Club News

Four members of Faversham Rotary attended this event arranged by Swale Dementia Action Alliance. It took place on Friday 27^th October at the Oasis Academy, Isle of Sheppey.

There was a “Market Place” of stalls from local dementia services and dementia friendly organisations, providing a chance to meet and talk with their representatives.

Specialist speakers shared their knowledge about the latest cutting-edge research from Alzheimer’s Research UK and provided advice about legal & financial planning after a dementia diagnosis. Janet talked about her experience of caring for her husband and Keith spoke about how he is learning to live with dementia. We learned a great deal about many aspects of dementia from the four high-quality speakers.

Faversham Club members also experienced the Virtual Dementia Tour(VDT), a unique learning experience in a specially adapted bus, designed to help understand what it might actually feel like to live with dementia. Wearing headphones, special glasses and thick gloves, we struggled to perform everyday tasks like folding towels or setting the table. The bus experience caused us some real discomfort, vital to the process of developing understanding and empathy.

The VDT experience was provided by training2care and sponsored by four local Rotary clubs, Minster-on-Sea, Sittingbourne Invicta, Isle of Sheppey and Faversham.

Faversham Rotary Club is about to receive training that will designate it as a ‘Dementia Friendly ‘ organisation. 

Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) are about encouraging teenagers to develop their potential through teamwork and leadership and their ability to face up to and overcome challenges in structured and safe surroundings.

The picture shows a team-building exercise.

Faversham Rotary sponsored two teenagers, Pru and Patrick, to attend the most recent RYLA weekend and they came to speak to club members about their experiences there.

The weekend was held at the Bowles Outdoor Activity Centre. It lasted 3 days and was attended by 20+ teenagers. 

Here is what a recent attendee had to say about RYLA: 

"I was nervous at first, but soon made friends and it was really good fun. Some of the challenges surprised me because I pushed myself further than before. The food was great too. Thanks to all the leaders and my sponsors.”

Chris and Joy Hopkins recently came to talk to Faversham Rotary Club about the work of the Royal British Legion and the Annual Poppy Appeal.

The Royal British Legion supports members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force, veterans and their families. That support might be for physical and mental wellbeing, for financial and employment support, or providing local community connections.

Chris and Joy both have military connections and Chris was asked to be a local Poppy Appeal Organiser (PAO) so he volunteered Joy as well and they have been the PAOs for the Faversham District for a number of years now.

Their role includes ordering the poppies and collection tins and distributing them to about 150 local shops, restaurants, pubs & businesses. Local schools are also involved. Chris & Joy also arrange a stall in Faversham Market – often accompanied by a tank!

Up to June 2023, more than £180,000 has been raised in Faversham and the Annual Poppy Appeal is a significant fund-raiser for all aspects of the Legion’s work.

This year’s Poppy Appeal will be from 26^th October to 12^th November, the two weeks leading up to Remembrance Sunday. There will be collection points at local supermarkets, looked after by teams of volunteers, including Scouts and Army and Air Training Corps Cadets.

Visit www.britishlegion.org.uk to find out more about the work of the Royal British Legion and how you can volunteer to help.