2020
December 2020
Christmas Parcels
Woolmer Forest Lions have been busy preparing their annual Christmas Food Parcels . This year they will be helping 100 local families in need of some extra support at Christmas time. They would like to thank all of you who have helped to make this happen by putting money in their collection boxes.
A special thanks also goes to Bordon Tesco who were a great help with the mammoth shopping task. Woolmer Forest Lions wish you all a very safe and happy Christmas and if you would like to find out more about them please contact their President, Joanne Wilson, on aywilson@btopenworld.com
Santa Sleigh Collections
Woolmer Forest Lions commenced their Santa Sleigh collections in the Grayshott area. Thanks to everyone who supported us. The collection raised £350's which is a fantastic sum. Well done to the Lions who participated and the public for their generous natures.
More reports will follow.
Certificate of Appreciation to Sue Birch
Woolmer Forest Lions presented Whitehill resident Sue Birch with a well deserved Certificate of Appreciation for the voluntary work she has done since the start of the first lockdown. Sue has been sewing away in her spare bedroom for 8 hours a day and has produced over 450 sets of colourful scrubs which have been given to Basingstoke and Winchester hospitals, as well as many of the local care homes. She has also raised £1200 for a local school by selling her face masks she has made and has also found the time to produce colourful bunting.
The Certificate of Appreciation was presented by Club President Joanne Wilson and Welfare Chair Maureen Johns. Joanne said Woolmer Forest Lions were proud to be able to highlight the hard work Sue had put in to help others during this difficult yea
Tree Dressing - Hogmoor Inclosure
Woolmer Forest Lions club took part in this years Tree Dressing in Hogmoor Inclosure. Joanne Wilson Club President said the club was very happy to support this venture. The webmaster added this was a tree-mendous boost to the community.
November 2020
Remembrance Sunday
8th November 2020
Covid-19 may be restricting our activities during 2020, but nothing will stop Woolmer Forest Lions Club remembering those brave people who made the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom.
Christmas Collections in December 2020
December 12th - Grayshott
December 18th - Hilliers Garden Centre Liss
December 19th - Country Market Bordon
December 20th - Tesco's Bordon
December 21st - Bordon Library
December 23rd - Rake Garden Centre
LIONS INTERNATIONAL PEACE POSTER COMPETITION
This year Woolmer Forest Lions have been sponsoring a National Peace Poster Competition in which Oakmoor School, Bordon represented our locality in the competition. Approximately 120 Year 8 students set out on this challenge and Woolmer Forest Lions supplied the prizes for the top three.
Unfortunately, because of the restrictions we are all witnessing with Covid 19, all judging had to be done internally by the school and consequently all the photographs. Nevertheless we finally had our top three posters and decided upon the winner, all in time to post the winning poster on to the District Lions Governor in time for the next District stage of the competition.
I would like to thank all those who took part from Oakmoor school and I would particularly like to thank Stephanie Moral who is the Deputy Headteacher for her efficiency and hard work in keeping the competition within the strict deadlines in these unprecedented times.
Joanne Wilson
WFL Club President
Photographs by John Lewis - Lions Peace Poster Co-ordinator
October 2020
AMAZON SMILE
We are now registered as one of the charities on amazonsmile - this means that when you shop on amazon we will raise money. You will need to shop through 'smileamazon' and not the normal amazon – the items available and prices are exactly the same.
To become one of our supporters you need to first of all log into the correct website smile.amazon.co.uk on the opening page you will be asked to register the charity you are choosing to support. In the search bar put Woolmer Forest Lions Club (CIO) you will then be asked to confirm that this is the charity you wish to support. You then go on to shop in the usual way. Your chosen charity will be remembered each time you shop as long as you remember to use the smile.amazon website. You will not need to reselect WFL every time.
Here is the link to amazonsmile: https://smile.amazon.co.uk/ch/1174890-0
CAR BOOT SALE
The club is delighted to inform its readers that WFL raised £216 from today's car boot sale.
Thanks go to all those who helped and thanks to everyone who supported this venture
August 2020
Summer Panto - Aug 22 -23rd 2020
Woolmer Forest Lions will be supporting this event.
Face Masks Stall - Saturday 8 August 2020
We will be outside Bordon library on Saturday 8th between 10.00am and 4.00pm. We will have a range of face masks in different 'lions themed' patterns , styles and sizes. Please come along and see us and get a mask. A small donation towards the cost would be greatly appreciated.
We want to thank our local community for their wonderful support on a very hot day.
We raised £207 on the day and it was nice to be out and about in the community - Covid secure.
We will be at the Country Market on Saturday 29th August with more Face Masks on our stall
Apple Tasting 2020
The Club has been informed that this year's Apple Tasting usually held in October has unfortunately been cancelled due to Covid19 pandemic. This is very disappointing, but not totally unexpected.
July 2020
Message from our new Club President -Joanne Wilson
The new year for Lions Clubs all over the world begins on 1st July and I have the honour of taking over the position of President for Woolmer Forest Lions for the next two years. I would like to begin my year by expressing thanks to Richard Balchin who has been our President for the past two years. He has been totally committed to his role and it is a shame that his year ended with such a difficult few months. Coronavirus has meant that we have not been able to meet together either for business meetings or socially and most of our fundraising has been put on hold.
Hopefully, we are starting to emerge from this difficult 'lockdown' experience, and it will not be long before we can become more active Lions again.
I have been involved with Woolmer Forest Lions club for the past thirty years but only became a member eight years ago. I have spent the last five years in the role of Secretary and now look forward to taking on the challenge of my new role. I know what a friendly caring club Woolmer Forest are, and I know that members will do all they can to support me in helping those in the local community who need us. We will also continue to support both national and international appeals as they arise and our commitment to Message in a Bottle and SpekTrek continues.
If you would like to find out more about us , need our help or maybe even consider joining us please feel free to contact me either on our Freephone number: 0345 8337858 or email me on aywilson@btopenworld.com.
I will try to keep you regularly updated with what we are up to and please check out our Facebook page. Our role as Lion's is to serve the community and so your input and support is vital to us , we need you to help us thrive.
I look forward to us all getting out in the community again whilst still remembering to take care,
Joanne Wilson
President. Woolmer Forest Lions Club.
May 2020
Woolmer Forest Lions and the East Hampshire Community Lottery Goes Live
Message from our Secretary
We are now one of the good causes in the East Hants Community Lottery so it is time to spread the word and let your friends and family know. Hopefully we will soon start selling some tickets and making some money. I have attached our promotional poster so feel free to distribute to anyone you think may be interested. I have also posted it on our Facebook page.
To buy tickets you need to log in to the East Hants Community Lottery website , click on buy tickets and get yourself registered. When buying tickets you will have the option to select 'support a specific cause '– search in the box by typing Woolmer Forest Lions and this will direct you to our page. When buying tickets on that page we will receive 50% of the sales.
Joanne Wilson
April 2020
Coronavirus Pandemic
Given the current Government advice on staying indoors and social distancing, everything more or less has come to a grinding halt.
Woolmer Forest Lions club will not be holding monthly meetings until we get the green light to re-commence meetings, when it is safe enough to do so. Obviously, future events within the club and the wider community have also been cancelled until further notice.
Nevertheless, Lions Clubs have a great tradition in supporting the community in times of national and international crisis If individuals need help then please do not hesitate to contact us, via the Freephone Number or the website. We will help where we can, for example, if a kettle needs replacing, and someone is in isolation. Of course, our members are bound by the current restrictions on only going out of the house for essential needs.
If we cannot help you directly, then rest assured we will ensure that the correct organisation are informed, so they can meet your requirements.
Woolmer Forest Lions want to say a big thank you, to all the NHS Front-line staff, support workers and all the other people such as Royal Mail, Council Staff, Teachers, Child Minders, Care Workers who are helping the country combat this virus. We really appreciate what you are doing.
Chris Webb
Website and PR Officer
A BIG THANK YOU TO FLITE TRAK FOR FACE- SHIELDS DONATION
24th April 2020
Woolmer Forest Lions are pleased to place on record our appreciation for the efforts of Andrew Barnett, the Managing Director of Flite Trak Ltd, based in Lee-on -Solent who has helped in the fight against the Coronavirus pandemic.
He has used his company's 3D printers to produce 50 protective face -shields, and he has donated them to Woolmer Forest Lions. Joanne Wilson, Vice President collected the face-shields and distributed them between 6 Elifar managed Care Homes in and around Bordon. The Care Homes have expressed their appreciation to both Andrew and Woolmer Forest Lions for their efforts
March 2020
Easter Egg Appeal 2020
It's that time of year again and Woolmer Forest Lions are supporting the Furniture Helpline in this years Easter Egg Appeal. What follows below is a bit of background regarding this Bordon based organisation:
Furniture Helpline supports local families who are experiencing financial crisis through the supply of free or very low cost furniture and kitchen appliances. Last year the Furniture Helpline helped over a thousand people on low incomes, which was a five-fold increase over 2015.
This is against the backdrop of financial challenges following the removal of central and local government funding, and more recently the theft of one of our lorries which placed an extreme and unwelcome burden on Furniture Helpline's finances.
Through the generosity of Woolmer Forest Lions and the support of local people via this year's Easter Egg Appeal - the proceeds of which will be passed onto the Furniture Helpline to help with the associated costs of hiring a replacement lorry. David George who is the General Manager of Furniture Helpline said, thanks to efforts by WFL Club they will continue to help the local people who rely on the Furniture Helpline the most. He added that he wanted to thank the local people who supported the Easter Egg Appeal, and the Woolmer Forest Lions club for their continued support.
RECYCLING NEWS
Woolmer Forest Lions Club within the last year have raised £132 for the club funds recycling drinks cans, batteries, and aluminum. This has been collected by Lions from a number of sources, members of the public, members of the club and one particular place, the Joneses Dance Studio in Alton, has contributed significantly.
The picture above shows Club Member Ray Payne and Club President Dick Balchin at the Wrecclesham Reclamation Centre, on March 2, 2020 The club would like to thank all those who supported the club with this venture.
February 2020
Australian Bush Fires - Street Collection
Woolmer Forest Lions organised two street collections to raise money for the devastating bush fires in Australia during January. Two street collections at the Country Market and Tesco's in Bordon raised a total of £682. 85 pence. WFL club would like to take this opportunity to thank all those people who donated to this very worthy cause.
The club rounded this figure up to £700 and the money has been transferred to LCIF who will ensure the money raised gets to Australia without delay.
Maureen and Steve - Australian Bush Fires Street Collection at Tesco's Bordon (Photo Chris Webb)
January 2020
Christmas Activities
Woolmer Forest Lions Club are delighted to report that our various fund raising activities raised over £1,000 this Christmas and we want to thank all the people in our communities that supported us so well.
Maureen Johns, Welfare Committee Chairman put together circa 30 Xmas Yellow Bags containing food and toys covering Bordon and adjacent communities, and she said, 'We thank the community for supporting us, so we can help the wider community, to enjoy some Xmas cheer.'
Next we attended the Xmas Fayre at the Bordon Community Centre and ran a soft toy stall that raised £182's.
Santa's Sleigh made appearances at Grayshott, Tesco's and the Country Market and we collected £900.
The club cannot thank the public enough for their generosity, and we wish everyone a happy new year.
Photograph - Pat Payne
