Festive Cheer in 2023
The renowned Rotary Santa’s Grotto is returning to the Sovereign Centre again this year and will be found just inside the entrance to the centre from the high street. Santa and his volunteer elves will be delighted to welcome you to visit Santa during the following dates in December.
Saturday 2nd December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 3rd December 10.00am – 3.00pm
Saturday 9th December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 10th December 10.00am – 3.00pm
Saturday 16th December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Sunday 17th December 10.00am – 3.00pm
Monday 18th December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Tuesday 19th December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Wednesday 20th December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Thursday 21st December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Friday 22nd December 10.00am – 5.00pm
Saturday 23rd December 10.00am – 5.00pm
The cost to see Santa and receive a present is £8 - with all profits being donated to 3 specially chosen local causes –
Bournemouth Food Bank, Helpful Hounds and Rotary supported charities. So all visits to see our Santa will also help others in your community.
Children must be accompanied by an adult to see Santa, but there is no charge for the adult, who may also take photographs of their own child at the time of their visit – also without any charge. Everyone, regardless of age, will need a ticket to see Santa in order to receive a present.
Just come to the grotto, pay for the necessary ticket for your children or grandchildren and join the queue through the Winter Wonderland pathway to find Santa’s Elf Helper waiting at the end to take you to see Santa before choosing a present from the display of unwrapped gifts available. Exact time is not guaranteed and, at busy times, there may be a longer queue to see Santa, but Santa is worth waiting for......
On-line booking
Individual tickets or Family group tickets for 2, 3, or 4 children are now available to purchase on-line for the various morning and afternoon sessions, but you will still be able to arrive at the grotto when it is open and pay by cash or card upon entry for all the dates detailed above. Please click on the following link to book on-line for this year's Rotary Santa's Grotto in the Sovereign Centre in Boscombe, Bournemouth https://buytickets.at/westbournerotaryclubtrustfundcio/1065521
Santa’s Sleigh is Coming your Way… You may be lucky enough to see and hear our Rotary Santa coming around your area between 5.00pm and 8.00pm – so we hope you and your families will come out to see him and wave to him as he passes. His elves will be happy to collect any donation you would like to make, if you are able. Further details of planned routes will be available shortly and the planned dates this year are: Monday 4th December Winton Thursday 7th December Southbourne 1* *amended to Wednesday 6th December - but same route mapping Monday 11th December Boscombe Thursday 14th December Southbourne 2 Monday 18th December Moordown Thursday 21st December Lower Charminster Additionally Santa and his Sleigh can be found at the following Tesco Stores Sunday 10th December Tesco, Branksome – 10.00 – 4.00pm Sunday 17th December Tesco, Castle Lane – 1.00pm – 4.30pm Rotary in the community... ...bringing Festive Cheer…… MERRY CHRISTMAS and A HAPPY NEW YEAR |
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Westbourne Santa Event - 2nd December 2023
Santa will be in Westbourne Arcade and his elves will be handing out mince pies in exchange for a donation for Hope for Food. Not only that but he will have some sweets and glowsticks for children too - and Sound of Soul will entertain with festive songs. Children and Adults of all ages welcome to come along and join in the Christmas vibes.
Christmas is a special time of year bringing people together with feelings of warmth and smiles, especially when looking at children's excited faces when they see Santa. Times are hard for so many people but we can all feel united together at Christmas. Donate, if you can, but enjoy the big Christmas Hug from all of us.
Thank you from Westbourne Rotary Club.
Santa will be in Westbourne Arcade and his elves will be handing out mince pies in exchange for a donation for Hope for Food. Not only that but he will have some sweets and glowsticks for children too - and Sound of Soul will entertain with festive songs. Children and Adults of all ages welcome to come along and join in the Christmas vibes.
Christmas is a special time of year bringing people together with feelings of warmth and smiles, especially when looking at children's excited faces when they see Santa. Times are hard for so many people but we can all feel united together at Christmas. Donate, if you can, but enjoy the big Christmas Hug from all of us.
Thank you from Westbourne Rotary Club.
QUEENS PLATINUM JUBILEE COMMUNITY STREET PARTY
SUNDAY 5TH JUNE 2022 - LANDSEER ROAD, WESTBOURNE
The Jubilee event in 2022 saw people from many different groups, ages and abilities that make up the local community of Westbourne celebrating together the momentous occasion of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum anniversary and was a great event showing Rotary working in the community and with the community.
This was a free, not for profit event, organised by Westbourne Rotary for the community with assistance from Lollipops Cafe and support from our business partners - especially Harvest Fine Foods. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone whether helping at the event or taking part - especially in the African drumming session.
SUNDAY 5TH JUNE 2022 - LANDSEER ROAD, WESTBOURNE
The Jubilee event in 2022 saw people from many different groups, ages and abilities that make up the local community of Westbourne celebrating together the momentous occasion of Queen Elizabeth II Platinum anniversary and was a great event showing Rotary working in the community and with the community.
This was a free, not for profit event, organised by Westbourne Rotary for the community with assistance from Lollipops Cafe and support from our business partners - especially Harvest Fine Foods. It was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone whether helping at the event or taking part - especially in the African drumming session.
At Home and Abroad
Westbourne Rotary is busy in the local community whilst also helping other communities elsewhere in the World and have always been very much a project and event led club where ideas are brought to the club by members and action taken wherever and whenever possible and some images on latest projects can also be found on our facebook page.
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
DRAGON'S DEN - for Bournemouth Community Groups and Small Charities
Westbourne Rotary once again gave groups in Bournemouth the chance to make a Dragon's Den style presentation at a club meeting for the members to vote on their share of pot of £500 available. The last Dragon's Den Event took place in November 2022 and more are planned for the future - with date yet to be confirmed.
REACH HIGH FUND - an exciting educational and career skills funding opportunity for young people
Westbourne Rotary is looking for bright and committed young people who face financial barriers to progressing to further or higher education or vocational training. It is aimed at disadvantaged young people especially from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities and young people leaving care, both groups often have more financial issues affecting their progression. The funding can cover a variety of costs including amongst others: course fees, travel, subsistence, computer equipment and specialist software.
The fund can also help young people from the target groups who are looking to work or self-employment and can cover costs such as; interview expenses and specialist tools and equipment or even micro-loans for business start -ups.
Westbourne Rotary have said they welcome informal enquiries from young people who can make contact by emailing info@westbournerotary.org.uk where you can request guidance notes and an application form.
Click here for guidance Notes
Click here for Application Form.
Send to us at info@westbournerotary.org.uk
FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES
DRAGON'S DEN - for Bournemouth Community Groups and Small Charities
Westbourne Rotary once again gave groups in Bournemouth the chance to make a Dragon's Den style presentation at a club meeting for the members to vote on their share of pot of £500 available. The last Dragon's Den Event took place in November 2022 and more are planned for the future - with date yet to be confirmed.
REACH HIGH FUND - an exciting educational and career skills funding opportunity for young people
Westbourne Rotary is looking for bright and committed young people who face financial barriers to progressing to further or higher education or vocational training. It is aimed at disadvantaged young people especially from Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic Communities and young people leaving care, both groups often have more financial issues affecting their progression. The funding can cover a variety of costs including amongst others: course fees, travel, subsistence, computer equipment and specialist software.
The fund can also help young people from the target groups who are looking to work or self-employment and can cover costs such as; interview expenses and specialist tools and equipment or even micro-loans for business start -ups.
Westbourne Rotary have said they welcome informal enquiries from young people who can make contact by emailing info@westbournerotary.org.uk where you can request guidance notes and an application form.
Click here for guidance Notes
Click here for Application Form.
Send to us at info@westbournerotary.org.uk
Weekly Food Parcels |
Following the pandemic, it was realised that many families were struggling to feed their families, so we launched a weekly food parcel delivery with the help of food donations from one of our business partners, Harvest Fine Foods, and funding grants from various sources. This was invaluable for the recipients and our volunteer drivers were a welcome sight. However this project has now come to an end.
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Previous International and Community Projects
Westbourne Rotarians have carried out several projects in The Gambia - starting with two members leading a Rotaract Overseas Project in 2009 when funds were raised by the team members to install a borehole and standpipes to provide clean water to the remote rural village of Misira, make the bricks and build a wall around a clinic in the neighbouring village of Sambel Kunda and provide long drop toilets for the clinic plus building a washhouse for ladies to do the laundry in Misira too. This project won a Rotary International Project award and was the start of ongoing involvement in The Gambia.
The club continues to support the education of ten children via Stella's School Scheme and has supported an apprenticeship in animal care via Gambia Horse & Donkey Trust - all to give educational assistance to children and young people who may not have had this opportunity without a helping hand.
The club continues to support the education of ten children via Stella's School Scheme and has supported an apprenticeship in animal care via Gambia Horse & Donkey Trust - all to give educational assistance to children and young people who may not have had this opportunity without a helping hand.
This was followed up by a further village borehole installation for Jafai Kuta - but this installation was to be far more sustainable with it including the installation of the first E-water tap - which means there were no taps to break, and water was purchased on a 'pay as you go' low cost system so should there be any repairs needed - the funds would be there to pay for them. Villagers pay a small amount to get credit added to their e-water card and when placed on e-water tap, water is dispensed. Once card removed, water stops flowing - so no wasted water. The e-water technology was developed by three 16 year old boys in the UK as part of Princes Trust competition, and we were lucky to meet the father of one of the boys who worked for Africa Water Enterprises and were introduced to this incredible sustainable method that will help this community for many years to come. The happiness on the faces of the children of this village were clear to see and the health and life expectancy of all the villagers has improved by access to clean, safe drinking water - something the developed countries tend to take for granted.
For the Love of Scrubs
When the pandemic took hold in 2020 - we got involved helping the Dorset For the Love of Scubs group organising volunteers to deliver fabric and bedding to their band of sewists, collecting the finished articles (scrubs, hats, masks, bags etc) and then delivering to where needed. This was at the time when PPE items were in short supply and we filled a gap in the market to enable all workers interfacing with patients had some protection. This was a short-lived project, but one that needed help in the initial emergency.
Trauma Teddies
Children are often traumatized when they are involved in an accident, and as we were involved in a project called Kidsinviz handing out child sized high viz vests to children following a fatal accident on a dark morning, to make sure that children could be seen by drivers, we added 'trauma teddies' to our list of projects - and gave Dorset Traffic Officers a consignment of teddies to carry in their cars to give to vulnerable children involved in accidents they attend.
