THE ROAR The Newsletter of the Lions Club of Windsor WELCOME Dear Supporter providing transport – picking up ‘guests’ It was a privilege too to get to know the In December, at our second ‘Lions’ Den’, and delivering them to a different church ‘guests’ and getting a whole new we were presented with a project that every night – and Lion Ted (Shepherd’s perspective on the blemish on our modern literally ‘ticked all the boxes’ as far as Pie) found a whole new lease of life as a society that homelessness represents. Windsor Lions were concerned. Its regular Friday night cook at Dedworth These aren’t problem people – these are objective was simple, tried and tested, and Green Baptist Church where his Chicken people with problems. fulfilled a very evident need in the Windsor Curry received the culinary equivalent of a Inevitably at the end of March the project Community: to provide a safe, warm and standing ovation! came to an end. Yes, it was a huge success hospitable overnight shelter during the Most nights six to 10 guests – some with and once again Windsor Lions were able to potentially most inhospitable nights of the dogs – attended the shelter and the feed - make a real difference – both financially winter. back was entirely positive. Everyone got and practically - to several people in real £2000 pounds was pledged to help fund something out of it – not just the guests need, and YES plans are already underway an eight-week project which saw seven but all the volunteers too. to do it again – but bigger and better – next year. churches around central Windsor open It was a very educational and humbling their doors – and kitchens – every night to experience to see the number of volunteers But sadly, the underlying problem remains those who needed shelter. – well over 120 in total – giving up their until we can find a permanent solution to The project resonated so strongly with time to provide not just delicious dinners, this first world problem. me that I decided to get ‘hands on’, night-time supervision and warming volunteering to help with overnight breakfasts but their compassion in trying sessions and cooking for the homeless to help the ‘guests’ with their problems wherever they could. Often this involved Diane guests and helpers on a few occasions. Purchase And I was not alone – my fellow Lion Tiia playing Scrabble, watching DVDs or President, spent every night of the eight weeks just chatting. Lions Club of Windsor Windsor Lions & Thames Hospice provided magnificent prizes. Guest of Honour was Sue Holderness, (who played the role of ‘Marlene’ in the sitcom raise over £6,000 towards new Only Fools and Horses) and her husband Mark. Sue has been an official Thames Hospice Ambassador for many state-of-the-art 28 bed Hospice years and was joined on the evening with Sarah Bissell their Fundraising Director. Windsor Lions and Thames Hospice This is the first time the two charities teamed up to raise funds for the 28-bed have worked closely together and hospice that is being built near Bray Lake. Windsor Lions President, Diane Purchase They jointly staged a Black-Tie Ball at the commented “The saying ‘two heads are elegant Riverbank Marquee on the banks better than one’ is proving to be the case of the Thames at Windsor Royal Race - here as the combined experience of both course. In addition, the event celebrated our organisations made it a fantastic the 58th Anniversary of Windsor Lions evening with a great result in raising over formation. £6,000 for the new build.” Along with a drink’s reception sponsored Sarah Bissell, Director of Fundraising by Savills Estate Agents in Windsor, a at Thames Hospice, added “It was a great sumptuous 3 course dinner and dancing evening and everybody without exception Diane Purchase (Windsor Lions President), to the Gill Love Band, (who gave their Phil Bullock (Ball Organiser) & Special Guest thoroughly enjoyed themselves”. services for free) , an auction and raffle Sue Holderness (Thames Hospice Ambassador) Continuing our theme of ‘DRIVEN FORWARD’ Homelessness in Windsor A new local charity - the brainchild of Lion Tiia Stephens Windsor Lions Support the Tiia formed ‘Driven Forward’ to fulfil the needs of vulnerable people with door to door, wheelchair accessible, minibus transport to Windsor Homeless Project specific group-activities. The charity accompanies clients for the duration of the activities, to help them participate and interact with Lion Lindsay MacGregor ‘sleeps out’ the group - as many are reluctant/unable to engage alone and need help to develop basic skills required to rehabilitate into society. I arrived late to the ‘Windsor Homeless Project As you will have read in our Presidents front page article, ‘Driven Annual Sponsored Sleep Out’ having just left our Forward’ was involved every day for 10 weeks with the Windsor Lions Charity Charter Ball. Stepping out of my ‘glad Churches night shelter for the homeless. In addition, the charity rags’ into layers of warm clothing in a basketball provides transport for the elderly, taking them to shopping trips court in Windsor at midnight felt almost surreal. to Asda, or to Bracknell and garden centres and coffee mornings. Makeshift boxes and plastic sheeting were strewn The adults supported are extremely vulnerable due to marginalization, social exclusion, isolation, low self-esteem and around housing huddled individuals all of whom, for some, old age. These people include those who are homeless several months earlier, in the warmth of their own and those who have recently left homelessness, those at risk of homes, had decided like me to sign up to sleeping becoming homeless (e.g. sofa surfers, those with a drug or outside in Windsor on the night of April 5th. alcohol addiction, people with mental health issues) and less mobile and adults with disabilities or mobility issues, and adults The idea was to raise much needed funds to support who face barriers to using public transport. the work of the wonderful team who run the Windsor ‘Driven Forward’ works with the Windsor Homeless Project, Homeless Project where homeless people are where for the past 4 years Tiia has got to know the beneficiaries offered hot food, drinks, clean clothes, toiletries, and their needs. It is a known fact moving from being companionship, activities and advice around mental homeless/substance dependent to housed and clean of health appointments, housing and employment. substances, can be the loneliest time because it’s hard to settle, The event also brings an awareness to the plight of easy to slip back into mental health problems or return to a those for whom cold exposed nights have become a problematic social circle. Getting skilled, connected and social is way of life. It was hard to imagine how anyone could the way forward, as evidenced by a report and research carried sustain more than one night outside. It was cold, the out by the Salvation Army. ground was hard, cramp came in waves and sleep When the beneficiaries were asked what they’d find useful, they never came. The futile 6am wakeup call seemed an said they’d like organised trips to local places to help them feel age away. they belong, help them get to know others who are also trying to improve their situations yet who understand how hard it is to move on. They also wanted to access activities which would help them move on to paid work - through giving them something c urrent and relevant to talk about in interviews (examples of teamwork, communication, resilience, productivity, new skills etc). The charity came up with a plan to provide trips to the Jealott’s Hill allotment; garden centres; grocery shopping trips; seaside trips which enables all adults to access activities as a group. ‘Driven Forward’ provides the resources for these trips to be completed, as more trips are currently being planned. Key elements of the success of ‘Driven Forward’ is for that volunteers remain beside clients throughout both the journey and activity as befriending, peer support and role modelling provide Three of us from Windsor Lions, Tiia Stephens , stability and a chance to assess progress. ‘Driven Forward’ is “user led” and ensures that adults make the key decisions about Alec Bradfield and I took part raising between us where they would like to go and what activities and trips they with the support of Lions £1,293. As we cleared would like to participate in. away our homes for the night in reflective silence and gratefully cupped a mug of hot tea, we felt strangely ‘Driven Forward’ will also provide humbled by the whole experience and full of a sense similar trips for groups of vulnerable, isolated elderly people, and their of guilt that we could now head home to hot showers buses will be available for hire by and a comfy bed. other local groups serving a community need. That night, the shelter raised over £12,000 which will all go to sustain the amazing support of the Windsor Homeless Project. Would I do it again? You bet! Tiia Stephens – The brainchild of ‘Driven Forward’ WINDSOR LIONS FUNFEST FOR CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES A ROARING SUCCESS! Windsor Lions’ Funfest, the fun event for disabled children and their families, reached new heights last Sunday afternoon at Windsor Leisure Centre and was deemed by all those who attended ‘as a great success – one of the best yet’! Over 300 people attended for what was Windsor Lions’ 6th Funfest, representing many different charities, including several special schools, from all over London and the Home Counties. Many families - with a total of over 150 disabled children arrived on the day and enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of spectacular recreational activities.