01/06/2026
Ashbourne & District Rotary Club
President-Elect Announces Exciting Year Ahead
The Rotary Club of Ashbourne has celebrated a record-breaking year of fundraising while looking forward to an exciting programme of activities aimed at giving help where its most needed and attracting new members to the organisation.
Successful Fund Raising
Club President, David Hidgecock announced that the club has raised more than £20,000 through a variety of community events and fundraising activities. This achievement was made possible thanks to the dedication of Rotary members and the generous support of local residents and businesses.
Our Fundraising events included the sale Christmas Trees, Horse Riding Event, Brailsford Ploughing Match, Charity Golf Day and collections outside Marks & Spencer. We also organised the local Shoebox Appeals and Easter Egg Campaigns for children and families in Eastern Europe.
Charity Donations
The funds raised have supported a wide range of local, national and international causes including Carsington Sailability, educational programmes at the National Stone Centre, English language lessons for Ukrainian doctors, Ace Youth Trust, Derbyshire Blood Bikes, local Scouts and Guides groups, Clifton School, CAPE, the Mayor’s Charity, Support Dogs, children’s cancer charities, community park benches, and Clifton Cricket Club. Internationally - to the Ukraine Film School, Aquabox, Convoy4Ukraine and Lending with Care in Africa. Rotary Foundation, in partnership with WHO, has also been instrumental in the 99.9% eradication of polio across the world.
Future Focus: Empowering Our Youth
Looking ahead to the coming year, the Club’s President-Elect, Stuart Smalley MBE announced a strong focus on supporting and inspiring young people within the community.
Applications will soon open for several youth-focused initiatives, including:
• Young Musicians – providing an opportunity for talented local young performers to showcase their abilities.
• Young Writer Competition – encouraging the storytellers of tomorrow to develop and share their creative talents.
• Rotary Youth Leadership Awards (RYLA) – a life-changing residential leadership programme held in Derbyshire, helping young people develop confidence, leadership skills and lifelong friendships.
Dates and further details for each event will be announced closer to the time.
The President-Elect also highlighted the wealth of experience and expertise within the club’s membership. He explained that many Rotary members possess valuable professional skills that can be used to support younger people, including help with CV preparation, interview techniques and career development.
Flexible Ways to Join
A key objective for the coming year is to attract new members and broaden the club’s reach within the community. The club is keen to welcome both men and women of all ages who would like to make a difference, support local causes and enjoy friendship and fellowship with like-minded people.
As the club prepares for another busy year of service, members are encouraging local residents to find out more about Rotary and the many ways they can get involved. Whether through full membership or as a “Friend of Rotary”, there are opportunities to contribute to community projects, support fundraising events and help improve lives both locally and internationally.
Open Evening 16th June
Anyone interested in learning more is invited to attend a special open evening at Ashbourne Golf Club on Tuesday, 16 June, at 7.00pm for a 7.30pm start. Guests will be treated to an Asian buffet and will also hear from Sarah Dufton of the Cyber Crime Unit, who will give a fascinating presentation on “Cyber and Scams in the Digital World”.
Anyone wishing to attend is asked to book in advance for catering purposes by emailing [email protected].
The club hopes the event will encourage more people to discover the rewards of Rotary membership and become part of an organisation dedicated to friendship, service and making a positive difference in the community.
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