The Hayling Island Lions Club is a small part of by far the largest organisation in the world devoted to “Service to the less fortunate”. Its members all make a promise to do their best to alleviate need where ever it occurs, irrespective of colour, race or creed. People who wear a Lions badge believe that helping to relieve strain and stress in the lives of others leads to a happier, safer and generally more pleasant community. They also find that such actions bring contentment, satisfaction and pleasure to the giver.

So Lions Clubs are not primarily fundraising organisations. They are there to give help to their community, although at times they may need some finance to give such assistance.

The help is widespread sometimes it is given to individuals, sometimes to families and often to other community- based associations. They accept requests for assistance and such requests are always thoroughly investigated. They may see a need and react accordingly.

Before Hayling Island Lions Club was formed 10 years ago, the Island was served by the Havant Club. During the past decade every school, including pre-schools, the leisure centre, the library, the health centre, Age Concern, the Scouts, and nearly every association on the island had benefited at some time from activities generated by Hayling Lions. To date we have raised over £115,000 for good causes.

Perhaps the charity’s regular events are better known by Islanders. Every year a party for any senior citizen who wishes to be invited is held. The elderly and often lonely people are taken for a tour of the countryside most months. At least once a year a party of senior citizens go for a coach outing and tea while a party of younger children and adults go on a panto trip.

The Lions Club encourages younger children to take part in a national poster competition. Members also initiate or participate with others in a range of activities not least the daffodil planting with the first flowers eagerly anticipated every year.

Islanders will have noticed that generally efforts to raise funds take enjoyment of Islanders in to account. The Christmas Float is accompanied by Santa Clause who is happy to chat to children and give them sweets. The Carnival invites participation by Islanders in both the preparations and on the day.

The Club also has some national and international activities within which the Lions Association has an almost unique position. Firstly the charity believes that all monies raised by public donation should be used for charitable purposes. Therefore the Lions pay for the administration of the association themselves so every penny given is spent on charity.

Lions Clubs similar to the Hayling branch exist in most towns and villages across the world. They have direct contact and so know that any funds donated overseas are spent wisely and directly by the Lions living locally as they are best placed to determine where there will be greatest benefit.

Internationally Lions have many firsts. Since 1926 they have had the elimination of preventable blindness as a project. It was Lions who introduced the concept of the white stick and also funded the research to prevent blindness in prematurely born babies. They have funded cataract operations here and overseas by the hundreds of thousands, built hospitals and created infrastructures.

Lions were the first to recognise the danger of drug abuse and to bring educational programmes to this country as well as to others.

Lions were one of the associations who helped write the United Nations Charter. They remain one of the only two non-governmental organisations to have continuously supported UNESCO – the children’s branch of the UN – and their involvement with the UN has been recognised by a recent survey rating the Lions first.

Lions in the UK were one of the first to support Wateraid and have remained active in the field of the provision of clean water internationally for the past 23 years.

They sort, grade and send more that 300,000 pairs of used spectacles to developing countries every year and also provide dental training, support and equipment to countries throughout the world.

Hayling Island Lions welcomes visitors to its meeting locally. See “Where we meet” on the HOME page and come along to our next meeting.