2026

June

Fareshare South West
They are the region's largest food and environment charity, fighting hunger by redistributing surplus food from the industry to frontline charities, schools, and community groups. Established in 2007, it operates as an independent local charity in partnership with national Fareshare UK.
They have a wide regional reach, operating from warehouses in Bristol and Plymouth, supplying over 350 charities spanning from Gloucestershire down to Cornwall,
The charity saves hundreds of tonnes of food from going to landfill, turning an environmental problem into a social good. Also, backed by hundreds of volunteers, they run supportive volunteering and youth employability programmes to help local people build skills and confidence.
We are a regular supporter having donated regularly to them since 2016.

Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) Baby Lifeline Appeal

The Baby Life Line Midwife Home Birth Bag was created following training community midwives and paramedics in managing emergencies.
Each bag is clearly organised, uses paramedic-style design and includes step-by-step emergency crib cards. Every bag contains the essential equipment needed to save a mother and baby’s life.
For use in Ukraine and areas affected by disaster or war, where safe maternity services are no longer available and healthcare facilities are being targeted, forcing care into underground bunkers. In these situations, midwives must work with limited resources in extremely challenging conditions.

Bristol Children's Help Society ( Barton Camp)

They offer residential and outdoor learning experiences (at their Barton camp site in South Bristol) for children in the surrounding area (including South Gloucestershire) whose personal circumstances have significantly depleted their life opportunities. This could be the result of a wide variety of situations including disability, poverty, parental drug or alcohol misuse, their own status (including being in care or a carer), entering the UK as a refugee, bereavement or mental health issues. Their aim is to promote aspiration, self-determination and resilience through a range of outdoor, team building activities in a rural residential setting. Their facility provides holidays for up to 100 young people at any one time and has been running since 1887.

Thornbury & District Stroke Support Group

This charity provides support and friendship to stroke survivors. This includes encouraging their rehabilitation by providing regular fortnightly social activities, a weekly swimming session, and fortnightly art and bowling groups. The group was formed in 1981 supporting Thornbury and surrounding area.

May

Thornbury Community Composting

The Thornbury Community Composting group located at the Thornbury Leisure centre, was set up 20 years ago in response to the emerging concerns about climate change and is run by volunteers.

Thornbury residents drop off their green waste, which is then taken away for processing and drying to turn into compost. The site is run by volunteers and is not supported by the local Council so it relies on monetary donations from those dropping off their green waste to continue as a community facility.

The site is typically open Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday 9am-3:30pm. The Thornbury Lions Club is delighted to be able to provide funding for this important local resource.

Our President, Paul, with Lynn and the Composting Crew

Marlwood School - Alveston

Marlwood School aims to provide a high quality education, in an inclusive and supportive environment, against a backdrop of high expectations. They aim towards every child discovering their unique talents, making progress and reaching their personal best, whatever their starting point or learning needs.
The Thornbury Lions Club is delighted to help the school as they preparing for their annual theatre production, which this year, is ‘Frozen the Musical’ involving over 100 pupils. Every year this gives the pupils an exciting opportunity to develop confidence, creativity and teamwork.

Winter Is Coming To Ukraine (WICTU4)

WICTU4 is the fourth phase of a proven Lions Club International response to the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine. This phase focuses on delivering mid-size generators (15-500 kVA) to ensure reliable electricity for critical community services during ongoing attacks on energy infrastructure. The generators will keep hospitals, schools, shelters, rescue services and water systems operational in crisis conditions.
The Thornbury Lions Club is delighted to donate funds toward this international crisis.

April

Made a Mark

The charity was founded in 2018 in memory of Mark Knapp, a much-loved husband and father of 2 young children, who died very suddenly and unexpectedly.
Mark made such a positive impact on so many lives that we felt driven to set up this charity to honour his memory and to improve support for those so will follow in our footsteps.
The charity provides memory boxes and supporting materials to hospitals and hospices, which can be given to children and their families following a loss.

Lion Simon presenting our donation cheque to Karen a Trustee of the Made a Mark Charity.

A Made a Mark memory box.

Charlotte Masters

Charlotte has been chosen to represent her Girl Guide unit on a 5-day international trip to Ireland in October 2026. A trip that Charlotte believes will be a great opportunity to build her confidence and develop many other skills including leadership, teamwork, communication and resilience. Charlotte has been busy fundraising for her trip selling handmade greeting cards, selling eggs from her chickens, washing cars and various other activities. The Thornbury Lions Club are delighted to provide Charlotte with a donation toward her trip and wish her all the very best with her fundraising efforts.

Rockhampton Folk Festival Outreach Concerts

It’s not a music festival as you might imagine. There are no commercial stalls, it's simply about the best music and dance, in a lovely countryside venue with a relaxed friendly atmosphere. The proceeds allow them to bring music to disadvantaged groups in our community through their outreach work, and they support local students with Music Tuition Grants.
In 2024 & 2025 Thornbury Lions Club provided funds for their Outreach Concerts. These concerts visit care homes, schools and youth music organisations in Thornbury and the surrounding areas, reaching those who otherwise would not get access to live folk music and we are delighted to once again provide more funding in 2026 for these Outreach Concerts.

Thornbury in Bloom

Formed in 1991, Thornbury in Bloom work with local authorities, local businesses, the wider community and schools to enhance and maintain the town’s appearance all year round. Our aim is not only to provide attractive displays of plants and flowers but to involve and educate members of the community of all ages, local businesses and voluntary groups based in the town, about the importance of caring for our environment and how vital our work is for the well-being of all.

Thornbury enjoyed another successful year in 2025, achieving Gold and overall category winner with South West in Bloom and Gold at the Britain in Bloom National Finals.

Rotary Books4Home Impact Day

Rotary Books4Home Impact Days is an initiative organized by Rotary Great Britain & Ireland designed to tackle low literacy rates by gifting quality, used children's books to local schools for pupils to keep and treasure. Thornbury Lions Club is proud to donate a number of childrens books to this cause.

Tortworth Arboretum

Tortworth Forest Centre are a community restoring the Dell at Tortworth Arboretum to create a woodland where people and trees thrive together.
First planted in 1853, the arboretum has over 185 species of trees from across the world. Previously abandoned, our community of volunteers are helping protect and replant this enchanting woodland for future generations.
Thornbury Lions Club is proud to sponsor the planting of a new tree at the arboretum.

Great Western Air Ambulance

After another successful Easter Egg raffle the Thornbury Lions Club presented a cheque to the Air Ambulance shop in Thornbury.
GWAAC saves lives across Bristol, Bath, North & East Somerset, South Gloucestershire, Gloucestershire, and parts of Wiltshire. It is public support that allows them to keep the air ambulance going so their team can continue to save lives.

Lion Simon presenting a cheque for the total raised from the Thornbury Lions Club Easter Egg Raffle to Gilly of the Great Western Air Ambulance Charity shop in Thornbury

March

This month we have supported

Phoenix Youth Theatre
The Phoenix Youth Theatre is a musical theatre group for young people between the ages of 9 to 18.
They are a Thornbury based charity bringing youth theatre to Bristol, South Gloucestershire and the South West.

Lions Club International Foundation
The LCIF is the charitable arm of the Lions Club International which provides disaster relief through grants to help Lions
clubs throughout the World respond to natural & man-made disasters.

Lion Pete presenting our donation cheque to the Phoenix Youth Theatre Group

February

This month we have supported

Jigsaw - Thornbury
Jigsaw work with families of children and young people (0-25 years) with additional needs or disabilities by
providing friendship, support, compassion and fun activities.

Olveston Primary School
Olveston CEVC Primary School sits at the heart of the South Gloucestershire countryside, in the quintessentially English village of Olveston. It is a school where children have a love of learning, where expectations are high but more importantly every child and adult is valued as an individual; each recognised for their uniqueness.

Lion Pete presenting our donation cheque to Jigsaw

January

This month we have supported

St Peters Hospice
For over 40 years St Peters Hospice has provided adult hospice care to individuals in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, and, North Somerset diagnosed with a life-limiting illness. Care is provided at the individuals home or their hospice in Brentry. Whether the needs are physical, emotional, spiritual, or social, they help individuals face the future with courage, comfort and dignity.

Jessie May
Jessie May supports families and children in the South West with life-threatening, or life-limiting conditions. Their specialist nurses care for children in their homes, support families, and advocate for children who can't speak for themselves.

Link to Hope
Link to Hope is a Christian charity and its aim is to combat poverty, give humanitarian aid, and, have special concern for the most disadvantaged people especially those struggling to survive in poor villages that lack basic amenities that we take for granted. Every year since 1992 this charity has had a shoebox appeal for families or the elderly in Ukraine, Moldova, Bulgaria and Romania. Over 1,000,000 shoeboxes have been delivered to hundreds of locations. The shoeboxes contain various items for all family members.

Sight Support West of England
In December the Thornbury Lions Club ran a raffle at their bookshop in Thornbury for a Christmas Hamper with proceeds raised to be donated to Sight Support West of England. Sight Support West of England is a charity providing practical, emotional, and social support for people living with sight loss across Bristol, Bath, South Gloucestershire, and Wiltshire.

Help given in 2026