Wokingham Lions Club (cio)

Quick Stats

• Annual Giving: £70,000+ (recent year)
• Golden Awards: £500 per award
• Grant Range: £500 - £5,000
• Geographic Focus: Wokingham Borough Council area
• Registered Charity: 1180632
• Application Method: Online application form

Contact Details

Website: www.wokinghamlions.org.uk

Email: mail@wokinghamlions.org.uk

Phone: 07977 927431 / 0345 833 7384

Address: 9 Willow Drive, Twyford, Reading, RG10 9DD

Meeting Location: Arborfield Royal British Legion Club, Eversley Road, Arborfield, RG2 9PR (business meetings)

Overview

Founded on 6 April 1974, Wokingham Lions Club is a community service organisation and registered charity (CIO) celebrating 50 years of service to the local community. As part of Lions Clubs International, with the motto “We Serve,” the club has approximately 40 members dedicated to raising funds for local charities and individuals in need. The club recently raised over £70,000 in one year, while events they organised helped other charities raise at least £55,000. In 2024, to commemorate their 50th anniversary, the club launched their Golden Awards scheme, awarding 50 grants of £500 each to local charities and community organisations. The club is proud to have Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, as Patron of Lions Clubs of the British Isles. The organisation operates as a non-profit with 100% of funds raised going to good causes, with the vast majority supporting the local Wokingham community and approximately 10% going to worldwide disaster relief through Lions Clubs International Foundation.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programs

Golden Awards: £500 per award (rolling basis via online application)

• Launched in 2024 to support local charities and community organisations
• Approximately 4 awards distributed per month
• 50 awards made during 2024 anniversary year
• Designed to help organisations start new initiatives

Major Grants: £3,500 - £5,000 (nominated internally)

• Typically awarded to specific charities chosen through member nomination and voting
• Recent recipients include Twyford Age Concern (£5,000 for a new minibus) and The Friends of CAMHS Phoenix School (£5,000)

Gerry Aggett Award: £1,000 - £2,500 (annual award)

• Named after a very active member who died several years ago and initiated the May Fayre
• Given to individuals who have made significant contributions to the local community
• The award recipient receives a certificate, and a donation is made to a charity of their choice
• Recent recipients include Stan Hetherington (£2,500 to Headway), Lyndsay Browne (School Days and Homestart), Claire Revie (SHARE Wokingham), and Chris Pape (£1,000 to Yeldall Manor)

Priority Areas

• New activities or services rather than general running costs
• Children and youth organisations (scouts, youth clubs, special needs support)
• Community services and support groups
• Health and disability services
• Arts and cultural organisations
• Food banks and poverty relief
• Animal welfare
• Environmental initiatives

Recent Golden Award recipients have included scout groups, churches, community interest companies, rescue organisations, support networks, repair cafés, sports clubs, literacy programmes, LGBTQ+ organisations, elderly care services, and various local community groups.

What They Don't Fund

• Projects outside the Wokingham Borough Council area
• General running costs (preference is for new initiatives)
• Organisations without registered charity status or verified community group status
• Individual support applications (requires referral from social services or doctor's surgeries)

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Governance and Leadership

Current Leadership (2024-2025)

President: Andy Goffin (serving a second term, having previously been President in 2021)

Previous President: Lyn Baily (raised a record £67,000 during her presidency)

Past Presidents: Claire Mangers-Page, Nigel Page

Governance

• Operates as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
• Registered with the Charity Commission (No. 1180632)
• No trustees receive remuneration, payments, or benefits from the charity
• Membership has grown from 32 to 38 members over three years
• Business meetings held monthly (first Tuesday) at Arborfield Royal British Legion Club
• Social meetings held fourth Wednesday of each month at The Outhouse Brewery

Leadership Perspective

Andy Goffin, President, stated: "My aim during my year as president is to assist Wokingham Lions Club to grow and develop in helping the local community. We are fortunate to have members who are actively involved in our club's events. Our new members have made a tremendous contribution, and we look forward to welcoming more of them in the future. We can always use new ideas, experience and expertise."

When first serving as President in 2021, Goffin set three specific targets: “To raise a minimum of an average of £1,000 per member for a total of at least £33,000; To donate a minimum of £30,000 to local charities and individuals in need; and To increase club membership by at least five new members.”

Application Process and Timeline

How to Apply

Golden Awards: Complete the online application form at wokinghamlions.org.uk/golden-award-application-form/

Major Grants: No public application process - charities are selected through internal member nomination and voting

Individual Support: Requires referral from organisations like social services or doctor's surgeries

Application Requirements (Golden Awards)

Applications must include:

• Registered address within Wokingham Borough Council area
• Registered charity number (essential) with up-to-date accounts and annual returns filed with the Charity Commission, OR ability to prove community status and provide accounts upon request
• Description of new project, service, or equipment need
• Agreement to allow Wokingham Lions to publicise the grant and its purpose
• Acceptance of the organisation's Data Protection Policy

Decision Timeline

The Golden Awards scheme distributes approximately 4 awards per month on a rolling basis throughout the year. Specific decision timelines are not publicly stated, but the rolling nature suggests relatively quick turnaround compared to annual grant programmes.

Success Rates

46 out of 50 planned Golden Awards were awarded during the 2024 anniversary year. Success rate data for subsequent years is not publicly available.

Reapplication Policy

No specific reapplication policy is stated publicly. Organisations may need to contact the club directly for guidance on reapplying after an unsuccessful application.

Application Success Factors

Based on the club's stated preferences and actual grant recipients, successful applications should:

• Wokingham Repair Café: £500 for a portable Electric Appliance tester, training for volunteers, task lighting, and protective vinyl for tables
• Wokingham Cricket Club: £500 to finance a part-time coach for girls' cricket sessions
• Igniting Writing: £500 to organise regular speakers for children aged 11-18
• The Link Visiting Scheme: £500 to translate literature into Urdu, Hindi, and Cantonese

1. Demonstrate Local Impact: All funded projects serve the Wokingham Borough Council area and address clear community needs

1. Be Specific About Equipment or Activities: Successful applications clearly specify what will be purchased or implemented with the funding

1. Support Volunteers and Capacity Building: Many funded projects involve volunteer training, equipment to enable volunteers to work more effectively, or expansion of volunteer-led services

1. Address Inclusivity: Projects that expand access to services for underserved groups (girls in cricket, children with disabilities, non-English speakers) have been successful

1. Be Willing to Share Your Story: The requirement to allow publicity suggests the club values demonstrating impact to supporters and the community

Key Takeaways for Grant Writers

• The Golden Awards are highly accessible: At £500, these grants are designed to be easy to apply for and quick to secure for small but impactful projects
• “New” is the magic word: Frame applications around launching something new, expanding a service, or purchasing specific equipment rather than covering existing costs
• Local focus matters: Your registered address must be in Wokingham Borough Council area - this is non-negotiable
• Keep it practical and specific: The most successful applications describe concrete, achievable outcomes (equipment purchase, volunteer training, new sessions)
• Think beyond the £500: For larger projects, Wokingham Lions Club does make major grants of £3,500-£5,000, but these are awarded through internal nomination processes rather than open application
• Build relationships: Attend their fundraising events (May Fayre, Winter Carnival, Comedy Nights, Fireworks) to get on their radar for larger discretionary grants
• Consider the Gerry Aggett Award: If you know an individual making exceptional contributions to Wokingham community, nominate them - this brings £1,000+ to a charity of their choice

Similar Funders

These funders have a similar focus and geographic reach:

• Wokingham United Charities
• The Philip and Connie Phillips Foundation
• Chippenham Borough Lands Charity
• The Peter Kershaw Trust
• DJ Sidebottom/Glasdon Charitable Programme
• THE ALAN EDWARD HIGGS CHARITY
• The Pargiter Trust
• The Earley Charity
• GREENHAM TRUST LTD
• Guildford Poyle Charities

References

• Wokingham Lions Club official website: www.wokinghamlions.org.uk (accessed 27 January 2026)
• Golden Awards page: https://wokinghamlions.org.uk/golden-awards/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• Golden Award Application Form: https://wokinghamlions.org.uk/golden-award-application-form/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• Charity Support page: https://wokinghamlions.org.uk/charity-support/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• About/Join page: https://wokinghamlions.org.uk/about/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• Charity Commission Register: https://register-of-charities.charitycommission.gov.uk/en/charity-search/-/charity-details/5130766 (accessed 27 January 2026)
• "Wokingham Lions' Golden Awards celebrate 50 years of giving", Wokingham.Today: https://wokingham.today/wokingham-lions-golden-awards-celebrate-50-years-of-giving/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• "Wokingham Lions' golden year ends with 50 good news stories", Wokingham.Today: https://wokingham.today/wokingham-lions-golden-year-ends-with-50-good-news-stories/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• “Wokingham Lions appoints new President”, My Wokingham: https://mywokingham.co.uk/charity-news-2/wokingham-lions-appoints-new-president/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• "IN THE COMMUNITY: New president's challenge to Wokingham Lions", Wokingham.Today: https://wokingham.today/in-the-community-new-presidents-challenge-to-wokingham-lions/ (accessed 27 January 2026)
• Wokingham Directory listing: https://directory.wokingham.gov.uk/kb5/wokingham/directory/service.page?id=Jzcxey2j8Og (accessed 27 January 2026)