FOR five decades, the Lions Club of Basingstoke (LCB) has come to the aid of local, national and international causes, helping change the lives of thousands of people in need of support.

To celebrate the club’s 50th anniversary, The Gazette’s Clive Hammond caught up with Philip Wilson, member of the club for 30 years, to look at the Lions’ impact on society ahead of its special charter celebration on Saturday...

SET up in 1967, LCB has become an integral part of community life. Throughout the decades, LCB has raised money for charities at home, whilst supporting causes including UNICEF’s Disaster Fund abroad.

During its existence, the club has raised nearly £500,000. Philip, who is the club’s media officer, said: “In the past 30 years the charity map of the UK has changed significantly and we have changed our focus accordingly.

“The current financial climate has brought about a significant rise in cases of domestic distress and emergency cases referred to us for assistance as a result of our contact with local social services representatives.

"We have been able, by the application of small amounts of money and good liaison with local traders, to alleviate many such cases where no other source of funding was available – e.g domestic equipment breakdowns, food vouchers for baby items, school uniforms, utilities top ups for people returning from prolonged stays in hospital, carpeting in sick children’s bedrooms, rail/bus tickets to attend medical appointments or visit terminally ill relatives.

“Where a problem is brought to our attention we do our best to assist wherever we can without creating dependency.

“To some extent we seem to have become the ‘welfare polyfilla’ for Basingstoke.”

The Lions Club, which as an organisation commemorates its 100th years as a registered charity this year, lives by a very simple philosophy: “Where there’s a need, there’s a lion”.

The Basingstoke branch raises money which it then donates to local causes as well as to the Lions Club International Foundation.

What’s striking about the Lions’ influence is just how much it has done to help causes in the borough.

It provided a swimming pool at Lymington House School; a hoist at the old town centre swimming pool to help disabled swimmers enter and leave the pool; equipped the town’s ambulance service with defibrillators; and with the help of J Davy and another member, donated an ambulance.

When Naomi House Children’s Hospice was being set up, LCB also raised £75,000 for it .

“Throughout the existence of the Lions, the purpose has remained the same,” Philip said.

“It is to provide a vehicle through which people of good can serve their own and the international community.

“How each club does this is up to its members.”

Other ventures the group carries out includes meetings with Alençon Cité, the French branch of the group.

Alençon Cité Lions Club, is the French branch of the group which visits and welcomes members to its shores before competing in the hotly contested Jean Le Noac’h Trophy – a boules tournament.

The Lions Club of Basingstoke continues to fundraise with its putting tournament a firm fete favourite, its swimathon an annual splash and Lenny the Lion – a mascot conjured up by the club’s first female president Ann Vicars – a regular in and around the town.

“To achieve anything, one must fundraise,” Philip Wilson, the club’s media officer, said. “

And it is a fundamental tenet of Lions Clubs International that what is raised for charity goes to charity.

“The members pay for the club. Membership is open to anyone over the age of 18 who would like to serve their community. As our mayor once remarked: ‘giving money is easy, giving time shows commitment’”.