Rotary Car Parking in Cambridge at Christmas 2017 raises £37,500

Rotary Club Cambridge South extend a huge thank you to all our Cottenham volunteer helpers and to all the people who parked with us.

The Rotary club Cambridge South and lots of friends manned the 3 car parks for 15 days in Cambridge over 6 weekends starting on 25 November until 31 December plus 27- 29 December and raised the wonderful amount of £37,500, despite the snow on a couple of days. Volunteers filled over 280 time-slots!

Motorists paid a contribution of £7 (or more if they wished) for as long as they liked whilst the car park was open. This open time helps reduce the stress for shoppers of a substantially increasing charge (or having to wait in the queue for a parking place for ages!) and give, we hope, a more relaxed Christmas and New Year Sales shopping experience for them and perhaps for High Street shop staff. Motorists regularly tell us how delighted they are to be able to park with us, and always give us a few amusing stories to share with our friends.

Of course, the huge added advantage is that the money all goes to very good causes.

Dial a Ride (minibus service for disabled and elderly); Centre 33 (relieving suffering from mental and physical ill health); Villiers Park Educational Trust (for socially disadvantaged 14-18 year olds); Camsight (helping people with impaired vision); Cambridge Re-Use (furniture and electricals for low income families); Wintercomfort for the homeless; CAMpod (medical research at Cambridge University); CU Vet school trust (crucial care for sick and injured animals); and other Rotary and small local and International charities (including water and sanitation facilities for a Maasai school Naalarami) in Tanzania where Cottenham people have been very much involved), will benefit.

A number of cheques will be handed out to local charities on Monday 5 February at Westminster College.

More volunteers are needed for next year (it only happens because of volunteers!). If you could spare a few hours and would like to help with the car parking at Christmas 2018 please contact me 

Please see the Rotary Club Cambridge South website if you would like to know more about Rotary – whose motto is “Service above Self” and main worldwide aim is to eradicate Polio within the next few years.
Our club (which has celebrated its first 50 Years) meets on Mondays (except bank holidays) at 5.45 for 6.15 at Westminster College with some great speakers. New members are very welcome.

We have recently started a Rotary Business forum early on alternate Friday mornings at Waterbeach as a Business networking group. This is going very well. If you would like to know more, please let me know.

Once again, many thanks,
Mike Smith
Rotary Club Cambridge South