Learn more about our current projects - Spectrek, Message in a Bottle, Medic Alert & Empties Please!
Spectrek
Usable Glasses Give New Life
Refractive errors can be easily corrected with eye glasses, yet millions living in low and middle income countries lack access to basic eye care services. The Lions International have recognised the urgent need for corrective lenses, and collect usable glasses from their clubs worldwide to support the Lions' Recycle For Sight Program.
The Sight First Campaign/Spectrek initiative, where the Club collect old and no longer required spectacles, clean and box them up for ongoing transit to our dedicated UK collection point, where they are sorted, graded, repaired, labelled and repackaged, before being sent on Via Lions International to Third World Countries. They are then matched and distributed for free to local needy residents who have poor and deteriorating eyesight, so they can be helped back into more normal life and work.
To date our Club has provided over 95,000 pairs of such specs, changing and improving the lives of that many people and their families.
How it Works
As an ongoing project, (along with other Lions clubs throughout the UK) one of our members collects used spectacles from opticians and donors. These are then taken to a collection facility from where large consignments are sent to an Eyeglass Recycling Centre in France. There, they are inspected and calibrated before finding their way to grateful recipients in the 3rd World.
Remember, you may outgrow your glasses but, they may very well have a second life on someone else's face. Please don't just bin them. Take them to Leightons or Specsavers in Woodley, or, the Crescent Centre in Lower Earley. Thank you.
Message In A Bottle
The Concept
This is a simple idea designed to encourage people to keep their basic personal and medical details in a standard form and in a common location – the fridge.
It saves the emergency services valuable time if they need to enter a property in an emergency situation. Not only does it help to identify who you are, it also identifies if you have special medication or allergies. It is not only a potential lifesaver but it also provides peace of mind to you, your friends and family by knowing that prompt medical treatment is provided and that your next of kin and emergency contacts are notified.
Whilst it is focused on the more vulnerable people in the community, anyone can have an accident in the home, so this scheme can benefit anyone.
What does it cost ?
When ordering a bottle the scheme is free to the public and is funded usually by your local Lions Club. You may see the bottles displayed in your local GP surgery or local pharmacy.
Of course if you wish to make a small donation, we are more than happy to receive it! Please contact Stella on grass_hoppers@btconnect.com or you can also always make a donation via our donate button on the home page of this website.
If you have any difficulty in procuring a bottle from your local Lions Club please contact Lions Club Headquarters on 0845 833 9502
Woodley and Earley Lions Club now have supplies of bottles from HQ. If you require one please contact our secretary by phone or email (see Contact Us page).
What you have to do.
Procure a bottle. Fill in the enclosed form with your name, medicines and allergies. Also, fill in your relatives' contact details. Put the completed form in the bottle, and put the bottle in the fridge.
The bottle will also contain 2 green stickers. Put one green sticker on your fridge. Put the other green sticker on the inside of your glazed front door.
How it Works
All emergency services are aware of the Message in a Bottle scheme and, on arrival at your house, are on the look-out for a green sticker being displayed at your home.
The emergency services will locate the bottle in your fridge and use the forms inside to ensure that you are treated quickly and appropriately, which can save time and save lives.
Medic Alert
Empties Please!
The Idea
More than 40 million ink jet cartridges are dumped each year in the UK alone, each taking 1000 years to decompose!
Empties Please! collects empty branded ink jet cartridges, paying schools and charities etc. for the ones that can be recycled. In this way, not only do the cartridges not end up in landfill, money is made for worthy causes in the process.
We have started our own collection, so if you have old used branded ink jet cartridges you would like to recycle, please do send them through!
To contribute or learn more please contact Woodley and Earley Lions Club President Val Oakley on v.oakley07@btinternet.com
