Launceston Rotary is different. It is not a large club, but we are one of the most effective in the area. Why? Because we have our own Community Shop....
Open Monday to Friday from 10:00 to 15:00 and Saturday 10:00 to 13:00
Shop Opening Hours
Monday to Friday 10:00 to 15:00
Saturday 10:00 to 13:00
6 Southgate Street, LAUNCESTON, Cornwall, PL15 9DP
Please do not leave any donations outside.
This is a charity shop where everyone is a volunteer and so overheads are very low. Most of the tens of thousands of pounds we raise every year goes back into the local community in the form of grants. Many of the Rotarians enjoy being at the till in the shop and having a chat with the customers, while other non-Rotarian volunteers sort and process the donations of goods. The shop gives a valuable service to the community and at times resembles a social hub with friends and acquaintances meeting and greeting each other. See below for grant applications
Last Year Launceston Rotary has made 24 grants totalling £14,615 Some of the recent grants are in pictures on a new display in our shop.
Grants from the Community Shop Trust Fund are given to a wide variety of organisations within Launceston and its surrounding villages: such organisations include sports clubs, particularly those catering for young people, village halls, schools, healthcare and care in the community, scouts and guides, church support groups, arts oriented groups, registered charities benefiting Launceston, and many others. All recipient organisations must be properly constituted, with a bank or building society account; no applications from individuals will be considered.
A grant application form may be downloaded here
Alternatively you can pop into the shop and ask for a form
All Aboard St Stephens Express!
4 of the classes at St Stephens had the most fantastic enrichment experience completely organised and funded by Launceston Rotary Club. Not only did we get to ride on the steam train at Launceston Steam Railway but the club organised for a fleet of minibuses from St Joseph's School to collect and return us safely. We would like to say the most enormous heartfelt thank you to Dave Shrimpton for leading this fantastic event-the children LOVED it .The funding for our trip was taken from the Rotary Charity shop, which would not function without volunteers and the patronage of Launceston people. We can only say thank you again to our local community for enabling this exciting adventure to happen. They have also provided each child who went on the train with a special Jubilee mug that they will be coming home with tomorrow.
A huge thanks also to all the mini bus drivers and our wonderful parent helpers .
Maura Furber
Headteacher
St.Stephens Community Academy
Werrington Junior Cricketer Toby Ward is selected to tour South Africa next year as a member of Cornwall Schools Cricket Association team. Launceston Rotary Community Shop Fund is sponsoring the tour with a grant.
Rotarian Kim Kinvig, says ”We support local junior sports activity and congratulate Toby on his selection. Our fund sponsored the tour last year when Werrington Junior cricketer Dan Howgill was selected”
Dan says ” During the 2017 tour I developed as a cricketer and person. We loved having the opportunity to stay with the opposition players and make new friends. The standard of cricket was brilliant and a test for us all. It was a huge boost for our confidence when we delivered high quality cricket in conditions not experienced before. We went on safari and saw groups of elephants in the middle of the road. Like others, I had concerns about Johannesburg’s reputation for crime, however the people were all extremely pleasant and kind”.
This year’s selection, Toby Ward appreciates the experience passed on by team mate Dan and is looking forward to going on safari.
All-rounder Toby often plays in the Werrington fourth eleven, recently scoring 50 runs not out.
The Rotary Shop Fund also supported Werrington cricketer James Adams on a tour of the West Indies last year.
The Werrington Cricket Club are Cornwall Premier League champion and an excellent platform for coaching young players.
The photograph shows from left to right Back row Toby’s Father Nick Ward, Rotarian Kim Kinvig, Nick’s Father Kevin Adams, Dan’s Father Mike Howgill.
Front Row-James Adams, Freddie Ward, Toby Ward, Dan Howgill.
Cheque presentation to St. Cleer School for their new stage. L to R: Sandra, Headteacher , and PTA representative. Our donation was the final amount enable them to have a new stage in time for Christmas
An award has been made to North Cornwall Duke of Edinburgh's Open Award Centre to assist with training young persons in gaining their Bronze award.
Trainees undertake guided orienteering style hikes and self
reliance expeditions.
In addition, trainees complete volunteer work experience and
life skills development.
Shown in the picture
Presentation of Bronze award certificates which presented by Town Crier Concillor Rob Tremain.
Youth Speaks
The first round of a National Public Speaking competition was organised by Rotary Clubs. The themes chosen were Launceston College: “Should school uniform be compulsory?” : Bright Sparks; “Manners, Manners”; St. Catherine's; “Are video games a healthy activity for primary schoolchildren?”.
Winning teams from St. Catherine’s and Launceston College who will both go on to the next round in Callington. The Judges were the Launceston Mayor, Councillor Margaret Young and Miss Julie Nettle who told the large audience at Launceston Golf Course that the result was very, very close, and very difficult, having taken a very long time to make their decisions. They added that this was due to the good quality of the presentations and the work involved.
Each team was comprised of three children, a Chair who managed the presentation. a Speaker on a chosen subject, and a Proposer to comment on the team’s talk.
Launceston College
St Catherine's School
Bright Sparks Youth Club
An application for financial help was received by the Launceston Rotary Community Shop from Mrs. Angela Holman and Mrs. Celia Knight who run a very worthwhile charity called The Launceston Club for the Visually Impaired who do what they can to help people who have serious sight problems and who often live alone. They take them for lunch to various venues throughout the year with transport being provided by their DHS checked Volunteer Drivers. They visit as many as 20 different local restaurants.
The Launceston Rotary Community Shop were able to donate £250 to assist these ladies and Honorary Rotarian June Down, who looks after our Shop Volunteers, is seen in the Photo presenting the cheque to Mrs. Angela Holman.
Two grants have been made to Launceston Library to start a Lego Club for children.
This has proved so popular that requests are being made by clubs and schools for it to be taken there as well. Rotary has bought all the new Lego for the library to set up this club, and is always credited for doing so.
The shop gave a grant to the Lanstephan Play Area for the refurbishment of a derelict piece of ground, and it was used to provide this sturdy swing mounted on a safety surface. Past President John Barnes is enjoying testing it out!
At Christmas we sell hot chestnuts and mulled wine outside our shop and provide a decorated tree for the tree festival in the church.
Every April we run a Fun Day for handicapped people which attracts over 100 participants and helpers. More details under "Youth".