Sutton Rotary donated £7,000 to local foodbanks, charities, community groups, and youth organisations from its 2024 Community Action Fund.

Nineteen organisations based in and around Sutton applied for a grant from the fund and all were successful, receiving amounts from £250 to £500.

Rotary club president Catherine Thompson said “We were very pleased to be able to support so many local organisations from this year’s Community Action Fund. These groups do so much good work in the community and it was important for us to help support them financially.”

Kate Elrick, leader of Sutton Centre Under 5s, one of the recipients (pictured), said: “We are thrilled by the recent £250 donation, which we will use to create an indoor sensory area and update our summer house with stimulating resources.

“This will greatly benefit the children with additional needs in our care. Our team has come up with a wish list of sensory products, and we look forward to seeing our children enjoy these new resources, all thanks to the generosity of the Rotary club.”

Another grant recipient, Debbie Halfpenny, coordinator at the award-winning Teversal Visitor Centre, part of Teversal Sports and Recreation Trust, said of its £400 donation: “This money will help fund our very popular annual welfare seaside bus trip to Scarborough.

“The bus trip has proved very popular with local families and the financial support from Rotary is a key element to making sure it is as affordable as possible for everyone.”

Organisations supported by the fund were: Lets All Eat, Mary’s Foodbank, Teversal Sports and Recreation Trust, Sutton Community Academy Duke of Edinburgh, John Eastwood Hospice, Ashfield Playscheme, Sutton Centre Under 5s, Skegby St Andrew’s Church, Huthwaite Hub, Support to Shine, Mapplewells Primary School, Sutton Remembers, 1st Skegby Scout Group, New Cross Community Church, Little Miracles, Huthwaite ABC, Ashfield Choir; Army Cadets, Sutton Detachment, C Battery; and Sutton Youth Radio,
Most of the money for the donations came from funds raised by the Rotary Santa’s Sleigh collections in December.

With a high number of applications this year, Rotarians agreed to top up the amount from its reserves so that every applicant received a grant.

Applications for the 2025 Community Action Fund will open in January.

To find out more follow Sutton Rotary on Facebook (RotarySuttonInAshfield), or go to www.sina-rotary.org.uk

Catherine added: “We are always looking for new members, so if you would like to find out more about Rotary and what we do, email [email protected] or contact us via our Facebook page.”