News
23 March 2024 - Bike Donation Day - Cycle-Re-Cycle
Volunteers from the Rotary Club Of Sittingbourne Invicta joined Swale’s Active Travel Co-ordinator, Adrian Oliver, for Bike Donation Day, to support the Council’s Cycle- Re-cycle scheme. Over a four hour period, 73 Bikes were donated for the project – an amazing result!
The Swale Cycle-re-Cycle programme is a partnership between the council, HMP Swaleside and the Canterbury Bike Project. HMP Swaleside inmates refurbish unwanted bikes, while working towards qualifications including the City and Guilds in Bike Mechanics, giving inmates the opportunity to upskill themselves and make a positive step toward rehabilitation.
The refurbished bikes are the supplied (at nominal cost of £10) through community groups, providing less well off residents with affordable, environmentally friendly transport.
Penny Twaites, the Environment Lead for the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta, said: “We are very pleased to have run the Bike Donation Day, as part of Swale’s imaginative and valuable Cycle-Re-Cycle initiative. Our club is always looking for ways to help in the community and this a great chance to do just that”.
Cllr Rich Lehmann, chair of the Environment and Climate Change Committee, said: “Cycle-Re-Cycle is an exciting partnership between us, Canterbury Bike Project and HMP Swaleside and we are grateful to be a part of it. The programme saves bikes from the tip, offers people a cheap and environmentally friendly transportation option, and also helps with the rehabilitation of inmates.
9/10 March 2024 - Marie Curie Collection at Morrisons Sittingbourne
Clubs members collected at Morrisons Sittingbourne over the weekend on behalf of Marie Curie. Morrisons generous customers contributed £966.84 which the club has rounded up to £1,200 and this will be sent to Marie Curie.
23 March 2024 - Swale Cycle-re-cycle - Bike Donation Day
Got an unwanted bike? Bring it along to the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta Bike Donation Day at Swale House Car Park 10 am - 2 pm Saturday 23rd March 2024.
The donated bikes will be refurbished by inmates at HMP Swaleside and distributed to Swale residents who really need a bike.
New and good condition secondhand parts and accessories also accepted.
20 April 2024 - Sittingbourne Invicta Freewheelers - Indoor Boot Fair
All boot fair enthusiasts (sellers and buyers) make a note in your diary for an indoor boot fair on Saturday, 20th April at Tunstall Village Hall from 2 pm to 4 pm.
To book a table contact Denise on (01622) 884453, denisepgee@yahoo.co.uk, or Pauline on (01795) 423120, colepaulinee@gmail.com
Tables cost £10
Rails cost £8
Table and rail £15
Tea coffee and cakes will be available also raffle prizes. Come and get some bargains.
Proceeds will go to the Kent, Surrey and Sussex Air Ambulance.
Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta Community Chest 2024 - Open for Business
The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta Community Chest 2024 scheme is now open for applications. If you are a local community group or small local charity you can apply for grants to help fund a specific purchase, project, or activity. Last year £3,500 was distributed to 14 groups and since it started in 2012 over £44,500 has been donated through the scheme. The maximum Community Chest grant this year will be up to £250 with the opportunity for 12 applications to be approved. The 2024 scheme will close on 31st May with award presentations to be made in June.
All applications will be considered and decisions taken on merit. We will not exclude groups we have helped in the past. To qualify a group must be based in Sittingbourne or the immediate surrounding area and be a not-for-profit organisation. The scheme is not for commercial organisations or individuals and you must also have a bank account in the name of your club or group.
To obtain an application form contact the Club by email at: communitychest@invictarotary.org or download a form by clicking here.
Christmas 2023 - Swale Foodbank Pop-up Shops
We visited the Pop Up Shop in Sittingbourne to assist with showing the parents around the gifts and also selecting hampers and a few stocking fillers.
We have had a note from Esther the project leader at the foodbank:
“I just wanted to report back on this year's pop-up shops- all went brilliantly! So many deeply grateful parents, arriving empty-handed and wondering what they were going to do for Christmas this year...and leaving heavy-laden with gifts and hamper and stocking fillers as well! So wonderful to see and hear their reactions! Huge thanks to all who donated and for your support in this amazing project”
Gifts and donations from Club Members totalled more than £5,500.
6/7 October 2023 - Marie Curie Collection at Morrisons, Sittingbourne
Morrisons at Sittingbourne kindly agreed to The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta making another Marie Curie collection. Over Friday and Saturday, the 6 and 7 October we collected and as usual the people of Sittingbourne were very generous, possibly due to the bright yellow Marie Curie outfits we wore, and a total of £846.69 was collected. The Club will make this up to £1,000 and this amount will be handed to Marie Curie.
Marie Curie is a wonderful charity which gives free care and support through terminal illness.
Thank you to all the collectors and Morrison’s customers.
2 August 2023 - Swale Foodbank - Wildwood Trust Visit
We all had a lovely day out at the Wildwood Trust. A whole coachload of adults and children went off in trepidation as there was a severe weather warning out! However, the weather held for us almost all day and not only that - we even had a couple of 10 minute bursts of blazing sunshine! The children and adults thoroughly enjoyed seeing all of the animals and playing in the amazing play area. The lunches provided were gratefully received and hungrily eaten by both parents and children. A lovely day all round! We ended the day by giving all of the children a £5 gift voucher to spend in the gift shop and my goodness me, did they agonise over what to spend their pennies on! Lots of lovely mementoes of the day were purchased and carefully taken home. Sittingbourne Invicta contributed to the funding for this event.
18 July 2023 - My Presidential Year - 2023/24 - Patrick Phillips
It is with great honour and pleasure that I have assumed the role of President of the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta for the year 2023/24. The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta prides itself on the support it provides in the local community and raising funds to give to charitable organisations locally, large and small. Providing support Internationally is also very important to the Members of The Club; support to help eradicate disease, educate and provide help to disadvantaged people during their times of need such as is being experienced in the Ukraine and Turkey today.
With the help of the Members of the Club and the people in the local community this work will continue. Even in times of need, such as now, the generosity of the people in our community is amazing and without which we would not be able to provide the charitable services we do today.
A very important thing for me this year is to raise the profile of Rotary so that people in the community can learn more about the work we do and in so doing will be prepared to continue providing the support they do today. Knowing more about Rotary will also help Charitable organisations to know where to go for support. To raise our profile you will be seeing more of us and hopefully having fun so please feel free to join us where you can.
Murston Heart Creative Community Hub
The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta is delighted to have been associated with the Murston All Saints Trust in the restoration of the medieval chancel and the provision of the new studio building. The Club is sure that the Murston community will derive huge benefit from this restoration project serving the growing community for many years to come.
26 June 2023 - Chris Bunting - Paul Harris Fellowship
The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta recognised more than 20 years of dedicated service by Rotarian Chris Bunting with a Paul Harris Fellowship award acknowledging an outstanding contribution to the ideal of Rotary and to Invicta's work within our local and international communities.
Sittingbourne Invicta Freewheelers 2022 - 23
The Freewheelers’ year is coming to an end. An Afternoon Tea in the Garden was the final social/funding raising event enjoyed by over 40 partners and friends of Invicta Rotarians.
During the year other events have been held, Nordic Evening, Italian Lunch and a very adventurous Dome Walk by three Freewheelers over the O2 in London.
These events raised more than £3,500. Some money will be used to buy ShelterBoxes for the victims of the earthquakes which devastated areas of Turkey and Syria.
A local charity or group in our community will also benefit from the Freewheelers’ fund.
The images on the left show the inaugural dinner, the three dome walkers, Mandy and Sue (thank you ladies for a wonderful afternoon tea) and members and partners enjoying the afternoon tea.
12 June 2023 - Club Awards Community Chest Grants
Fourteen community organsisations in Swale have been each awarded a Community Chest grant of £250, £3,500 in total has been distributed. Details of the organisations benefiting can be found here.
7 June 2023 - Swale Foodbank Say 'Thank You' to Their Volunteers
The 1st to the 7th June was ‘Volunteers Week’, a national initiative for charitable operations to say thank you to their volunteers. Swale Foodbank has 41 volunteers, who man the four distribution centres in Sittingbourne and on the Isle of Sheppey, to administer the food parcels and assist clients. They give a lot of time and are essential to the operation of the Foodbank.
On 7th June the Foodbank organised a cream tea to say thank you to the volunteers. The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta donated £500 to pay for the food, and the hire of a private room at Oad Street. The event was very successful.
13 May 2023 - Club Members Visit Hoorn Rotary Club For 75th Anniversary Celebrations
One of the things I love about Rotary is the international aspect. At the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta, we have two ‘contact clubs’ one in Arras, France, and one in Hoorn, Netherlands.
Saturday 13 May 2023 was the 75 th Anniversary of the foundation of Rotary Club Hoorn, and a small group of us made the journey to Holland, to help them celebrate. Also there were members of their German contact club, and representatives of the Rotary Club of Nakuru, in Kenya.
The day began with coffee, cake and greetings at the club’s regular meeting place, which is a beach bar/restaurant on the shore of a massive lake, Markermeer. Water taxis then took us to the old town of Hoorn, for a walking tour, then free time to spend with our Dutch hosts, have a further look around and do some shopping – in my case cheese, and lots of it!
The formal celebrations took placing in a beautiful old church which has been converted into a building for use by the whole community. The evening began with a dinner, at which I gave a short (and hopefully a bit funny) speech, as did the German President and James from Nakuru. RC Hoorn is running the ‘6T’water project with Nakuru, and is aiming to supply hundreds of tanks to make water locally available to families in that region of Kenya, making a massive difference to health and quality of life (there are a few videos on YouTube which give more information).
In between dancing sessions, an auction was held, raising over €18,000 – an amazing result. On our return, Invicta voted to add £1,000 to the total.
Sunday morning, and back to the waterside, for a very good brunch, in the blazing sunshine and farewells. It was great to see so many old friends, and meet new people, as well as contributing to the 6T, and the celebrations. Next year, I hope that the Hoorn club will visit us, and the friendships will continue.
President Penny Thwaites
8 May 2023 - Tunstall Coronation Festival
The Club attended the Coronation festivities at Tunstall Village Hall to complete the Coronation weekend. We were able to win over many youngsters with our Pig Racing, which provided great entertainment and excitement throughout the whole day, and not to mention a few adults as well!
£227 was raised and will be used to help and assist local charities and organisations together with other funds that are raised throughout the year. We were also able to talk to a good number of people about our Rotary Club, what we do and how we help, both financially and by volunteering, within Swale.
The Club is always interested to hear from people who might want to help us, or join us, in whichever way they can.
(Permission was received for use of children’s images used in the attached photo)
4 May 2023 - Club Provides Stewards at Living Land
The Kent County Agricultural Society’s Living Land Event is put on annually at the Kent County Showground and is attend by over 2,500 stage 3 – 4 school children from all over Kent.
Sittingbourne Invicta Rotary Club provide stewards to help with the coordination on the day. The children spent around five hours visiting various features on the ‘Living Land’, these include Touch & Taste, Animals, Sheep Show, Birds of Prey and Discoveries & Machinery. There are within these features many interact and learning activities.
The Sittingbourne Invicta stewards ended the day by escorting their classes back to their buses and having a well-earned rest.
29 April 2023 - Grand Charity Auction
For the first time since before the pandemic the Grand Charity Auction took place at The Appleyard in Sittingbourne on Saturday evening. The evening was very well attended and following the dinner Kent Auctioneer Clive Emson enthusiastically and amusingly managed the auction. An incredible £14,500 was raised for Rotary Charities, the money will be distributed locally and internationally.
50/50 Spring Draw
The draw was made at the Club meeting on the 17 April 2023. The winners are as follows:
First prize: No.218, £172.50 - Julie Roberts
Second prize: No.4, £86.25 - John Robinson
Third prize: No.54, £28.75 - Ian George
Rob Fenton Made an Honorary Member of the Club
Rob and his wife are moving from the area to be closer to their family and as a result Rob will no longer ba an active member of the Club. Rob has held most senior posts within the club including being President. Penny Thwaites the current President thanked him for his long and tireless work he has undertaken on behalf of the Club. Rob was awarded with a certificate making him an Honorary Member of the Club.
NB: Also pictured is Paul Frostick - District Governor.
Marie Curie Collection at Morrisons, Sittingbourne
Morrisons at Sittingbourne kindly agreed to The Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta making another Marie Curie collection. Over 3 days, Thursday 9th March, Friday 10th & Saturday 11th we collected inside the store & out of the cold. As usual the people of Sittingbourne were very generous, possibly due to the bright yellow Marie Curie hats we wore, and a total well in excess of £1200 was collected.
Marie Curie is a wonderful charity which gives free care & support through terminal illness.
Thank you to all the collectors & Morrison’s customers.
Steve Wood - Visits the Rotary Club of Palm Springs
On Wednesday 8 March 2023 Steve Wood (Past President of Sittingbourne Invicta Rotary Club) accompanied by Claire, joined the members of the Rotary Club of Palm Springs in California and made a short presentation about Rotary Radio UK, which was well received by members. At the end of the meeting he was given one of the club's Guest Speaker mugs and will use it for his coffee in the studio.
2023 Community Chest Now Open For Business
Our Community Chest is now open, if you wish to apply for an award of up to £250 please go to the Community Chest page on this website where you will find full details and be able to download an application form
25 January 2023 - Planting Trees to Make School's Playground More Enjoyable.
In the warm, sunny days of summer pupils at Meadowfield School cannot get the full enjoyment of their open spaces because there is little shade available. To improve the playground teachers at the school, which has 400 pupils with profound, severe and complex needs came up with the idea of planting trees to give shade, improve the view and give the pupils greater awareness of nature.
They approached the Rotary Club of Sittingbourne Invicta for assistance with the project and the club members were delighted to help, donating £750, including a £300 donation from Rotary District 1120 for an environmental project, for the purchase of nine, 8 -10ft silver birch trees, stakes and ties and volunteering to do the planting. Also happy to help were young people and staff from Sanctuary Supported Living a scheme that supports young people at risk of homelessness owing to being unable to live with their families and to which Invicta has contributed in the past.
On Wednesday 25 January, with the weather finally cooperating, the team planted the trees assisted by pupils and staff from Meadowfield . The pupils worked very hard and talked about how much they had enjoyed the experience, they will now look forward to being able to enjoy the playground more fully when the sun is shining.
5 December 2022 - Generators For Ukraine
Sittingbourne Invicta unaminously agreed to donate £1,000 to the Rotary District 1120 Fund to purchase generators in Ukraine.
28 November 2022 - Upcoming Event - Tenpin Bowling and Pizza
Club members are looking forward to Tenpin Bowling and Pizza at The Light in Sittingbourne form 7pm onwards.
For more information contact Patrick Phillips via the Contact Us Form on this site.
31 October 2022 - Sittingbourne Invicta Buys Electric Fires For Ukraine
Following Trevor Arnold's talk about humanitarian trips to Ukraine the Club have decided to purchase 20 Electric fires at a cost of £540. Trevor is returning to Ukraine on the 16 November with another humanitarian mission which will include the electric fires.
1 October 2022 - Sittingbourne Invicta Joins Festival of Transport to Promote End Polio Now Campaign
Swale Borough Council’s Great Big Green Week culminated with a Festival of Transport in Sittingbourne High Street on Saturday 1 October. The festival featured exhibits promoting the use of vehicles running on alternatives to fossil fuels as part of the drive to address the climate and ecological emergency.
Invicta showed its support and commitment to health and the environment with a stand promoting the club and distributing purple crocus corms the public. The purple crocus is the emblem of End Polio Now part of the worldwide campaign to eradicate polio which has been supported by Rotary since 1986 and is now very close to reaching its goal. There are now only a few cases of polio in Afghanistan and Pakistan and the ongoing vaccination programme is aiming to complete to job in the near future..
As well as combating polio globally Invicta’s programme also supports more local efforts to improve the environment, collecting tablet blister packs for recycling and planting trees and hedges in Milton Creek Country Park to enhance the habitat for wildlife.
10K Race and 2K Fun Run
After 10 successful years of organising the 10K Race / 2K Fun Run and raising over £50,000 for local good causes, Sittingbourne Invicta Rotary Club has decided that due to the event becoming economically unsustainable this years race will be the last one.
We would like to thank all our runners, sponsors and supporters over the years without whom this event would not have been possible.
Shelterbox - Letter of Thanks
On the 22 September the club received a letter of thanks from ShelterBox thanking us for our latest donation of £590 towards the Pakistan Flood Relief, to our surprise ShelterBox informed us that we have now contributed over £20,000 to their causes.
A ShelterBox contains a wide range of essential aid items tailored to needs dependent on the type of disaster.