Our Local Community Projects

We are committed to serving and working with the local community, in and around Marlow. We are often able to respond quickly to requests for help and either physical or financial support or both as can be seen from the case studies below.

We welcome appeals for help from anyone with a genuine and worthy local need or charitable cause that we may be able to help or support. We are a relatively new club and our ability to respond is subject to our available resources. However we will always try to assist and advise.

MBRC Promoting & Supporting One Can Trust

 The One Can Trust foodbank was founded in 2011 and set up as an emergency source of food for those in need. The charity supports individuals and families across the whole of South Bucks and is currently providing weekly food parcels for over 440 people, half of
which are children.  Sadly, One Can expect this number to significantly rise again over the coming months as the current economic climate becomes more challenging.
 
Marlow Bridge Rotary Club promotes and supports the activities of One Can and the local Street Heroes scheme. Please get in touch if you would like to donate food to One Can, you can become a One Can ‘Street Hero’ to have a local collection point for One Can, or make a financial donation.
 
Further information is available on the website www.onecantrust.org.uk or by phoning ​01494 512277
​
 Information from One Can October 2020

MBRC ​Promoting & Supporting Marlow Energy Group

Marlow Energy Group (MEG) was founded in early 2020 and is a ‘not for profit’ Community Benefit Society run by volunteers with the following objectives. Make Marlow a net zero carbon town Facilitate knowledge exchange, effective networking and collaboration Develop/invest in renewable energy schemes Support local community share ownership and opportunities for local businesses
 
MEG's strategy is motivated by the climate crisis and urgent need for humanity to reduce man-made emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases. It is also fully consistent with the Town Council's ambition for Marlow to become net zero carbon. We would like to set a date of 2030 by the latest to achieve net zero carbon. This is based on science, not political expediency. In Marlow and surrounding Parishes, MEG intends to help individuals, householders, schools and businesses, plus religious, public and community organisations, to generate renewable energy and reduce energy use.

The Environment is a key focus of Rotary overall.  Marlow Bridge Rotary Club is keen to support and promote MEG's activities and the ‘Ask the Experts’ presentations to help in such a key part of the future for Marlow.
 
For more information on MEG visit our website www.marlowenergygroup.com

​ Information from MEG October 2020

MBRC Promoting & Supporting Marlow Wombles

Marlow Wombles (MW) was set up in 2018 by Emma Hawkins who was determined to Make Marlow Marvellous by helping to clear unsightly litter found in and around the town. A small group of like-minded individuals set about organising regular litter picks and came up with ideas for brightening up residential streets. These activities improve the look of the town and enhance the well-being of those involved by providing exercise, opportunities to socialise as well as developing a pride in the community. MW have organised litter picks with other groups, including Globe Park, SoftCat, the Brownies and participants in the Duke of ​Edinburgh Award scheme.
Recent projects include ‘Bin the Butt’ where local businesses were encouraged to provide outside cigarette butt bins; The Great Big September Clean and currently Ditch the Disposables, providing good quality cloth masks as an alternative to disposable ones.
MW are constantly looking for ways to engage with and encourage the local community to take care of Marlow together. Marlow Bridge Rotary Club has worked in collaboration with MW to give practical assistance and promotion. 
​
More details on Marlow Wombles www.facebook.com/groups/353353685395351 
​Information from Marlow Wombles October 2020

MBRC Supporting PHAB Club Marlow

The Thames Valley PHAB Club, based in Marlow, is one of over 170 local clubs across England and Wales that are affiliated to the national organisation whose mission is to inspire people of all abilities to make more of life together.

What we do?
Thames Valley PHAB is for adults in High Wycombe, Marlow and surrounding areas.  We exist to promote and encourage people of all abilities to come together on equal terms to achieve complete inclusion within the wider community. We serve people with disabilities, their families, friends and carers and provide social evenings, events, outings and weekends away.

The club is currently closed due to the COVID-19 Crisis.  In the meantime, the club is staying in touch with the members by whatever means is suitable to keep their spirits up in these difficult times.  Once the club reopens, Marlow Bridge Rotary Club members aim to offer support by assisting at PHAB Club meetings and look to help out with transport. 

For more information on PHAB Marlow visit www.thamesvalleyphab.org.uk
​Information from PHAB in Marlow November 2020

MBRC and MMDF (Making Marlow Dementia Friendly) 

Our aims are to create a greater awareness and knowledge of Dementia in Marlow by holding Dementia awareness events, training and building upon support from individuals, organisations and businesses across the whole Marlow community and beyond. 

​We are also delighted to have the very kind support of Joy Morrissey MP, Steve Baker MP, along with Marlow Town Council and many contacts in Buckinghamshire Council.

For all the details on MMDF, please see the separate section on this web site and also see our dedicated web site at www.mmdf.co.uk

MBRC Promoting & Supporting
​Chiltern Rangers

Chiltern Rangers was founded in June 2013 by John Shaw and Tony Speight as a Community Interest Company delivering practical land management and advice. Since then we have expanded our team of staff which also includes a number of volunteers. We aim to provide enriching experiences with local communities to conserve and enhance the local environment.
 
·      You can make a real difference to the environment by working at one of the many fantastic nature reserves across The Chilterns.
·      Join our expert rangers with over 30 years’ experience in conservation and over 5 years expertise in running outdoor team building sessions.
·      Enjoy the Chilterns’ countryside and its fascinating wildlife, but also a day of exercise, fresh air, and for many, a life-enhancing experience. 
·      Get hands-on with a range of tasks and create homes for birds, butterflies and wildflowers.
·      Can choose to help a specific site, habitat type or even ‘help butterflies’
·      Or have a go at improving community visitor facilities by building a bench, installing steps or clearing paths to name a few.

​Marlow Bridge Rotary Club has worked in collaboration with Chiltern Rangers such as at the Spade Oak Nature Reserve below.  The club's members look forward to working on a planned project in Little Marlow in 2021. 
​
For more information on Chiltern Rangers www.chilternrangers.co.uk  
Information from Chiltern Rangers November 2020

 The Marlow Santa Fun Run -
​MBRC helps support ​this every year

We are very proud to be an essential part of the organisation of the Annual Santa's Fun Run each year and the photo above shows a 'normal' Santa's Fun Run with 3,500 Santas coming up the High Street in Marlow.

Due to the COVID-19 Crisis the 16th Santa's Fun Run will be very different this year and entrants can run anywhere in the world!   

The dates have just been changed to 19th - 20th December or later in December.  For all the details and how to enter please go to  www.santasfunrun.org

We helped clear footpaths around
​The Spade Oak Nature Reserve

In January 2018, The Marlow Bridge Rotary Club, helped to tidy up part of the overgrown footpath which surrounds the nature reserve lake. We were assisted by The Chiltern Rangers who supplied equipment and technical advice. Work involved cutting back hedges and trees and repairing paths. It was great fun and very satisfying to realise how much we achieved. 

MBRC - Helping Anne Salinas recover from
​Guillain-Barre syndrome

Marlow Bridge Rotary Club raised funds to buy a special MOTOmed Viva 2 exercise trainer (Cost £7,000) for Anne Salinas, a local Marlow mother of three, suddenly paralysed with Guillain-Barre syndrome in 2015 losing the ability to move, swallow, talk and even breathe unaided. After 3 years of immobility, she was well enough to return home with 24hr nursing care, but needed the machine and a special standing frame purchased by MBRC, to recover some of her mobility. 

The fight to eliminate Polio.
​ MBRC Crocus Bulb planting in Marlow

Marlow Bridge Rotary club  members turned up in force to plant 10,000 'Ruby Giant' purple crocus bulbs, 300 daffodil and tulip bulbs as well as 50 flowering shrubs at Riley Park in the heart of Marlow. Purple crocuses are symbolic of Rotarys campaign to eradicate polio and the colour represents the dye used to mark the finger of an immunised child.

​On 25 August 2020 Rotary and its partners in the Global Polio Eradication Initiative (GPEI) were proud to announce an historic public health achievement as the World Health Organization's African region is now certified wild poliovirus-free.

MBRC with Naomi Riches -
rowing the Thames to raise money ​for In-vision

Associate member of Marlow Bridge Rotary Club, Naomi Riches MBE (Paralympic Gold Medalist) set a new Guinness World Record as the fastest woman to row down the River Thames in a single scull: 165 miles from Lechlade to Gravesend. We are proud to have supported her and helped her raise money for IN-VISION to fight Nystagmus.