OUR NEWS BLOG

10 on the 10th – 10 Good Causes

Castle Bromwich Lions — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 16:32:11 +0000

At its February Business Meeting, Castle Bromwich & District Lions Club agreed to provide support to another 10 good causes. These included:

Medic Alert
Music & the Deaf
Gift for Living Moet
Lions Sight Savers
Special Olympics
Boccia Disabled Games
Chernobyl Children
North Sea Lions
Street Children
District Youth Projects

Causes We Supported in 2010-11

Castle Bromwich Lions — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 20:35:24 +0000

When it comes to making a difference we aren’t restricted to certain causes. We help wherever, whenever and however we can. Being part of an international organisation with 1.35 million members means we can unite with other clubs and Lions the world over to help wherever help is needed be it locally, nationally or internationally.

Between the 1st July 2010 and the end of June 2011 we supported 25 different causes which ranged from local community service driving pensioners to an afternoon club to uniting with Lions internationally to address the problems caused by the floods in Pakistan. But, we’re not just about counting numbers. What’s most important to us is the impact of our actions and what it means to the communities and people we help.

Causes we supported:

Intergenerational work in the community
Supporting Libra Blood Charity
Birmingham Crisis Centre
Medic Alert
Young Carers
231 Guides – Centenary Stampede
Family Holiday
Panto visit for special needs children and elderly
Pakistan Flood Victims
Seeds of Hope Christmas Day Community Dinner
Tiny Tim’s Children’s Centre
Music for the Deaf
Water Orton Carnival
Civic Events
Foundation of Conductive Education
Castle Bromwich Community Festival
Boccia Disability Games
Senior Citizens’Party
Renovation/rebuild of an eye clinic in the Himalayan Region of Nepal in collaboration with North Sea Lions
Provision of Father Christmas
Environmental – Graveyard
Chernobyl Children
St Dunstans
Driving for Age Concern
Spectacle Recycling

Buddies Night

Castle Bromwich Lions — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 13:52:02 +0000

Parents Warned to Beware of Rogue Santas

Castle Bromwich Lions — Thu, 15 Dec 2011 09:39:37 +0000

With the festive season in full swing, parents are being warned of the threat posed by rogue Santas.

Six year old Anthony Parseminov was in tears all week after being told by a rogue Santa, “You’re on my naughty list.” Fortunately, whilst helping out Castle Bromwich Lions at the weekend, the real Santa was able to reassure Anthony that he was on the good list and he would be visiting his house on Christmas Eve.

Santa told us, “These Jokers can ruin a child’s Christmas. Fortunately, in Anthony’s case we chatted and I was able to set his mind at ease and convince him that he wasn’t on my naughty list. As soon as I saw him by my sleigh, I said to him, “I know you, you’re Anthony and I’m looking forward to coming to your house on Christmas Eve.” As we talked, he told me that he doubted that very much as he was on my naughty list. I let him pull my beard to show that it was authentic and that I was the real Santa. I then explained that there were lots of people pretending to be me, who get things wrong. To make up for all the upset, I gave him a present of a Spiderman Car that he’d been wanting for ages.”

An elf told us, “Anthony was clearly upset as he approached Santa, but once they’d been chatting for a few minutes he was all smiles. The best thing about my job is helping Santa to brighten lives.”

Santa will be helping Castle Bromwich Lions at the Asda store at Minworth on Saturday December 17th and Sunday December 18th.

(This is a true story. Names have been changed to protect the innocent.)

Soul Food – Castle Bromwich Lions Satisfy Stomachs & Warm Hearts

Castle Bromwich Lions — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 10:01:24 +0000

Castle Bromwich Lions helped to brighten Christmas for care leavers and young parents by donating Christmas Hampers. The hampers containing non-perishable items and a few luxury goods were accepted by the Mayor of Solihull and a representative of Solihull Youth Services and will be distributed in the run up to Christmas.

Handing over twenty hampers on behalf of Castle Bromwich Lions, Santa said that the Lions hoped that the parcels would not only help the recipients financially, but also show that there was help and support for them in the community.

Signing Santa Spreads Christmas Magic

Castle Bromwich Lions — Sun, 11 Dec 2011 13:07:54 +0000

It was a very merry morning for one young girl when she visited her local supermarket and found that Santa had learnt sign language.

I watched the surprise and delight on the deaf child’s face as she signed to Santa and he signed back to her. The girl couldn’t stop smiling as she signed her Christmas wishes to Santa and like any other child was able to promise him milk and cookies and carrots for the Reindeer on Christmas Eve.

Her mother told me that this was the first time that they’d found a Santa who could sign. She explained that her daughter loved seeing Santa, but that it was frustrating for her not to be able to tell him what she wanted. The experience was very moving. As I stood watching the expressions and excitement on the child’s face I felt a lump in my throat and my eyes welled with tears. Looking to my side, I saw that one of Santa’s elves and the child’s mother were also emotional.

An elf explained that two of Santa’s elves were deaf and as they all snuggled around a warm fire on cold winter nights they’d been teaching him sign language so that he could communicate directly with hearing impaired children who are excluded from so much of the magic of the season.

Santa and the girl talked and talked, sharing stories and wishes. Thank you Santa from Castle Bromwich Lions for making one young girl very happy and including her in the magic of Christmas and for helping us with our Christmas collections.

Fashion Show

Castle Bromwich Lions — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 18:51:46 +0000

Castle Bromwich & District Lions are hosting a Fashion Show at the Jaguar Social Club, Chester Road, Castle Vale B35 7RA on Wednesday 30th November 2011. Show starts at 8pm. High street brands will be available for sale at low, low, prices. The show is a fundraiser for charitable causes supported by Castle Bromwich Lions.

To be sure of a ticket, book in advance by phoning Audrey on 0121 749 6251

Any remaining tickets will be sold on the door, but once the room is full entry will be refused to all those without a ticket.

Down the Tubes

Castle Bromwich Lions — Sun, 09 Oct 2011 15:51:03 +0000

Castle Bromwich Lions staged another successful fundraiser when they hosted a Ferret Racing evening at Grounds Farm, Wishaw. The sell out evening promised fun, friendship and fabulous food and didn’t disappoint.

Lions Ferret Racing, posted with vodpod

Why I Became a Lion – by Brian

Castle Bromwich Lions — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 16:39:14 +0000

I had two friends who were members of Sutton Coldfield Lions Club and they had asked me many times to join their Club, but being a full time carer looking after my wife I just did not have the time nor energy. Sadly my wife passed away and after looking after her 24/7 for 34 years I was suddenly left both lonely and looking for something to do with my life. Remembering the help and support I had received from the Lions of Sutton Coldfield after my loss, I decided perhaps I could help out at some of their fund-raising events, and was amazed how they took me under their wing, and the friendliness they showed me even though they hardly knew me.

Eventually, I decided to attend one of their meetings and again they made me so welcome and made me feel quite at home, so I went from having just a few close friends, to having many many friends. I was badged up in November 1995 and have been an active Lion since, being President several times, Secretary twice, and Treasurer for many years..

So after being a Lion for 15 years I’m still just as keen, and have made many many more friends, and still enjoy helping people much less able than myself. I transfered to Castle Bromwich and District Lions Club in June 2010 and received the same welcome as before, and made even more friends. Marston Green Lions have T-shirts, and on the back it says “There are no strangers, just friends we have not met yet” which is quite fitting to Lionism. I can recommend joining Lions, if you want friendship and fellowship, and want to help people less able than yourself, and feel, and see, the pleasure on the faces of the people you have helped. We also have a great social agenda with many events quizes, Charter Nights etc. so why not come and join us and have fun.

Howzat!

Castle Bromwich Lions — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:33:34 +0000

During August, the Foundation for Conductive Education came up with a clever way to make the most of its picturesque two acre site, located inside Cannon Hill Park and just a few minutes walk from internationally famous Edgbaston Cricket Ground. The Cannon Hill House site provided parking for around 100 cars and acted as an overflow car park during the England v India Test March which ran from 10th to 13th August. Cricket fans were encouraged to pre-book their spaces, at a cost of £10 per day per car, not just for the peace of mind of knowing they have sorted out their test match parking in advance, but also to help raise funds for the vital work of helping disabled children and adults with movement disorders live more independent and fulfilled lives.

Castle Bromwich & District Lions provided the car park stewards for the four days, for which we received a donation from the proceeds to enable us to continue our charity work. It was a most successful event, especially as England won and is now recognised as one of the best cricketing sides in the world. We are considering repeating the exercise during future large scale Edgbaston cricket events.

The photograph, taken in the car park shows from left to right Lions Steve Wigley, Mike Baker and Phil White and in the foreground, Dominga Devitt, Fundraiser for the Foundation.