Latest News
March 2024
Saturday 30th March - World Bipolar Day
Rotary and Sutton Mental Health Foundation (SMHF) held a free Bipolar Open Day. A number of individuals with Bipolar who are supported by SMHF were there to talk about their experience of living with Bipolar together with leaflets and on-line information from Bipolar UK.
18th - 24th March - Food Waste Prevention Week
We joined the awareness raising activities with our Food Waste Prevention Alphabet.
February 2024
Litter-picking at Cheam Memorial Garden
Our Club runs the Friends of Cheam Memorial Garden. Every couple of months we organise litter-picking at the Memorial Garden (next to Cheam Library) and welcome new pickers to join us. Keep an eye on the calendar for news of our next date!
Annual Quiz
In February we had our popular Quiz. As usual Sutton Grammar School was very accommodating, with over 100 people attending. Participants answered, or tried to answer (!), Gary's diverse questions over 10 rounds. They were sustained with Fish & Chips (and other choices) half way through, and a variety of drinks that they brought along to enjoy together.
This very successful event raised over £1,200 for Sutton Young Carers.
Celebrating Fundraising with Our Partners
This month we made a formal presentation to all of the groups who collected with us on the float, to mark the distribution of all the funds raised. Each group talked about the amazing activities these Rotary funds will be supporting:
1st Nork Scouts – who will spend the money on supporting scouts at camp and on installing more energy efficient lighting at their hut;
1st Nork Cubs - who will spend the money on improving rear access to their hut;
Homestart Sutton - who will spend the money on venue and refreshments for a course as part of the 5 weeks’ training provided before they can help children facing hard times
Sutton & Cheam Police Cadets - who will spend the money on funding candidates for Duke of Edinburgh’s awards and £500 for 15 candidates to obtain first aid qualifications. There are 250 Cadets of whom about 80 come from disadvantaged homes.
Robin Hood School – who will spend the money the money towards a climbing frame which will suit their limited outside space and improve co-ordination and hand strength whilst providing opportunities for team building. This fits with their motto “aim high”;
5th Worcester Park Scouts - who will spend the money on upgrading heating their hut, which has only 5 small heaters and last year suffered from burst pipes. They have about 60 Scouts, Cubs and Beavers; and
8th Cheam Scouts - who will spend the money on upgrading their 1960s HQ building to improve security and fix broken windows and toilets. They are in their 70th year. They have 30 each of Scouts Cubs and Beavers, and a long waiting list
Banstead Explorers – who will spend the money on new equipment, for example for a wild life area, and also towards a trip to the Netherlands Their activities include a £5 meal challenge run – participants run round ASDA to collect items for a £5 three course meal within 5 minutes;
Sutton Mental Health Foundation - who will spend the money on supporting current activities such as their drop-in centre and building confidence through day trips. This was their first participation – it had been exhausting but fun; and
1st Cheam Scouts - who will spend the money on replacing equipment (eg colour coded ropes) reaching the end of its approved life, and on supporting those who cannot otherwise afford to join in camps. They are ‘back to basics’ in Scouting, transporting gear on trek carts.
9th Cheam Scouts – who will spend the money on activities which promote social skills away from mobiles, and also towards buying a ULEZ compliant van. They have about 90 members but are short of leaders;
Sutton & Cheam Air Cadets - who will spend the money on band kit including drums and slings of which they need 5. It’s good that their members still want to do things which don’t involve a computer. Air Cadets had been going for 83 years. Their HQ is on the same site as Robin Hood School; and
Hosanna House Childrens’ Privilege Trust – they take veterans living in the community on a pilgrimage to Lourdes, which they often regard as a highpoint of their year. They will spend the money to support those unable to afford the full cost.
CAN YOU GUESS HOW MUCH WAS RAISED OVERALL?!
January 2024
We started our festivities in December with the Cheam Christmas Fair on 1st December where we sold our renowned mulled wine, with mince pies, lucky dip and gingerbread decorating.
The following day we were at the Winter Fayre, at Yourspace Sutton selling all sorts of crafts made by our volunteers.
Our Santa float visited the streets of Sutton over 18 nights. Many thanks to all of our followers who enjoyed seeing Santa and donated so generously.
November 2023
Centenary celebrations continued with our celebration dinner at Cuddington Golf Club with guests Eve Conway (RI Director), Annemarie Van Bochove Allen (District Governor). Entertainment was provided by Theo the Magician!
The following day we were represented by our President Suzan at the civic ceremony at Manor Park and Alan laid the wreath at Cheam Memorial Garden.
October 2023
We held our Curry Night fundraiser at the Star in Cheam on October 23rd. Good food for a good cause!
September 2023
We held our street collection on Saturday 30th September in Sutton High Street (near Metro Bank) to raise funds in support of Morocco and Libya.
These two disasters have seen thousands of lives lost and people missing and will require a great deal of international help to provide both food, shelter, and safe drinking water. Rotary plays a part helping those in urgent need in the most effective way by working with Rotary-related charities as well as Rotarians in or connected to the affected areas, to establish the real needs and the best way we can direct funds.
We have also launched our JustGiving campaign to raise much-needed funds (see Appeals).
This year is the centenary of Rotary in Sutton and we put together an exhibition of photos and information drawn from our many activities over the years. The Centenary Exhibition was jointly organised by the 4 Rotary Clubs in the Sutton Borough: our Club Cheam & Sutton Rotary, joined by the Rotary Clubs of Carshalton Park, Sutton Nonsuch and Wallington.
The exhibition took place on Sutton High Street during September. We had many visitors interested to see what we've been up to, including our Mayor of Sutton, Councillor Colin Stears.
August 2023
We were once again at the Carshalton EcoFair on Bank Holiday Monday on August 28th with our Hoopla, Pick-A-Peg, Splat the Rat, Craft Stalls and Soft Toy Tombola. It was a really successful event run by EcoLocal, and many people came along to try out our games and the Soft Toy Tombola!
Rotary Protecting the Environment - 22nd April 2024 is Earth Day! See website below
Social Media
Our Social Media channels are the place to go for frequent updates on what we do during the year. In the run up the Xmas our Santa's Sleigh pages gives daily or more updates of what we are doing and where.
Rotary's Vision - "Together, we see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change — across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves."
About Cheam and Sutton Rotary
It is amazing what we can accomplish when hearts and minds work together. Rotary Clubs consist of members from different countries, cultures, and occupations and these leaders of society are taking action to enhance health, empower youth, promote peace, and advance their community, all round the world.
Our membership is made up of active, enthusiastic men and women of all ages and backgrounds who, by combining their skills and resources, make a real contribution to the lives of others both locally and internationally.
Cheam and Sutton Rotary traditionally meet on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month sometimes with a light meal from 7:30pm. Other activities may take place on some 4th or 5th Tuesdays of the month and may include get togethers, activities or special meals.
Cheam and Sutton Rotary is a part of Rotary International, a worldwide organisation founded over 110 years ago, based on the principles of friendship, service to the community and the promotion of peace and international understanding.
As a result of Cheam and Sutton Clubs deciding to merge in 2016, Cheam and Sutton Rotary is a new club with a long history. Sutton Rotary dates back to 1923 and gave birth to Cheam Rotary in 1955. Both clubs have supported many local charities over the years of their existence and they have now merged for a wider footprint in the community.
During December, every year, our Santa Float brings seasonal cheer and joy to the streets of Cheam, Sutton and Worcester Park. Our Mulled Wine and Mince Pie Evenings are popular events and fundraisers during Cheam and Worcester Park’s Christmas Evenings.
We also raise funds by collecting outside local supermarkets. We are grateful to Morrisons and Sainsbury’s in Sutton and North Cheam for giving us this opportunity, all of which have been donated to local charities.
Throughout the summer we take our popular Hoopla stall, Environmental Craft stall and other games to fairs and fetes around the Borough, which bring a lot of fun as well as raising funds for local charities.
If you would like to learn more about us or are interested in joining in, then please use the link to contact us. Come to one of our meetings to discover more.