Newcastle Lions have a busy Saturday, 11th December 2021

On Saturday, Newcastle Lions held a collection at local garages within the rules of covid. For Lion Marian while getting ready to undertake her one and half hour shift, this involved wearing a mask, gloves and sanitising a collection bucket that secured at a distance in a shopping trolley. Like all charities this year has been difficult both to collect and for the Lions to undertake service projects, such as organising the annual senior citizens away day. Newcastle Lions would like to thank everyone for the support given. The club will be holding further events including on the 17th they invite you to take part in a pub quiz in the Harbour Inn at 9.00 pm and then on Saturday 18th while visiting TESCO Supermarket, you will have another opportunity to donate, if you missed the collection on the previous Saturday.

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Photo, Lion Marian Mc Greevy with her socially distanced collection bucket.

Foodbanks at Christmas.

Newcastle Lions join with Armagh and Down Lions to help Foodbanks at Christmas.

This year with all Lion Clubs finding fund raising difficult, Newcastle Lions Club has joined with Lions in Armagh, Ballynahinch ,Banbridge, Downpaptrick and Newry to combine their efforts to raise much needed funds for all the food banks in each of the towns. At the end of the fund raising on the 12.12.21 , all money donated will be split equally 6 ways for the foodbanks.

The Lions will dig deep in their own pockets having arranged a 5k sponsored walk for the 6 presidents and a raffle. They will also take part in a zoom night at the races.

The fund raising has been very well supported by the local press and the public are encouraged to help the fund raising by donating through, www.lionsnewcastlecodown.org and click the donate button. Remember 100% of your donation will be helping all the foodbanks in the 6 towns.

Peace Poster Competition

Newcastle Lions Club members prepare prizes and certificates for the annual

Peace Poster Competition

In preparation for their annual convention last year, the Lions in Ireland commissioned a survey asking 1029 people, Are you aware of who the Lions are? The results saw 54% of respondents saying they were aware but compared to groups such as the the St Vincent De Paul who scored 96%, the Lions have work to do to make themselves known. When the survey reviewed the question with different age groups , younger people only scored 11% but those over 65 scored 89%.

In trying to make young people aware of the work of the Lions and increase that percentage of awareness of the Lions, over the years Newcastle Lions Club have had a great relationship with local schools and inspite of the difficulties caused by Covid, this year has been no different. In the past numerous primary and post primary schools took part in competitions Newcastle Lions had organised , such as asking schools to produce art work for a Harry Ferguson Centenary event and for calendar on the Theme Don't talk to a stranger. For the Lions this has been helpful in encouraging young people to learn more about the work of lions whether that work is world wide, of lions helping to finance clean water projects or small projects in our town.

This year seven local post primary schools, Kilkeel High School, St Louis Grammar, St. Malachy's High School ,Shimna College, Assumption Grammar, St Colman's School and Sixth Form College Ballynahinch and the High School Ballynahinch are all taking part in a Lions International event, for the Lions Peace Poster, on the theme "We are All Connected". The closing date for entries from the schools is Friday 22nd October at 4.00 pm . the art work will then be judged by two independent professional artists and the winners announced. The Lions International Peace Poster event has been running for more than thirty years. During that time over four million young people from 100 countries worldwide have taken part. The whole idea of creating the peace poster is to give children everywhere the chance to express their vision of peace and inspire the world through art.