A virtual meeting of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club Thursday 14 May 2020
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A virtual meeting of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club began at 6pm on Thursday 14th May 2020
The meeting was conducted using ZOOM Videolink. 27 members attended and two special guests were welcomed:
District Governor of 1040 Dr Manoj Joshi, member of Bradford Club, Deputy Lieutenant West Yorkshire and Past District Governor of 1220 Gordon McGlone, founder member of Phoenix, member of Osgoldcross & Elmete Club.
During the meeting Paul Harris Fellowships were presented to acknowledge the charitabe service given by two Past Presidents, both keen Rotarians for over 20 years.
Behind the scenes, the awards were kept secret and at 10 past 6 the parcels were delivered to be opened live on camera by the surprised recipients : Phoenix International Chairman Mike Bradley and Assistant Governor of District 1040 Inner Nine Mike Gill.
They held their certificates for the audience to see as both were confirmed with their Paul Harris Fellow citations by Phoenix President Phil Johnson and Rotary District 1040 Governor Manoj Joshi.
The citation to Mike Bradley PHF is for services to Phoenix Club as President, as Committee Chairman and in recognition of charitable service in the Local Community with Night Shelter for the homeless.
The citation to Mike Gill PHF is for services to Phoenix Club as President, as Committee Chairman and in recognition of leadership, representing the Inner Nine Group within RIBI District 1040.
Rotary District 1040 Governor Manoj Joshi endorsed the good work done by Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary both locally and worldwide and concluded by warmly congratulating both Mikes on becoming Paul Harris Fellows.
Rotary Money for Food-banks and Hospices
- Written by Bill Sutton
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The Corona Virus caused the Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix to adjust its donations priorities towards supporting the frontline services of the food banks and Hospices. The Ossett Resource Centre food bank which is co-ordinated by Marie Moore and other volunteers at the South Ossett Church Community Centre was given a further £500 to help respond to the 100% increase in demand for food parcels, and a similar amount was provided for the Food bank operating through the St Georges Community Centre at Lupset.
The difficulties encountered by local Hospices was also recognised by donations of £2000 to Wakefield Hospice, £1000 to Kirkwood Hospice and £1000 to the Forget Me Not Trust Childrens Hospice all of which provide to support to families and individuals within the area covered by the Rotary Club.
A number of the younger members of the Phoenix Rotary Club are also actively engaged in supporting the community with activities such as delivering meals, food and prescriptions. Rotarian Alan Hudders has shown great leadership and commitment by co-ordinating the Horbury Senior Citizens Covid 19 support group which involves 75 volunteers acting as help desk advisers, delivery drivers and telephone befrienders for people isolated and or in self isolation.
President of the Rotary Club Phil Johnson said, “The age of most of our club members and associated risks, has meant that we are nor as actively involved in responding to the Corona Virus impacts as we would normally be, however the decision to change our donation priorities was a way in which we could quickly put resources into supporting our community and those front line workers who are caring for them”.
Picture: Rotarian Nick Hunter with a car load of deliveries setting off from Ossett Resource Food Bank.
Horbury Senior Citizens Support Group - Key Role in Covid Response
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The Horbury Senior Citizens Support Group has operated in Horbury for 10 years providing a social centre and support activities for the senior citizens of Horbury and District. It is a Charitable Trust in its own right and Alan Hudders has been and Trustee for 5 years and Chairman for 2 years. The Covid-19 crisis and restrictions instantly curtailed the normal activities of the group but Chairman Alan and the Trustees were very quick to respond to the changed circumstances and the need for the co-ordination of efforts to support the older members of the community. Working with the active support of WMDC and NOVA, they quickly established what they have christened a community hub providing a 24 hour helpline; recruiting 75 volunteer helpers; and offering support to the vulnerable in the form of a shopping and delivery service; prescription collection and deliveries; meal deliveries; and telephone befrienders to call and hold conversations with people who would be otherwise totally isolated. The volunteers are from a wide range of backgrounds with a varied skill set and the hub operates on the maxim of meeting individual needs. Alan is quick to point out that it is a team effort that has made the Horbury Hub very effective, but others recognise that his commitment and determination is what holds it together and ensures that the vulnerable people of the area are supported.
Alans involvement with the local Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix has also proved useful with a member assisting in setting up systems by which shopping can be paid for at the time of purchase. All local shops, supermarkets, cafes and caterers have been very supportive in meeting the needs of the community and there is an excellent relationship established with Marie Moore who runs the Resource Food Bank based at South Ossett Church Community Centre. Other members of the club have been helping with deliveries.
The Helpline for the Hub is 01924 565859 and it is manned from 8am to 5pm Monday to Friday with an answering machine operating outside those hours. The Hub provides support for the whole of Horbury, most of Sitlington, South Ossett and parts of Lupset.
Picture: Alan Hudders receiving a trolley full of supplies donated by Morrisons Supermarket Community Champion Bev Kelly at the Dewsbury Road store.
2020 Rotary Young Writers Competition
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2020 Rotary Young Writers Competition
LOCAL HEAT WINNERS - Friday 31st January 2020
To be able to write is a special gift and writing creatively is a talent to celebrate.
The winners of the local heat of the Rotary Young Writers Competition were awarded their certificates by Phil Johnson, President of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club and Paul Helliwell, Chair of Youth Committee at the Horbury Methodist Church on Friday. Libby Grayson and Charlotte Russell also received book tokens kindly donated by Rickaro Books of Horbury.
The competition aims to promote development of writing skills and heats have been held all over the country in schools and clubs.
The quality of work submitted in this and in previous years has been outstanding.
Successful entries now go into the Rotary District Competition and that winner will be entered in the National Rotary Finals.
Special thanks to Gary Bentley of Horbury Breakthrough for helping Rotary Club arrange the competition and well done to all those who entered.
2020 Spring Bids
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| SPRING BIDS 2020 CANCELLED UNTIL AFTER COVID-19 |
Article from 29th January 2020 read as follows:
Bids welcome for Rotary Charity Money
After a bumper 2019 Christmas period when Santa and his sleigh helped the Horbury and Ossett Phoenix Rotary Club raise record income of over £6000 for good causes, the money is now in the Club’s Charitable Trust Fund. Along with some of the proceeds from the 2019 Horbury Show, it is available for bids for funding from individuals, community, charitable and youth sporting organisations within Horbury, Ossett and surrounding areas.
Rotary Club President Phil Johnson when launching the appeal said," We raise our funds in the local community and it is right that the vast majority is returned to good causes within the same community. We have set aside a significant sum within our Charitable Trust and invite bids of up to £400. In 2018 and 2019 similar invitations led to a combined total of £14600 being distributed between 42 different individuals, clubs and groups. We look forward to receiving a good number of bids again this year."
In previous years awards have been made to a wide variety of good causes across the district including bordering areas of North Kirklees. They have included kit for youth sports teams, musical instruments for bands, support groups for the elderly, school facilities, equipment for brownie packs, youth clubs and equipment for individuals with very specific needs.
Application and information forms can be obtained by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. after 1 February 2020.
Applications then need to be completed and returned in accordance with the instructions on the form by 1 March 2020.
All applicants will be notified of their success or otherwise by 12 April.
All successful bidders will be invited to attend a presentation evening at Horbury Working Members Club on the evening of Thursday 14th May.
Thank you Letter from CoActive Arts
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This letter was received by The Rotary Club of Horbury and Ossett Phoenix in December 2019 and was signed by many of the CoActive Arts users who are benefiting from the speakers and microphone that our donation enabled them to buy.
"Good work CoActive Arts and Phoenix Rotary!"
Elfin Happiness for Rotary Fund Raisers
- Written by Phoenix Rotary President Phil Johnson
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Once again the Horbury and Ossettt Phoenix Rotary Club has brought joy and fundraising together at Christmas.All the members of Phoenix Rotary Club shared in elfing duties on the Santa and Sleigh tours around Horbury, Ossett and Gawthorpe in the run up to the holiday.
Christmas light switch on in Horbury, Santa gift giving in Gawthorpe, six evenings of street tours and four days of Santa and Sleigh with Rudolph at Morrisons, Dewsbury Road, Wakefield brightened up the festive season for hundreds of children.
An additional day of supporting Santa handing out carrots for children to leave out for Santa’s Reindeers raised a further £271 for Clic Sgts Appeal a charity sponsored by Morrison's.
We are pleased to tell you that over £5000 was generously donated by the public and that this will all be spent on good causes in the year to come.
Many thanks to all who supported Phoenix Rotary Club Santas Sleigh collections this year.
Keep watching our bulletins for information regarding where the donations are spent.
We look forward to seeing you all again during 2020 especially at Horbury Show.
Seasons Greetings and a Happy New Year from all the Phoenix Rotary Club Members
Santa and Susan Barr's Melodic Voices at Morrison's 14th Dec 2019
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It was a great Christmas atmosphere in the atrium entrance at Morrison's Wakefield today and in the afternoon Susan Barr of Horbury organised a performance of cheery Christmas songs... wonderful voices of all ages.
Thank you to the shoppers for their very generous charitable donations.
See the short video: