Wokingham Lions organise a number of services to support the local community.
Lions Share
We are working with Wokingham Foodbank to help collect food donations. The Foodbank already collect from the main supermarkets but we are increasing the coverage:
We are placing bins in convenience stores, cafes and residential addresses to encourage their customers, neigbours and passers-by to donate. We then collect the donations and deliver them to the Foodbank.
We also run the annual Wokingham Lions Christmas Food Collection, locally known as the Can Can, which started over 30 years ago, long before Foodbanks came into existence. The project’s original aim was to support the elderly in Wokingham over the festive period.
With the amazing loyalty and support we receive from local supermarkets, we set up a stall and ask shoppers if they could buy an extra item of non-perishable food and then donate it to us as they leave.
In more recent years we have been working with Wokingham based charities First Days, The Grub Club, Homestart and Wokingham Foodbank so in addition to the elderly we are also able to support local families. Last Christmas we distributed over 300 parcels to the needy of Wokingham.
Message in a Bottle
Message in a Bottle is a scheme organised by Lions Clubs throughout the country, aimed mainly at people who may be housebound.
Small plastic containers are distributed for free through doctor’s surgeries and pharmacies. The user completes a form with their medical details and contact names and phone numbers, places the form in the container, then puts the container in their fridge. There is a sticker for the front door so if emergency services are called they know the information is in the fridge.
SpecTrek
Spectrek is a Lion’s project which collects unwanted spectacles and recycles them for re-distribution to people who would not otherwise have access to spectacles, Lions Clubs in the UK and from other European countries including France, Germany, Greece, Spain and Switzerland participate in this project.
ReTec
ReTec is a project we started in 2024 to collect unused laptop computers, restore them and then give them to families in need. So far we have recycled over 150 laptops.
Wild Tribe Books
The Wild Tribe Heroes books are a collection of gentle and engaging true stories about animals that find themselves in trouble when their lives are affected by plastic in the oceans or palm oil deforestation.
These books have been donated by the Lions to several local schools, as a useful resource that is relevant to schools curriculum, supporting children’s learning about the world around us.
If you’d be interested in some of these books for your school please contact us here.
ChildSight UK
Wokingham Lions are planning to start this eye screening programme for young people under the age of 16 that can detect many sight-related health issues. These range from the need for glasses, to stigmas and even complex optical conditions that may require further interventions.
Approximately 45 percent of children do not have an eye examination during their early years of development and many go years without seeing an optician. The purpose of our screening is to support schools and the NHS screening to endeavour to get as many children screened as possible.
It has been established that some 13 percent of young people under the age of 11 have an undiagnosed vision problem, this can lead to underperformance in concentration, reading, engagement in lessons and learning.
Support to Individuals
We are happy to support individuals or families in need of help, but we need referrals from organisations such as social services or doctor’s surgeries. If you think we can help please contact us.
Community Stories
We also support local community events – some are run by charities and local community groups, others organised by some of our neighbouring Lions Clubs. Here are some stories about how we’ve helped in the community.
Yesterday we presented more Wild Tribe Heroes books, this time to Emmbrook Junior School!
The Wild Tribe Heroes books are a collection of gentle and engaging true stories about animals that find themselves in trouble when their lives are affected by plastic in the oceans or palm oil deforestation.
These books have been donated by the Lions to several local schools, as a useful resource that is relevant to schools curriculum, supporting children’s learning about the world around us.
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Thanks Wild Tribe Heroes!
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We are so proud of Lion Sue de Quidt who has received a Civic Award from Wokingham Town Council!
Sue volunteers extensively across multiple organisations, including Wokingham Lions Club, Wokingham Theatre and Citizens Advice Wokingham, contributing up to 100 hours a month.
Congratulations to Sue and to all the other recipients - read all about it below.
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New children's books at Wokingham Borough Libraries! See below....
#WokinghamLions #CommunityChildren across Wokingham are getting a vibrant new way to explore nature and climate issues thanks to a generous donation from Wokingham Lions Club. The volunteer run community group, known for championing local causes and organising some of the borough’s biggest fundraising events, has purchased and gifted #WildTribeHeroes books to Wokingham Library. Families can now discover these books at Wokingham Library, where they are on display and ready to borrow.
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Wokingham Lions Club, as part of a global initiative to promote environmental causes, has recently donated some Wild Tribe Heroes books to Crowthorne Church of England Primary School.
The Wild Tribe Heroes books are a collection of gentle and engaging true stories about animals that find themselves in trouble when their lives are affected by plastic in the oceans or palm oil deforestation.
These books have been donated by the Lions to several local schools, as a useful resource that is relevant to schools curriculum, supporting children’s learning about the world around us.
Caroline Parker deputy head said “ I shared the books with the children in last week’s assembly and they are very excited! We have a new eco section in the library and the children are enjoying borrowing them 😊”
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Thanks to everyone who has contributed to our Wokingham Lions Club spectacles and hearing aid collections!
Another batch of several hundred pairs of used spectacles on their way to Lions International - British Isles HQ in Birmingham - and then off for distribution to people who would not otherwise have access to them.
This batch included a contribution from Lions Club of Tavistock - thanks!
The full list of locations where you can find our blue bins to drop off your unwanted spectacles and hearing aids is here: wokinghamlions.org.uk/spectrek
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A great Christmas event organised by SHARE Wokingham which we were happy to support!
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Wokingham Lions Club were out yesterday helping to staff the Thames Hospice Carol Concert at Wellington College.
🐘 While there they met one of the elephants that will form part of next years “Trunks across the Thames” art trail - read all about it here trunksacrossthethames.co.uk
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Thanks for all the contributions to our can-can collection!
📸 Paul King
#WokinghamLions #communityWaitrose & PartnersWokingham Lions Club
WOKINGHAM'S LION'S CLUB DOING THE CAN -CAN!
Kind-hearted shoppers at Waitrose in Wokingham have been donating canned food and other essential items in support of the Wokingham Lions’ annual Can-Can Appeal.
Volunteers were in high spirits—quite literally doing the Can-Can, as shown in our picture—as they thanked shoppers for their generosity.
The Wokingham Lions would like to say a huge thank you to everyone who donated, helping to support local people in need this Christmas.
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Yesterday we attended the The Kingfisher Club Christmas lunch. This is a small group of people who meet twice a month in the local church hall to chat, play board games and generally socialise. They join together at Christmas to share a home cooked Christmas lunch, raffle and enjoy the festive season with friends.
This is all organised by local resident Louise Peksa.
This year the Lions supported the Kingfisher Club by covering the food costs, leaving Louise simply to shop and cook - a mammoth task in itself!
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When this happens, it's usually because the owner only shared it with a small group of people, changed who can see it, or it's been deleted.We’ve done the first three of our Wokingham Lions Club Christmas Food Collections, known locally as ‘The Can Can’, - you can see two of our volunteers doing the can-can here!
Launched over 30 years ago to support Wokingham’s elderly residents in need, the project now also supports local families, and through partnerships with local children’s charities Lions know that the parcels are reaching the right people.
Wokingham Lions work closely with The Wokingham Foodbank who will also receive a substantial donation of non-perishable food, cleaning and personal hygiene products from the collection.
Supported by Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, and their customers, the collection averages more than 3,000 food items each year. These are distributed to individuals, families, and organizations across Wokingham. Wokingham Lions Club expresses gratitude for the community’s ongoing generosity.
The final collection date is Saturday 13th December at Waitrose, Wokingham
Wokingham Lions will be outside between 9am - 4pm.
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The Wokingham Lions Christmas Food Collection, known locally as ‘The Can Can’, returns this December. Launched over 30 years ago to support Wokingham’s elderly residents in need, the project now also supports local families, and through partnerships with local children’s charities Lions know that the parcels are reaching the right people.
Wokingham Lions work closely with The Wokingham Foodbank who will also receive a substantial donation of non-perishable food, cleaning and personal hygiene products from the collection.
Supported by Tesco, Waitrose, Morrisons, and their customers, the collection averages more than 3,000 food items each year. These are distributed to individuals, families, and organizations across Wokingham. Wokingham Lions Club expresses gratitude for the community’s ongoing generosity.
A spokesperson from the Wokingham Lions Club told us, “We get amazing support from our local supermarkets. Their customers have become accustomed to seeing us outside the stores in December Most are happy to engage with us as they walk into the store and want to know which items we are most in need of. When they donate their purchases to us as they leave the store there is a definite feelgood factor. We’re so grateful for all the donations we receive.“
Collection dates this year are....
Friday 5th December – Tesco and Morrisons Wokingham
Saturday 6th December - Waitrose, Wokingham
Saturday 13th December - Waitrose, Wokingham
Wokingham Lions will be outside each store between 9am - 4pm.
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We were happy to hear that the recent Berkshire Poppy Appeal in aid of the Royal British Legion has raised over £80,000 - Wokingham Lions Volunteers and Friends were out helping as part of the team collecting.
Read all about it in Wokingham.Today
wokingham.today/amount-raised-for-wokinghams-poppy-appeal-revealed/
Would you like to join our team of Friends who help with events like this and the Wokingham Winter Carnival & May Fayre? Or become a Lion? Details here: wokinghamlions.org.uk/about/
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Being a Lion is special. For lots of reasons. The lives we touch through service change lives for the better, including our own. Here are five of the top reasons we love being Lions:
🦁 We have fun.
Service isn’t just meaningful. It’s fun. It’s a way to build friendships through our clubs and make new connections inside our communities and with other service clubs (the photo is from our recent Wokingham Fireworks event which we organise with other service clubs). We laugh. We bond. We serve. And we do it all with a smile and a grateful heart, making memories along the way to last us a lifetime.
🦁 We’re part of something big — yet unique.
Our 1.4 million members in more than 49,000 clubs worldwide are united by one mission, but distinct in the ways we serve. We have the freedom to choose the projects we’re most passionate about and will make the biggest impact on our communities.
🦁 We have opportunities for personal growth.
Service projects and meetings are a chance to develop new skills, discover talents we never knew we had and strengthen social relationships. Just being part of a club improves confidence and increases self-worth. And if leadership is something you’re interested in, there are plenty of opportunities to take on leadership roles and build your skills in this area through training.
🦁 We’re backed by a global association and foundation.
As members, we’re supported by an international association that provides us with resources, tools and staff assistance to inspire and support us along our Lion journey. We’re also backed by a world-class global foundation — the Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF), which provides grant funding that allows us to take on bigger service projects that bring lasting change to people and communities in need.
Together we are Lions International. Together we are serving a world in need.
🦁 Doing good feels good.
There’s a warm little light that switches on inside us when we perform an act of kindness. So, while our primary motivation for service is always helping those in need, it’s amazing the way doing good also makes us feel good. It starts in our own backyards with service projects we initiate to grow the good in our communities. But kindness trickles up. And before long, it becomes clear how the work we do affects more than the neighbourhoods we live in — our service as Lions makes the entire world a better place.
Want to find out more? Drop us a message.
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We’ve been out supporting Wokingham Scouts with the Berkshire Poppy Appeal at Sainsbury's Winnersh, alongside local MP Clive Jones. There were Winnersh/Arborfield /Woosehill Scouts, Cubs, Beavers & Squirrels - a great effort!
Thanks to everyone who stopped to chat or buy a poppy.
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