Message in a bottle Spectacle Recycling Community Support Projects Youth projects Charitable Donations
In 2015 Knutsford & District Lions linked up with the Citizen's Advice Bureau (CAB) and the Knutsford Guardian newspaper, in a bid to greatly reduce fuel debt in Knutsford and the surrounding areas.
Through an ongoing appeal entitled 'Project Wenceslas'. We now encourage local senior citizens who feel they do not really need all of their Winter Fuel Allowance to make a donation to help local families/individuals of all ages who are trapped in fuel poverty, fuel debt, or significant financial hardship. We also welcome donations from anyone else who would like to support this appeal.
All donations are ring-fenced for 'Project Wenceslas' to ensure that all of the money is used for the purpose for which it is intended.
In 2018 the scheme was reviewed and broadened to help those living with other financial hardships as well as fuel poverty.
In 2021 the scheme was promoted more widely in order to reach more people in need of help. CACN and The Welcome became ‘hubs’ for receiving requests from other organisations in the Knutsford Area.
Donations can be made via our Just Giving account. Alternatively send a cheque payable to 'Knutsford Lions Charity Account' (marked 'Project Wenceslas' on the back) to Knutsford and District Lions, c/o Peter Willgoose, Chestnut Cottage, Tabley Road, Knutsford WA16 0NE. If the cheque is from a tax payer we should be able to claim Gift Aid, which will increase the donation by 25% - a Gift Aid form available on request.
YOUNG LEADERS IN SERVICE AWARDS
In November 2014 Knutsford Lions, in collaboration with the Knutsford Town Council, launched a Lions Young Leaders in Service Award Scheme. The Awards recognise young people between the ages of 11 and 18 giving service to the local community within a 12 month period. Each individual is issued with a small Log Book in which to record their activities. Certificates (Silver for 50 hours, Gold for 100 hours) are presented jointly by the Town Council and Knutsford Lions at an Awards Ceremony each year.
A recent GOLD ward was made to Misha ,,,, who completed over 200 hours of service including looking after her sister who has cerebral palsy and baking cakes for the local NHS during the pandemic.
For more information see "How the Scheme Works" or Contact Us.
CHRSTMAS APPEAL AND CHRISTMAS DAY LUNCH
Each year we have a House to House envelope collection, wonderfully aided by Knutsford Hosts, to raise funds for the Christmas Day Lunch and other Lions good causes.
For over 30 years, Knutsford Lions have been providing lunch for between 30 and 40 people who would otherwise have been on their own on Christmas Day. Transport is provided and a traditional Christmas lunch served at a local community centre.
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The Town Mayor attends and chats to our guests, and there is a visit from a friendly Santa with gifts.
We end with some carol singing, after which guests are returned safely to their homes.
In 2020 however, due to Covid 19 restrictions, we joined up with the Welcome Centre and Hope Central to prepare and deliver Christmas Day Lunch – including soup, turkey and all the trimmings, Christmas pudding, Christmas cake and mince pie and ‘goodie bag’, to 60 people at their own home instead. We were supported by many local volunteers from Knutsford who helped cooking and delivering lunches.
MESSAGE IN A BOTTLE
Message in a Bottle is a free scheme set up in the UK by Lions to help the emergency services by providing a known location for essential information in the event of an accident or sudden illness - particularly for people living on their own.
Each bottle is provided with a form to allow the essential information to be recorded (e.g. any key medical conditions, or medication issues and where tablets etc. are kept). This information is to be kept in the special bottle inside the fridge. Stickers are provided which should be displayed on the INSIDE of the front door (so that the emergency services know there is a bottle on the premises), and on the front of the fridge (so they know where to find it).
Knutsford Lions hold a stock of bottles - if you would like one please contact us. Bottles are also available from the Manchester Road Medical Centre.
SPECTACLE RECYCLING
With the help of Optometrist Wendy Diddams, Boots Opticians, Knutsford Heritage Centre and members of the public, we have been collecting used spectacles for a number of years. Each year we send about 3000 pairs of spectacles to the Lions Club of Chichester, where they are checked, sorted and then sent on to Medico France who supply them to Eye Camps in Africa, India and Eastern Europe.
COMMUNITY SUPPORT PROJECTS
Help with marshalling at local events - In recent years we have become regular providers of marshals at a number of local events, in particular - marshalling along the route prior to the Christmas Lights Switch On (for Knutsford Town Council) and the Pumpkin Path event.
OTHER YOUTH PROJECTS
In 2018, with support from the Knutsford Town Council, we launched a POETRY COMPETITION for children at local Primary Schools. The response was amazing with 450 youngsters from six local schools entering poems! Awards were presented by Town Mayor Councillor Peter Coan at an Awards evening at Knutsford Methodist Church on 30 April 2019. Another competition was organsied in 2019 although it was not possible to have an awards evening due to Corvid 19 restrictions.-
- We participate in the annual Town Council award of a MILLENIUM BURSARY, open to local undergraduates.
- We make grants to young individuals who embark on organised overseas travel projects.
- We have a rota to hear children read each week at a local Primary School.
- We support the Lions 'Young Ambassador' scheme
CHARITABLE DONATIONS
Around 70% of our donations go to local causes. Over the last few years our Charitable Donations have included:
| Local Scouts and Guides | Citizen's Advice Cheshire North |
| Local Primary Schools | Knutsford Community First Responder Trust |
| Knutsford GROW | Crossroads Together |
| Town Council Millennium Bursary Awards | The Welcome, Knutsford |
| Claire House Children's Hospice | Hope House Children's Hospice |
| East Cheshire Hospice | Francis House Children's Hospice |
| Mid Cheshire Samaritans | Cheshire Young Carers |
| Local fuel poverty support | Lions Water Aid |
| Hope Central Food Bank | Lions Sight Savers |
| Stanley Centre | Lower Moss Wood Nature Reserve/Animal Rescue |
| Friendship Cafe | Cheshire Without Abuse |
| Knutsford GROW | Lions Measles Initiative Appeal |
| Age UK Cheshire East | Lions Disaster Committee Appeals |
| Knutsford Community Transport | Knutsford Heritage Centre |
| Abbeyfield (Knutsford) | Passion for Learning |
| Hearing Dogs for Deaf People (Cheshire) | Local Cerabal Palsy Charity |
