Monthly Mailing February 2026

Charters etc

---

Diabetes

Lions Diabetes Webinar Series

1st webinar

Thursday 5th March 2026 7.00pm - 8.00pm

Speaker: Dr. Laxmi Patel
Consultant Psychiatrist and Diabetes Specialist

"Diabetes and Mental Health"
Impact of mental health issues on Diabetes management
30 minutes interactive discussion. 

Zoom link:

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/85993062414?pwd=x0zdvGPGWriBZGjSsm2guKJ3eTpL1g.1
Meeting ID: 859 9306 2414
Passcode: 856683

MD105 National Headquarters

---

Environment

Dear Fellow Lions in District 105SC

Hope you have all managed to keep above water during the recent rains!

Lions International Service Week – Environment 18^th to 26^th April 2026 – ZONE CHAIRS – What is your Zone doing for International Service week? Let me know at environment@lions105sc.org,uk

Following on from last month here are a few additional tips on help to reduce Climate Change:

Throw away less food - When you throw food away, you're also wasting the resources and energy that were used to grow, produce, package, and transport it. And when food rots in a landfill, it produces methane, a powerful greenhouse gas. So purchase only what you need, use what you buy and compost any leftovers. Cutting your food waste can reduce your carbon footprint by up to 300 kilograms of CO2e per year.

Plant native species- If you have a garden or even just a plant or two outside your home, check for native species. Use a plant identification app to help. And then think about replacing non-natives, especially any considered invasive. Plants, animals and insects depend on each other. Most insects will not eat non-native plants, which means birds and other species lose a food source. Biodiversity suffers. Even a single tree or shrub can offer a refuge – just remember to skip insecticides and other chemicals.

Clean up your environment - Humans, animals and plants all suffer from land and water contaminated by improperly discarded garbage. Use what you need, and when you have to throw something out, dispose of it properly. Educate others to do the same, and participate in local clean-ups of parks, rivers, beaches and beyond. Every year, people throw out 2 billion tons of trash. About a third causes environment harms, from choking water supplies to poisoning soil.

Make your money count - Everything we spend money on affects the planet. You have the power to choose which goods and services you support. To reduce your environmental impact, choose products from companies who use resources responsibly and are committed to cutting their gas emissions and waste. If you have money that is being invested for you, through a pension fund for instance, it may be supporting fossil fuels or deforestation. Making sure your savings are invested in environmentally sustainable businesses can greatly reduce your carbon footprint.

Speak up - Speak up and get others to join in taking action. It's one of the quickest and most effective ways to make a difference. Talk to your neighbours, colleagues, friends, and family. Let business owners know you support bold changes – from plastics-free products and packaging to zero-emissions vehicles. Appeal to local and world leaders to act now. Climate action is a task for all of us. And it concerns all of us. No one can do it all alone – but we can do it together.

And for the Future…

World Wildlife Day – Tuesday 3rd March 2026

Held every year on 3rd March. It celebrates and raises awareness of the world's wild animals and plants.

We all rely on wildlife and biodiversity-based resources to meet our needs, from food to fuel, medicines, housing, and clothing. Millions of people also rely on nature as the source of their livelihoods and economic opportunities. As such, this day seeks to raise awareness of the vital role our wildlife has in sustaining the planet.

Food Waste Action Week – Monday 9th to Friday 13th March 2026

Organised by Love Food Hate Waste, is the UK's biggest annual food waste reduction campaign. The week highlights the environmental impact of food waste while offering practical solutions, and encourages households to rethink how they store, cook, and use food to prevent waste.

With eye-opening facts, creative recipes, and simple hacks, it hopes to inspire people to make small changes that add up.

16^th – 22^nd March Trees are the key Awareness week seeks to raise awareness of the many health benefits of trees. Particularly how planting more trees can help to tackle climate change.

Do you have an Environmental Project / Article that your Club would like to share. If so. Then e-mail me at environment@lions105SC.org.uk

Kind Regards

Paul Allaway

See you at Convention

---

ROAR

Since its launch:
Hundreds of clubs & schools have entered ROAR
Over 200,000 children have engaged with ROAR
Have you seen this year's ROAR trailer? Watch it here www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs3RR3AOqzM
Check out the LIONS ROAR Website for more info - www.lionsclubroar.org.uk

You too can be part of ROAR, an exciting, innovative ideas competition for primary schools.
An inspirational and fun learning experience for children aged 7 to 11, encouraging them to use their imagination to create 'world changing ideas'.
It helps them to 'think big and dream big'.

Be part of the growing number of Lions Clubs who have discovered the exciting and extremely rewarding Lions ROAR programme.
Join Lions Alastair Joel on Zoom to learn all about the Lions ROAR programme on the following dates:
26th February
18th and 23rd March
Zoom meetings open at 7:15 pm for a 7:30 pm start - finishing at 8:30 pm
Please confirm attendance to Alastair Joel

Join through the Zoom link:
us02web.zoom.us/j/89654254912?pwd=LQc8hdZAHUJ3TJOCbxSDSts1waqMVn.1
Meeting ID: 896 5425 4912
Passcode: 309413

Di Hopkins - District Governor

Lions ROAR 2026 Launch

Last year's ROAR programme was another success for this new MD Youth Programme and in 2025 we had 66 Clubs, 133 schools and some 25,000 children taking part in ROAR, the enthusiasm of these participants leaves little doubt that many more clubs and schools will be interested in ROAR 2026 and reap the amazing benefits of the programme.

Our partners 8billion ideas confirm that nearly 200,000 children have now participated in ROAR and that they believe that this is one of the largest enterprise competitions in UK primary education history. They say that what makes ROAR more powerful is the value for impact received. At a modest cost per school the programme delivers profound outcomes for students-academically, creatively and personally. Initiatives like this are simply not common enough in education, yet the benefits are clear to all that see it in action, both inside and outside the classroom.

The information on how ROAR is run and what Clubs need to do is attached: - The ROAR LAUNCH INFORMATION FOR CLUBS give the outline detail and the ROAR ROADMAP gives the detail required at each stage and The LAUNCH POSTER gives a short, clear summery for PR use. However, to particularly assist Clubs which have not engaged before PDG Alastair Joel is holding four ROAR Information Evenings that will run on 17th and 26th February and 18th and 23rd March starting at 7:30pm and will last an hour. Here interested Clubs can gain the advice of experienced Clubs.

The Zoom Meetings will be held at:

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89654254912?pwd=LQc8hdZAHUJ3TJOCbxSDSts1waqMVn.1

If required, please use Meeting ID: 896 5425 4912 and Passcode: 309413

Please indicate attendance to PCC Alastair Joel

Also, with the help of our partner, 8billionideas, we have produced a brief 'trailer' video and a presentation video (just under 3 minutes) explaining the programme, it's benefits and outlining what your club needs to do – these will be well worth watching prior to the Zoom Sessions; these videos will also make a great talking point at one of your meetings

More details can be found on ROAR website www.lionsclubroar.org.uk and Clubs may also contact the ROAR Team detailed in the ROADMAP.

We wish you every success with ROAR 2026

MD105 ROAR Team

ROAR 2026- Programme Roadmap - V2.pdf

---

Sight

Supporting eye health for all

For over 40 years, Lions Sight Savers Trust has stood alongside Sightsavers in the fight against avoidable blindness, helping to protect the sight of thousands of people across Africa and South Asia. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Lions Clubs, almost £4 million has been donated during this time – an extraordinary achievement. Vision remains one of Lions' global causes, and this partnership is a powerful example of how Lions are transforming lives through sight-saving services.

Thank you for another incredible year of protecting sight, eliminating disease and fighting for a fairer and more equal world. Your support has enabled Sightsavers to expand vital eye health programs, screen millions of people for cataracts and other eye conditions and take school-based eye health care into more countries. We are pleased to enclose an update on Sightsavers' work helping to reach marginalised communities in desperate need of eye health services and treatments for neglected tropical diseases and share their plans. In 2026, Sightsavers is more determined than ever to scale up programmes and further strengthen local health systems and deliver over 500,000 sight-restoring surgeries, distribute 700,000 pairs of glasses, and carry out more than 8 million eye examinations.

Two people to benefit from Sightsavers' support is Margaret and her son Chisomo – thanks to Sightsavers inclusive eye health programme in Malawi, they both received sight-restoring cataract surgeries. Read their story inside.

Please continue to support Lions Sight Savers Trust this year. Cheques or bank transfers can be made payable to your District, with cheques endorsed on the back 'Lions Sight Savers' and sent to your District Treasurer in the usual way.

Yours in friendship and Lionism,

David Pope - Trustee and Secretary, Lions Sight Savers Trust

Patrick Hamblin - Trustee, Lions Sight Savers Trust

Supporting eye health for all - Lions Sight Savers Trust Nov 25.pdf

---

Youth Exchange

Following the winter forum, please find attached details of how clubs can go about promoting Lions International Youth Camps in their own areas as issued last August. I have included a short PowerPoint presentation that clubs can adapt for their own personal use in schools and colleges and updated all of the materials for promotion in September this year so plenty of time to plan.

Kind Regards

Stephen Sherring
Lions 105SC District Youth Exchange Officer

Lions International Youth Camp & Exchange Program 2027

Thinking ahead to the start of the new academic year in September 2026, now is a good time to consider and prepare for your club's involvement with the Lions Youth Exchange Program in 2027. Enclosed is a timetable of actions to ensure you successfully promote Youth Camps abroad to you people in your local area.

Sending young people abroad

It doesn't need to cost your club anything to offer this fantastic opportunity for travel to young people in your area as it is self funded (travel and spending money) and lions in the country chosen will usually meet food and accommodation expenses whilst abroad.

This year there were approximately 100 Lions International Youth Camps to choose from this summer and each young person can choose where they want to go. Each camp has an age restriction but the minimum age is 16 and very few accept applications from anyone aged over 22.

You should first of all prepare your website with instructions on how to apply and the process involved and then promote this locally in schools, colleges, and publishing an article in the local paper. Enclosed is some example text and documents from the Ringwood & Fordingbridge Website that can be adapted to your clubs requirements.

For further information of help please contact me at youthexchange@lions105sc.org.uk

Regards

Stephen Sherring
Lions 105SC District Youth Exchange Officer

The Lions International Youth Camp Program

A Suggested Timetable of events for sending Youths Outbound

August - update website and Youth Exchange bespoke application and factsheet on your site to show that we are inviting applications from anyone who lives, or attends school and college in your local area, aged between 16 and 22 who wishes to take part in the scheme.

Approach sixth form colleges/schools in your area to request an invitation to come into school and address years 11 & 12 at an assembly about the scheme. Publish an article in local newspapers and magazines inviting applications from anyone aged 16-22 living locally in the area who would like to apply for a place at an international lions youth camp abroad next year.

September - Hopefully arrange dates and times to attend assemblies at school to present about the Lions Youth Camps abroad. I have a bespoke presentation on PowerPoint with videos of our Dr Patti Hill talking about the scheme and hosting and a video of Katie explaining about her time abroad in JAPAN in 2024 which you can use and adapt for your needs.

October - Adopt a closing date before half term for the receipt of applications which can be sent to the club Youth Officer through the school, post, or by email. The form is a scaled down version of the European Application Form but designed to give your club specific authority to retain their personal data, and contain a declaration that will affords your club an absolute right to refuse to progress any application without reason if required. An example of such a form can be found attached with this guide. Each applicant should ideally provide a referee and their parents should sign the application and provide their contact details.

October/November- The Club should ideally arrange a short 30 min on-line interview for each applicant that can involve parents/guardians. It's very informal and a way of finding out a little bit more about each applicant and for the young person and their parent to ask questions.

November/December– Your club should issue an acceptance email and guidance notes to every successful applicant copying in their parent/guardian and school if applicable with a copy of the latest European Application Form agreed at Europa Forum and a link to the YEX section of the Lions International Website explaining where they can look at the list of camps. Each applicant has to choose their top 3 camps. You should ask them to complete the form in excel, save it and send it to the club Youth Officer as an email attachment, and at the same time print the form, sign and date it where indicated, scan this document and send it to the club Youth Officer by email as well as a jpeg of their passport, and a head and shoulder passport style photo jpeg, and a dear host family letter (so called as it is a letter the applicant creates to their prospective host family abroad telling them about themselves and ideally containing a few photos).

Once you have these your club Youth Officer can fill in the sections on the excel form relating to your Club endorsing their application and send this in excel to the District Youth Exchange Officer alongside the following:-

• a pdf of the signed excel document signed by the applicant, their parent, and your club Youth Officer; and
• a pdf copy of the dear host family letter prepared by the applicant; and
• a jpeg photo of the applicant; and
• a pdf copy of the applicant's passport.

Ideally the documents should be sent encrypted and password protected as they contain sensitive data. Winzip is a free easy way of creating a password for any documents sent by email in this way.

The District Officer will then endorse the application form and send this (along with the documents listed above) on to the MD Youth Exchange Officer, who will then similarly add their own details and that of the MD data protection officer and then send the document packs out to their international counterparts in the countries that each students has chosen, beginning with their first choice.

Results and feedback including any acceptances and documents are sent through the District Officer onto the club who has endorsed the applicant and ultimately onto the applicant.

Your club doesn't have to pay any of the costs for those who wish to take part in the scheme but do try to make it clear to them what these are likely to be in advance during the interview and application process. Please provide each applicant and parent with every assistance during the process particularly when looking at travel abroad, and the visa application process if required but don't give any advice - just guidance. If you have any questions, please email or call me using the details shown below:

Stephen Sherring

District 105SC Youth Exchange Officer

youthexchange@lions105sc.org.uk