Wokingham Lions Club (CIO)

Charity Number: 1180632

Annual Expenditure: £0.1M

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Quick Stats

  • Annual Giving: £67,000 (record 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) with over 50 years of service to the local community. As part of Lions Clubs International, with the motto “We Serve,” the club has over 40 members dedicated to raising funds for local charities and individuals in need. The club has raised over £67,000 in a single year. The club is proud that Her Royal Highness Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, serves as Royal 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.

To celebrate their 50th anniversary in 2024, the club launched their Golden Awards scheme, awarding 50 grants of £500 each to local charities and community organisations. The Golden Awards programme continues to operate, distributing approximately 4 awards per month on a rolling basis.

Funding Priorities

Grant Programmes

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

  • Supports local charities and community organisations
  • Approximately 4 awards distributed per month
  • 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 Chris Pape (£1,000 to Yeldall Manor), Claire Revie (SHARE Wokingham), Lyndsay Browne (School Days and Homestart), Mark Ashwell (Building for the Future), and Gez de la Pascua (SHARE Wokingham)

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

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

Recent Leadership

President (2024-2025): Andy Goffin (serving a second term, having previously been President in 2021-2022)

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
  • Business meetings held monthly (2nd Wednesday) at Arborfield Royal British Legion Club
  • General meetings held on the 4th Wednesday of each month

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.”

How to Apply to Wokingham Lions Club (cio)

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.

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

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References

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