What Have We Done With Your Money?
Since we were first formed Havant Lions have raised over half a million pounds for good causes. This is how we’ve spent some of your donations recently.
❅ Helping Local People in Desperate Need – We’ve provided thousands of pounds in emergency help to people in desperate need, inc. buying beds for people sleeping on the floor, and other essential items.
❅ Supporting the Lions Clubs International Foundation – LCIF focusses on serving International communities. As part of this support we have provided 100’s of second-hand spectacles which are refurbished and provided to sight impaired people overseas. We have recently donated to Ukraine, Floods in Pakistan and Earthquake in Turkey and Syria.
❅ Supporting Local Young People – Last year we helped some local children from Purbrook Park School to volunteer in Kenya. We have donated to younsters to attend the World Scout Challenge and others to take part in sailing therapy at Langstone. We also provided tickets to see Portsmouth FC and provided money for kit to a local youth football team. We have also supported individuals by part funding various initiatives such as volunteering in developing Countries.
❅ PSA Awareness and Testing – Holding Awareness and Testing Days within the Havant Borough. Click on the link to find out more PSA Awareness and Testing
❅ Help During COVID – As well as £2,000 worth of £50 food vouchers to help local people, we also gave a grant to Bedhampton Centre to help with their costs.
We operate locally in the Havant, Hampshire area
Our charter as a charitable organisation is to raise money and distribute it to deserving causes, Our emphasis is providing support locally, but as part of the Lions Club International, we have a truly global reach.
Lions Club International celebrated their 100th anniversary in 2017 and this was celebrated by all Lions clubs worldwide throughout the year.
We are one of many local Lion Clubs which are part of the world’s largest such organisation, with 1.3 million members serving in more than 202 countries and areas. The association is both non-political and non-sectarian.
For more information please explore this website, or e-mail enquiries@havantlions.org.uk
If you are an ordinary person who would like to help others, enjoy the rewards of philanthropy and have fun along the way please click here membership@havantlions.org.uk
Meetings
We have regular business meetings on the First Tuesday of each month at 7:30pm at the Brookfield Hotel, Emsworth, there are also a number of formal dinners during the year.
We also have a number of less formal social events ranging from barbeques to ladies only nights, to skittle competitions with neighbouring clubs, for up to date news on forthcoming events go to our What’s New page on this site.
The International Dimension
Our Twinned clubs are, in France, Vallee D’or and in Sri Lanka, Beruwala
2019 – This year we are meeting up in Normandy with our fellow Lions from Vallee D’or, on the weekend 17-19 May. Golf, Beach BBQ and Dinner are on the agenda at the Omaha Beach Hotel.
Fundraising
Perhaps we are best known for our support of Santa Claus at Christmas time. Whether Santa is seeing children at the local Tesco supermarket or touring the Havant area on his sleigh in the cold dark evenings running up to Christmas, you will find him accompanied by a group of supporters from Havant Lions and thanks again to local people’s generousity, gives us vital funds for giving.
Other Fund raising takes place throughout the year. Our Monster Bottle Raffle where ‘Every ticket is a Winner’ is a key money raiser, thanks to local people who donate a bottle of something when we go knocking. It is generally the most popular stall wherever we take it. We have supported many local events including “The Annual Emsworth Show”, “Havant’s Party in the Park”, “Denmead’s annual charity Cycle ride”, “Leigh Park Carnival”, and many others. Look out for us. If you would like to help or need more details please e-mail us.
Our giving represents all types of local community support ranging from individual cases of help when needed, to assisting the local badminton club in purchasing equipment for youngsters to progress to County and International standard, to providing sailing cognitive therapy day trips for disabled people.
Our activities extend to a range of social events and we take every opportunity to combine helping people with having some fun.
We enjoy splendid support from individuals and organisations in the local area. We are very grateful to all those that help us to help others.
It is appropriate to mention local companies/organisations that support us and have supported us in our fundraising and the work that we do:
Portsmouth Water
Blendworth Trailers
Tesco
Hargreaves Shopping Area
Park Community School