Burgess Hill District Lions Club is well known locally for the Welfare causes which we help - this is the reason that Lions Clubs exist. Some examples can be seen here and on the other links, as well as the Public Relations page

All requests for support follow a set process as we are an approved Charity. We have a Welfare Committee to which all requests are submitted. This Committee will investigate where required and make recommendations to the Club's Board and to the next Business Meeting.

Club Members will then vote to accept or reject the Committee's recommendations.

We cover a wide variety of welfare areas: the young, the elderly, the sick, education and general health matters in the local area as well as supporting International projects. As an example, we support the Burgess Hill Marching Youth and Age Concern in both Burgess Hill and Hassocks as well as helping the Hassocks Guides and 5th Burgess Hill Scouts.

We run the Burgess Hill Bike Ride every year in conjunction with the Round Table and this year the money will go to the St Peter and St James Hospice. Above is a photo of the presentation following a successful Bike Ride.

One event welcomed every year is the Shoebox Appeal. Last year we collected shoes boxes from all over the District to send to Belarus: the need of the people in this area is so great that we are going again this year. The link above shows pictures from last year's trip to Belarus.

Children from Belarus often visit Lions in England and thoroughly enjoy the break. In 2006 they paid a visit to Chessington Zoo as the link shows and their visits here really do them good as they are away from the residue from Chernobyl.

A local event we support is the "It's a Knockout" event run at Crawley in June for the mentally and physically handicapped. This is thoroughly enjoyed by both those who take part in it and those who organise it!

Four times a year we run our SCOAP concerts for the elderly and this is welcomed and looked forward to by all who come. We organise lifts for those unable to get there by themselves.

Every Christmas we hold a Food Appeal for disadvantaged senior citizens and families on limited incomes in conjunction with local radio station Bright 106.4 and the Mid Sussex Leader. We pack and distribute over 100 Christmas hampers to these local people.

LIBRA is the "Lions International Blood Research Appeal". It was founded in 1978 as a Charitable Trust on behalf of Lions Clubs in the SE of England. Its aim is to provide laboratory space and equipment at King's College Hospital in London, for research into, diagnosis and treatment of Haemophilia, Leukaemia, Thalassaemia and Sickle Cell Disease.

Here are some of our recent community projects:-

Issue of pantomime tickets for children of families on limited income

Provided puppeteer entertainer and gifts at Christmas party for disadvantaged children

Donation to Youth Band for replacement of instruments

Payment of college fees for person recovering from long term illness

Supply of buggy for autistic child

Funding for disadvantaged child to attend school residential visit

Conversion of Finches Respite Centre minibus to install new wheelchair lift

Provision of new chair lift for people carrier

Supply of two beds to St Peter and St James Hospice

Funding to assist with Burnside's 40th Anniversary Celebration (for Adults with Learning Difficulties)

Mystery coach trip for senior citizens 25th March 2007 and to be arranged for 30th September 2007

Provision of tracksuits for Southdown Girls AFC

Funding for coaching courses for Marle Place Wanderers FC

Donation to Citizens Advice Bureau

Funding of Medic Alert Bracelets for local people

'Message in a Bottle' project for vulnerable patients

Trauma teddies provided to Burgess Hill Ambulance

Assistance to local youths for Raleigh International projects

Defibrillators for Hurstpierpoint and Burgess Hill

Equipment for Sayers Common Toddlers Group

Donation to April Club for people with disabilities

For Welfare Issues, email the Welfare Chairman here.