30/10/2026
Yesterday Wokingham Lions Club were pleased to accept the Community Spirit and Leadership Award at the Wokingham Community & Sports Awards 2026.
This award, sponsored by Wokingham Theatre, aims to highlight an individual or group that has inspired, supported or brought people together for a positive purpose.
This was the citation read out by Sophie Pierce:
"Our Community Spirit award is sponsored by Wokingham Theatre. This little gem of a theatre knows all too well the importance of community, with its volunteers bringing theatre to Wokingham for 80 years. We're joined tonight by Chair Claire Lawrence Non-Exec Trustee Matt Edwards, and full disclosure, I'm also involved there as well, soon to be appearing in the sold-out Christmas show, One Man Two Guvnors.
Community spirit is about more than living in the same place. It's about looking out for one another, bringing people together and making sure that when someone needs a helping hand, there's a community ready to offer one.
And few organisations embody that spirit quite like our next nominees.
For more than 50 years, this group of local volunteers has been at the heart of Wokingham life, organising events that bring our community together while raising money for good causes.
From the May Fayre and Wokingham Winter Carnival to The Wokingham Walk, Swimathon and Wokingham Fireworks Spectacular, their work helps create some of the events that make our town such a special place to live.
But behind the fun is a serious commitment to helping others. Last year alone, they raised more than ÂŁ100,000, with their events also helping other charities raise at least as much again.
They support local charities, help individuals and families facing hardship, collect food for those in need, recycle laptops for people who might otherwise go without and provide practical support through initiatives that make a real difference to everyday lives.
And they do all of this through the time, energy and generosity of volunteers who believe in giving something back.
Their motto is 'We Serve', and it's a promise they bring to life throughout the year.
For more than five decades of bringing people together, supporting those who need it most and helping our community thrive, our Community Spirit award goes to...
Wokingham Lions Club!"
Thank you for the nomination, to the Wokingham Borough Mayor for making the presentation and to everyone who came along for the event!
