Grenfell Tower


Disaster – Update from District 13


We have now raised a huge amount of money. This is magnificent; we have to thank all the Districts and clubs for their generosity. We also have to thank Margaret Fairlie, our Immediate Past District Chairman for her hard work. She went to the Tower nearly every day to assist with the relief work, helping those traumatised by the fire.


Margaret organised two concerts one in Covent Garden, outside one of the restaurants, where a sizeable amount was raised and one in a club near Covent Garden, which again was a great success raising almost the same. Margaret’s daughter, an opera singer, arranged for a group to sing. Inner Wheel members from the District went around with buckets to collect money. It was a huge success. Each cheque that has arrived has been logged on the computer with cheque number, name of club or District and amount, and the same has been done in a ledger before being passed on to the District Treasurer. This is to make sure that all is correct. These cheques are now in the bank account that we opened, after some considerable difficulty with the bank.


One of the Rotarians from Kensington and Chelsea was looking into finding a way to help and to raise money for the people affected. He kept realising he was being taken up blind alleys! He is organising a party for the children on 8th December and has


asked Inner Wheel to help with this. It will be lovely for the children to have something happy for a change.


Our District Treasurer then saw an article in the Guardian newspaper. It was about Kensington Academy, a new school at the base of the Tower which had been in existence for 2 years. It specialises in Art and Drama. They lost four pupils in the fire and two others, who had left this year, also died. The school is very dirty from smoke and affected by other harmful substances. They have been moved to Wormwood Scrubs - (not the prison!) - into Portakabins on the common, I have spoken to the school and the Headmaster would like to meet us.


We have done very well raising this money, but it is now that we have to start working as a team to go forward and help those affected most. We must start looking for ways we can help the Grenfell residents, but with great care. We might have to wait until after the enquiry.


I hope that the when they pull the Tower down and clear the area, perhaps like the Twin Towers, they will make a garden to remember the disaster and a place for people to go and reflect. Maybe there we could plant something permanent in remembrance of those that perished. Nothing has been said about this but perhaps we can hold some of the money back to do this in the future.


Again a big thank you for all the letters and money that we have received from Inner Wheel clubs in all parts of the world and at home. This truly showed the spirit of Inner Wheel.


Rosemary Cone – D 13


Celebrate Inner Wheel during Volunteers’ Week in the 1st week of June 2018! Did you know?


encourages charities across the UK to hold


events to celebrate the difference which volunteers make to the community.


Events are organised in all areas – find an event in your area by contacting your local Volunteer Centre. EVEN BETTER IF (or “EBI”) you arrange your own Inner Wheel event to showcase the work you do as a District or club and send photographs to NCVO. You will then promote IW and raise awareness locally and nationally on the NCVO website.


Page. 04


More than 21 million people volunteer in the UK at least once a year and volunteers contribute an estimated £22.6 billion to the UK economy! Follow what is happening nationally by visiting ncvo.org.uk and search for Volunteers’ week.


(Remember to look on the websites of the relevant organisations for the other parts of GB and I.)


Innerwheel


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16