CORPORATE  MEMBERS

The definition of corporate is to relate to a large company or group. In the majority of Rotary Clubs this has been linked to businesses and companies.

Here, at Bourne End & Cookham we have a different perception. Over many years we have been working with a cohort of Primary Schools. These schools have been involved with a variety of our activities – Pudsey and Children in Need, Rotakids Clubs, Rotary competitions, writing poems for display at Pennys Corner Peace Garden are just a few examples. We have also supported our Primary Schools both locally and in Zambia to help them with a variety of projects and partnerships to benefit their pupils and extend the opportunities available to them.

Our target this last Rotary year was to introduce one of these schools into becoming a Corporate member of our Club.

Juniper Hill School in Flackwell Heath, led by Mrs Claire Garnett, accepted our invitation. After several initial meetings the school formed a group of teachers who co-ordinate and work with us on our joint activities. We have a mutual fund raising programme, the school has run activities at their Christmas and Summer Fairs for our club projects and we have continued to support their addition of specialist equipment that they need to support their new Unit.

The school has also set up, with the support of our Club, a partnership with Matipula Primary School in Chongwe, Zambia. The pupils are writing letters to the Zambian children who will be replying to their new friends. The Headteachers have been in contact and the plans are for an exchange visit to their partner schools for both parties to learn more about life, culture and education opportunities for both schools.

This is a very exciting time for both schools, teachers, pupils and also for our Club. We are looking forward to the development and progress of this exchange and our Corporate partnership.

Our plans are to extend this opportunity to more of the schools in our cohort. All part of Rotary’s theme for this year of ‘Unite for Good’