Rotary is integral to our communities locally and globally, with our Rotary ​service projects positively impacting on the lives of others, the world and ​ourselves.

Given the ever-evolving challenges society faces, Rotary must continuously adapt ​and evolve to remain relevant and be seen as the premier organisation for ​collaboration, networking, and volunteering with. Our service projects need to ​meet today’s real needs and prepare our communities for tomorrow’s ​challenges.

Rotary Great Britain & Ireland Humanitarian Service Team Member, Anne ​Sutcliffe, pictured above, shares how Rotary has been responding and adapting ​in her community.

In summer 2020, as President of Sowerby Bridge Rotary, I was invited by two ​local councillors to join an online forum with other local community groups. Parts ​of the town are in the top 17% of UK deprivation.

The forum aimed to discuss lockdown experiences and challenges, share best ​practice, and discuss responses within the constraints of the pandemic.

One recurrent challenge was limited local resources because of our town’s ​proximity to Halifax, where disadvantaged individuals are often funnelled to ​access services, but unable to afford to get there.

Sowerby Bridge Together, a new community group for the community by the ​community was formed post-pandemic initially focusing on education and ​support.

Collaborating with two local churches linked with primary schools, they created ​healthy cooking rucksacks for free school meal recipients. These included simple, ​affordable and nutritious recipes and information on debt advice and local ​support services. Sowerby Bridge Rotary provided £1,500 to launch the initiative.

In response to the cost-of-living crisis, we secured local grants for energy and ​food vouchers. This enabled 100+ families to shop locally, benefiting both them ​and local businesses.

Expanding our efforts, we established a weekly community café offering a ​welcoming space and a free three course meal. Everyone is welcome including ​people with learning difficulties, older adults seeking social interaction and ​individuals facing challenges like addiction or violence who appreciate the calm ​environment away from negative influences. We also keep EpiPens in case of ​overdoses.

Thanks to another Sowerby Bridge Rotary project we can quickly access a ​rucksack full of provisions for homeless visitors.

We registered with the Warm Welcome Spaces 2023/24 winter campaign, ​though our café runs year-round. Our Christmas dinner and Secret Santa ​programmes are just two ways we boost community spirit. We are there to have ​a chat, take a genuine interest in how people are doing and listen if they want to ​share. 

We even got a postcard from one who went on a trip to Whitby!

More needs to be done. Our location poses access challenges for some, and with ​no local food bank, we’re exploring how to address other critical needs.

I’m happy to share details on how we set this up and how it works if you’re ​interested in replicating it locally.