.
David was President of the Club in 1984 and again in 2014. Like many of the Lions, David is well known in other fields. He is a solicitor with Wansbroughs in Devizes and has lived in Potterne for many years, he is a former trustee of the Wiltshire Community Foundation and governor of Devizes School. A keen sportsman, he was previously a county hockey player and remains a keen golfer.
John was President of the Club in 1977, and now lives in New Park Street. He was Engineer & Surveyor to the former Devizes Rural District Council and then Kennet District Council. With his late wife Beryl he was active in the establishment of the Wharf Theatre and they were also leading figures in the Wiltshire family history scene, transcribing and publishing many records and giving talks over much of the country.
Both John and David remain active Club members preparing for the restart of the Club’s public activities and its next 50 years helping local individuals, families and groups in need of support.
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Lions Clubs throughout the country supply Message in a Bottle containers to people who have health and medical needs. The bottle is simply placed in your fridge and contains all the important information that might be needed in an emergency. Devizes Lions have placed supplies of bottles in all local doctors' surgeries for you to take home and use. If you can't see them on display then ask the receptionist. In the unlikely event they have run out, please let us know at welfare@devizeslions.org.uk so we can replenish the stocks. You will know there is a bottle in the fridge by the two labels, one is fixed on the inside of the front door or the main entrance and the other is on the door of the fridge. Remember - Always Check the fridge! |
Click the picture to dowload a copy. |
| We have a couple of short videos about it: Click the pictures below to watch them: |
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Lions Clubs throughout the country collect used spectacles. They are sent to Lions Headquarters in Birmingham or to Chichester Lions Club where about one million pairs a year are processed by club members and other volunteers. They use their considerable experience built up over 35 years, to select the items that are suitable for recycling and to sort them in preparation for onward transmission to the Ukraine and Medico France in Le Havre. Medico France has the necessary equipment to clean and grade the spectacles ready for use in eye camps in Africa, India and Eastern Europe. If you have any, you can drop them off in SpecSavers or Haines and Smith. Visit https://lionsrecycling.co.uk/how-to-donate/ to find out more. This public website explains what, where and why to donate spectacles. The 'where' contains a map showing drop-off points for spectacle donations. |
Here is Devizes Lions' Welfare chair adding a couple of boxes of used spectacles that have been collected in town, to a pile that is being sent for recycling. |
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Urchfont Scarecrow Festival Devizes Lions were delighted to have been given the opportunity to collect money to aid refugees from Ukraine at this year's Scarecrow Festival, raising a very worthwhile £800. This money will be used to assist in the provision of emergency help to refugees fleeing Ukraine and will be overseen by Lions on the ground, so you know where your money is going. Thanks to all of you that supported our appeal and thanks to the organisers for allowing us the opportunity. |
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Devizes Lions have made an initial grant of £1,000 to LCIF (Lions Clubs International Foundation) to assist in the provision of emergency help to refugees fleeing Ukraine. |
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We are keeping the situation under review and will offer further assistance when needed, whether it be local, national or international. Please help Devizes Lions support the people of Ukraine by making a donation here: Donate |
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The conflict in Ukraine unfortunately continues with millions of people affected in this crisis. Lions Clubs International (LCIF) our foundation, are continuing to support these people through the awarding of grants to Lions Clubs in the areas of need. These grants are to provide the immediate relief needs to those who are desperate for assistance. Through Lions to Lions grants, support is being provided to refugees who have been displaced from their homes. These grants are providing essential resources to address the critical needs of people who remain and who have crossed the borders into other countries. So far, LCIF has awarded grants totalling almost $650,000 supporting an estimated 83,000 people. Of that, $95,000 has been awarded to provide relief for internally displaced persons in Ukraine itself and a further $550,000 for refugee relief outside Ukraine. For a full list of grants awarded visit LCIF - Ukraine A massive thank you to Clubs and individuals who have responded to the call for help. Remember that grants are overseen by Lions on the ground, so we know where your money is going. Here are just a few of the relief efforts Lions are providing: |
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Dr. Igor Hrytsiuk is a Lion with Lviv Lions Club , and at the same time a doctor at the Western Ukraine Specialized Children's Medical Center in Lvów. This is a local medical facility providing specialist medical care. On February 15th, they were so proud that they were opening the most modern Clinic of pediatric oncology and bone spur transplantation in this part of Ukraine - the only one who performed such treatments. They probably didn't allow that in a few weeks, not hypermodern devices for treating children, but generators for power in shelters, window tinting paper during bombing, flashlights and batteries will be the peak of dreams. We support the fight of Ihora Hrytsiuk, Roman Monastirsky, Iwana Festkiva, - our Lion friends, we support all Ukrainians and we are proud to be part of the international wave of help for the brave Ukrainian nation. Proud to be a part of Lions Clubs International.
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Serving from a bomb shelter, the Lions of Ukraine with a LCIF grant are providing food, medicine, and hygiene products for those displaced in Kyiv, the Kyiv region, and Zhytomyr. Your donation to LCIF’s Refugees and Displaced Persons fund will help ensure that Lions are there to help them find the safety and security they desperately need. |
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Humanitarian Aid for Ukraine [🇺🇦]
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Forthcoming Events
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| Or visit our Calendar for a full list of our forthcoming events. |
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Diabetes Awareness Tuesday 14 November 2023 in the Brittox
Caenhill Countryside Centre was Lion President Andy Trotter's project for his year in office. As Presdent Andy explained at his investiture, "The Centre has had a Porta Cabin donated and installed by a local haulage company and are looking for help to refurbish the inside to provide a lecture/dining area, and a functional kitchen, where children with special needs can prepare and cook the food they have grown and raised. It will require electricity laid on, drainage sorted and work to satisfy various other requirements." On Monday evening 15 August 2022, 24 Lions members were given a tour of the Centre by Chris and Helie Franklin and saw first hand the wonderful work that they do and where our help will be focused. Take a look at these videos and see the fun we had:
  .jpg) Devizes Lions made three tranches of funding for the project - £500 for the installation of the electricity supply to the Portacabin, £2,600 for kitchen units and a further £1,000 for fittings making a total of about £4,000.
By January, electricity had been laid on and the kitchen was now complete.
All funded by Devizes Lions.
 Work in progress - President Andy on his knees!
 Lions Andy and Rober proudly present their handiwork
 The finished kitchen - Well Done The new facility was officially opened at a social gathering on 19 June, a successful and fitting end to President Andy's year in office.
 Here are Devizes Lions celebrating the opening of the new kitchen with Lion President Andy Trotter and Vice President Debbie Wilson in the foreground.
 Chris Franklin said,
"Thank you to Devizes Lions and their president Andy Trotter who raised funds and installed a kitchen for our students to use. At the presentation of course I had to do a lions rush hour!"
CONGRATULATIONS, ANDY!
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Presentation Evening 14 June 2023
in the Town Hall
At the Devizes Lions’ Presentation Evening held in the Town Hall on 14 June the Mayor CCl John Stevens CBE handed out a total of almost £10300 on behalf of the Lions to nearly 40 local groups that Lions had selected following a thorough evaluation process.
The event marked the approaching end of Lion Andy Trotter’s successful year as Club President.
Our next Lions on the Green will be on Sunday 09 June 2024.
Make a note of the date and watch this space for further details.
Lions on the Green Sunday 11 June 2023
| The 2023 LIONS on the GREEN CLASSIC CARS and FAMILY FUN DAY RAISED ABOUT £4,700. |
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A great big THANK YOU to everyone who attended and supported this year's Lions on the Green whether as an exhibitor, stall-holder or simply enjoying the event. Your generosity will enable Devizes Lions to continue to provide support to where it is needed in our community and beyond. To find out more head over to our Lions on the Green page for full details. |
Cheery LionsAt our first Lions on the Green in 2021, hundreds of people enjoyed the sunshine and came along and see a huge display of about 100 classic cars along with entertainment, food, artizan and charity stalls, all on the Large Green by Devizes School entrance.
The 2022 event was even bigger and better.
Next year's Lions on the Green will be on Sunday 11 June 2023 - Make a note in your diaries!
To find out more head over to our Lions on the Green page for full details.
Joint Charity Golf Day at North Wilts Golf Club
Thursday 11 May 2023
This year's event raised £3,500, split between Devizes Lions and Rotary.
Devizes Lions and Devizes Rotary were delighted to be running their Joint Charity Golf Day again this year. Our next one will be on Thursday 09 May 2024. Make a note of the date in your diaries and watch this space for futher details.
The main competition will be a four ball Stableford competition off the yellow tees. Teams may be gentlemen, ladies, or mixed. Ladies play off the ladies’ tee and use ladies’ cards.
Please watch this space for further updates.
Sponsored Walk Sunday 16 April 2023
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The weather was just right for our seven mile sponsored walk around some of the lovely countryside to the east of Devizes. The route started at the Guide Hall on Coate Road, then followed the footpaths and bridle ways to Nursteed Village, then to Sleight, continuing to Stert village, before returning to the Guide Hall via the Wessex Ridgeway.
This year the walkers raised a total of about £1200 for their favourite causes.
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Click on the poster image to download a copy |
Starting from the Guide Hut, Coate Road Devizes SN10 3LU at 9:30am with registration from 9:00am. Come and join us to raise money for your favourite cause, club or charity on our sponsored walk around our beautiful Wiltshire countryside.
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Sports Coaching Weekend
Saturday 1st and Sunday 2nd April 2023
Our Sports Coaching Weekend is over for another year.
Our next one will be on 06 and 07 April 2024. Make a note of those dates and watch this space for further details.
About 380 children took part and to see the smiles on their faces when they finished their sessions made all the months of hard work worthwhile.
Here are just a few of the comments we have received:
"Hi, My son Henry took part in the trampolining on 1/2 Apr. Henry has autism and ADHD and doesn’t do a lot of extra-curricular activities outside of school.
He really enjoyed it. It was a really inclusive activity and the instruction was engaging, well paced and enjoyable.
This is the first time that Henry has done one of these activities, and we’ll definitely be signing him up again. In terms of suggestions for any new sports, we would like to try and find some team sports for Henry to take part in such as football.
Thank you for organising, it really makes a difference."
"Hi, My son has just been to the Archery and really enjoyed it.
The location, booking in was faultless.
Many thanks for everything you do."
"Thank you for organising another great Lions weekend. Our daughter had a fantastic morning."
"I wanted to drop you a line to say thank you for providing the wonderful sporting opportunities this weekend. My son Milton and my daughter Violet both participated in Canoeing at Dauntsey's and they both enjoyed the experience and have picked up new skills.
Please send our grateful thanks to the coaches, registrars and all involved to make this happen. My children have been doing this for several years and I overheard a Lion saying his son did it too and he is now 50! Long may this continue.
Best Regards"
"Hi,
Just a quick note to thank you for hosting fantastic canoeing sessions last week. Our daughter, Suki, had a wonderful time and really wants to get into the sport further. She was very lucky to be given such an incredible opportunity, thanks to the work you do."
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To find out more about the weekend, head over to our Sports Coaching page |
Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal
Saturday 04 March 2023 in Morrisons
| Devizes Lions were out supporting the Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal by manning the collection in Morrisons all day. Thanks to all for giving so generously and helping us raise £371 for Marie Curie Cancer Care. |  |
Fashion Show Saturday 25 February 2023 - 7:00pm at the Devizes & District Conservative Club.
| We are pleased to announce that the final net proceeds from the Fashion Show were £1700 which Devizes Lions has shared with Dorothy House.
Here is the organiser, Lion Maggie Gray accompanied by our Zone Chair Richard, President Andy and Treasurer Roger, handing over a cheque for £850 to Dan Varley, the Community and Events Fundraiser on behalf of Dorothy House Hospice Care. |
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We thank our hosts, Travelling Trends for staging the event, our “volunteer” models and all of you that bought tickets and came along to enjoy the evening and make it such a success.
THANK YOU!
Santa's Sleigh 01 - 21 December 2022
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A big thank you from Devizes Lions to all that supported us by making donations as we toured the town with Santa and his sleigh, and at our Christmas collections at Lidl, in the Brittox and at Morrisons. The gross takings have exceeded £4,000 which was a magnificent result. THANK YOU ALL! Santa was out touring the town from Thursday 1st to Thursday 22nd December with a cheery Santa, lights and music. We started at 5:00pm each evening and finished by 7:45pm at the latest. People were able to follow Santa's route each evening in real time from our Facebook Page @devizeslions Santa's Sleigh was at the Lidl supermarket on Saturday 10th December and at Morrisons' supermarket on Saturday 17th December. Devizes Lions also had a Christmas collection in The Brittox on Thursday 15th December. Please Note: Cul-de-sacs The float will normally wait at the entrance to cul-de-sacs and Lions will tell people where the float is waiting to greet the children. Weather Devizes Lions cannot guarantee that they will be able to adhere to the published programme due to inclement weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Click on the thumbnail image to download or view the routes >>>>>>>>
Ho, Ho, Ho!!! Here we Go!!! |
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DEVIZES LIONS’ CHRISTMAS FAIR WAS BACK IN THE CORN EXCHANGE on SATURDAY 03 DECEMBER 9:00am to 2:30pm and raised
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Set-up started early on the Friday morning and continued until everything was in place for the Saturday sale. Click on the picture to watch the video clip and be amazed! >>>>>>>>> As you can see, Lions are busy people! |
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| People started to arrive and queue from about 7:15am and this shows it 08:45 with Santa's sleigh in place and the queue waiting patiently for the doors to open at 09:00. |  |
| This is how the Corn Exchange looked before the Fair got underway. As usual we had lots and lots of books to sell. |  |
| Devizes Lions were delighted that the town's Mayor and Mayoress, Cllr Peter and Chris Corbett, took time out of their busy schedule to visit the Christmas Fair - pictured here with Lion President Andy Trotter. |  |
| And here we are in full swing an hour or so after opening. |  |
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It was good to be back again this year. It was a busy day and thanks to the hard work that went into it, the event raised well over £5000 which will help us continue to support the community. Thanks to all who came and supported us and also to the many volunteers and friends of Lions that helped us. |
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BBC Children in Need collection. The Brittox
Thursday 17 November 2022 8:30am to 4:00pm
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Devizes Lions' collection in The Brittox raised over £400 and all the money has been credited to the BBC Children in Need Appeal.
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Diabetes Screening 10 September 2022
| Devizes Lions organised a Diabetes and Blood Pressure Screening Event on 10th September, as part of the Health and Well Being Day on the Small Green. Specialist Diabetes Nurses screened 58 people, and talked to them about Diabetes and Hypertension. Leaflets and information about Diabetes, and details of courses about Diabetes, were available. The good news is that we did not find many people with raised blood sugars, but a third had Blood Pressures higher than ideal. The people who were screened were happy for us to forward their results to their GP. |
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Other past events You can find out about many of the other events that Devizes Lions has organised by visiting our Club Projects Page: Club Projects
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Please Support Devizes Lions |
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Lions Clubs International is the world's largest service club organization with more than 1.4 million members in approximately 46,000 clubs in more than 200 countries and geographical areas around the world.
