Membership Structure Club Meetings
Helping the Community Fundraising Charitable Donations
Socials Your Membership Friends of Lions Knutsford (FoLK)
WHO ARE KNUTSFORD LIONS ?
Knutsford Lions are a community group founded in 1975 and are well known and respected in the area for organizing and running fundraising events: They are affiliated to Lions Clubs International, a global ‘service’ organization with 1.4 million members worldwide.
Knutsford Lions have a very varied program of support for many local organisations particularly people in hardship through the Welcome community hub and Citizens Advice. Contributions are made to schools and youth support groups and well as local health and hospice services. ( details can be found on other pages in this website))
The Lions work with, and complement other local voluntary organisations such as Knutsford Hosts and We are Knutsford, and we would expect people to continue to be part of a combined Knutsford ‘support’ community.
Lions organize a series of annual events including:
- Christmas Day lunch for people on their own, a free Senior Citizens Variety Show (February) a Community Fair on Knutsford large Heath (end May), charity fundraising concert (autumn)
- Fundraise by a ‘house to house’ envelope drop and town collection in December
- Run a ‘Wenceslas Appeal’ in December to help alleviate fuel and other poverty in the area – administered by Citizens Advice and the Welcome.
Organising events is not all they do, less well known activity includes:
- Donate funds raised to over 30 local causes/charities during the year.
- Help and support local young people through working with local schools and youth groups eg Young Leaders in Service.
- Support for ‘Talking Newspaper’ and ‘Good Neighbours’ scheme; both schemes were started by the Lions.
- Lions also participate in many local community events - in particular with marshalling at the town Christmas parade in December and other local charity fundraisers.
- Lions enjoy a variety of social events which members help arrange and many long-term friendships have been made as a result.
About 75% of funds raised go to support local charities and good causes. Support is also given to national/global disasters and charities supported by Lions Clubs International Foundation.
WHO CAN JOIN KNUTSFORD LIONS AND ENJOY IT ?
Knutsford Lions welcomes everyone and encourages partners and friends to come along and join in. Our members participate in Club activities in whatever way they feel comfortable.
Helping the local community with like minded people is very satisfying and enjoyable. Many lasting friendships have been made by people joining the Lions.
Lions can be any age and welcome anyone who would like to actively support and feel involved in the local community.
For example, recently retired people, or who have grown up children may feel that they would like to ‘give back’ and would enjoy contributing to Lions activities as they find themselves with more free time.
We would particularly welcome people who are willing and able to help organize and participate in our events. Its amazing what talent and skills lay hidden gained from the everyday experience of life.
We would particularly welcome younger members with the ideas and energy to help our activities and events grow and thrive.
Maybe parents of children participating in Lions youth schemes would like to join ?
HOW AND WHERE DO KNUTSFORD LIONS MEET?
Lions meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of the month. The first meeting is a ‘general’ meeting to discuss events planning and other matters; the second meeting could be a short talk by one of the organisions we support, or maybe a more social event.
Meetings are run to an agenda, but in a light-hearted manner and usually last for about 90 minutes.
We occasionally have a speaker to talk about a local organisation that we are considering supporting or an activity that we have sponsored. Partners and other guests are often invited to attend these meetings.
The club is run on democratic lines with votes taken on all charitable matters.
SOCIAL EVENTS
Lions also enjoy a variety of social events which members help arrange and many long-term friendships have been made as a result. These include a social event before Christmas, and an annual lunch to celebrate the founding of Knutsford Lions in 1975.
Other social events are organized by members throughout the year.
CLUB STRUCTURE
Every year the club elects a President, Vice President, Secretary, Charity Account Treasurer and Admin./Social Event Account Treasurer. Other members take on special responsibilities (e.g. organising individual events) as necessary.
DOES BEING A MEMBER TAKE A LOT OF COMMITMENT ?
The modern world is extremely busy, so members are only asked to contribute where they feel comfortable and able. However we are looking for people who are willing to help organize and participate in our activities.
WHAT DOES IT COST TO BECOME A MEMBER?
There is a small membership fee of £25/6 months to cover the cost of running the Club which includes a small contribution to Lions International. We also pay for our own tickets to events (eg charity concert)
NOT SURE ABOUT BEING A FULL MEMBER ? THEN BECOME ONE OF OUR 'FoLK'
FRIENDS of LIONS in KNUTSFORD (FoLK)
We’d like to invite people or organisations who would wish to feel involved in Knutsford Lions and the local community, but do not have the time to be full members of Lions.
- We’d like to attract community minded people to feel connected to the work of the Lions within the Knutsford area and understand more broadly where our fundraising goes, and how we can provide help to Knutsford and district.
- To enable the Lions to share what they do with an interested community within Knutsford and the surrounding area.
- To help Knutsford Lions with their events and fundraising.
WHO DO WE HOPE WOULD BECOME ONE OF OUR 'FoLK' ?
The Lions are looking to attract both organisations and individuals to become FoLK. Many people already contribute as members of other Groups such as Knutsford Hosts who could join as an organization. – individuals could also be members of each because they complement each other.
In the fullness of time, we would hope some ‘FoLK’ would wish to become full members.
WHAT WILL BEING A 'FoLK' BRING YOU?
- Primarily an opportunity to belong to a local community group and support their events e.g. – community fair, charity concerts, various fundraising events, supporting young people.
- A quarterly newsletter giving information on Lions events – past and future, current projects and donations, information and invitations to social or other Lions events (eg talks from local organisations we support
- Open invitations to Lions events/talks and socials.
Notes:
There is NO subscription to becoming a ‘FoLK’
All data held about Friends of Lions in Knutsford is in line with our data privacy statement (on this website)
