Lions 105SC - Convention 2026

Sat 28th March 2026

Childhood Cancer - Lion Paula Thorpe 

Articles have been published in The Sentinel raising awareness of the Caps for Courage.

An article was also published in the Sentinel about the impact of childhood cancer on families.

Competitions - Lion Sandra Manktelow

www.lions105sc.org.uk/clubs/competitions.html

PDG Judith Goodchild ensured that the website was up to date with information about the competitions. The form for clubs to put in an entry to a competition was sent out early so clubs could start to compete it. 

When Judith passed to higher service, I took on the role making sure that clubs were aware of the various competitions available and the deadline for entries.  The photographic competition had several entries from different Lions.  The Dave Ebsworth Environmental Award received 2 entries; The Ian Hambleton Hunger Award received 2 entries, the Colin Rickman Award for Youth Services 2 entries and the Bill Field Cup for Sight one entry.  The Ian Birch Award for Membership had one entry. Sadly, there were no entries for the Nixon Award for Community Service, or the Barrie Richardson Travelling Lion Award.  

I wonder what can be done to rejuvenate the competition system as there are 48 clubs in our district but only eight clubs sent in entries and about ten Lions submitted photographs for the photographic competition.

Dementia - Lion Denise Deacon

1.1 Decisions Required of Cabinet: None

1.2 Justification for Decisions: N/A

1.3 Objectives for the Year:

To promote environmental initiatives and awareness and encourage clubs within the

district to take on appropriate projects.

1.4 Progress against Objectives

To achieve my objectives, I have successfully written monthly articles for District mailings and the Sentinel that have focused on Environmental aspects.

In the last year these articles have focused on –

- Clean-up of Waterways – Beaches, Village Ponds, Rivers etc.

- Ideas received from the Clubs and continuing focus on Wild Tribe Heroes

- Nature jobs for the Winter in your garden – The Pollinator scheme

- Christmas Recycling and further focus on the Pollinator Scheme.

- Ways to reduce Climate Change

- Recycling initiatives

- Rewilding

I have received positive feedback from a couple of Clubs in the District but with over 50 Clubs in 105SC am disappointed at the level of responses.

I would ask that all Zone Chairs promote these iniatives to their Clubs and encourage them to report any projects undertaken or new ideas to me.

Ideas for future articles are always welcome.

Spectacles

This remains a popular service with clubs and the public. However, the number of spectacles collected is phenomenal. Happily, throughout this year, the process for transferring them to National HQ or Chichester has greatly improved making the entire operation much easier for all concerned. We also anticipate several clubs bringing boxes to the convention for transport to the National HQ.

Child Sight UK

Massive thanks to all the clubs that contributed towards purchasing the Plusoptix cameras. The match-funding application was submitted to LCIF and approved in August. The funds were transferred to the district in November. As a result, we were able to purchase 12 cameras, which were delivered just before Christmas. A superb Christmas present for the district.

Since Christmas, we have been holding operator training sessions, and as of the date of this report, we have 49 trained operators, with more scheduled to attend classes in March and April. 

We will be screening at two schools in March and will now actively promote this service to schools across the district. We would like to run screening sessions in 10 schools before the end of the school year.

Thanks go to the district leads/trainers for this project: Barry Marner, Carol Cross, Jarvis Macdonald, John Cleary, Richard Weaver, Sandra Manketelow, Tony Bamberger, William Lenihan, & Julian Bridges. Without their support, this project would not succeed.  

The Lions International Youth Camp and Exchange Program introduces thousands of young people (aged between 16 and 22) to life in other cultures by helping them experience living with a host family in another country and then spending time at an international youth camp (whilst called camps most don't involve a tent or any camping). Each year usually over 100 camps are available to choose from 40 or more different countries around the world.  The scheme has been in operation since 1961.  

Clubs in our District can participate in one of two ways; 

1) by inviting anyone aged 16-22 from their local communities to apply for a place at an international youth camp of their choosing around the world next summer; and/or 

2) by offering to assign one or more of their club members to act as a short term host family for youths applying for a place at the camp in this country next year.

The personal information clubs receive from youths who apply for this scheme is very sensitive and needs to be stored securely in order to comply with Data Protection Laws.

Updates

1) MD 105 Youth Camp 2026

Name: Loughborough Legends

Location: Loughborough University

Dates of Camp: 10 August – 20 August 2026

Arrival Airport: Birmingham International 

Camp Fee: £250.00

Dates of Hosting Prior to Camp: 5 August – 10 August 2026

Camp Leader: Lion Sue Hibbert

MD have so far received 4 applications to this camp. 

Youth Camp & Exchange Website

Tom Sayers completed the construction of a new Youth Camp Website (www.md105youth.uk) in 2025. Philip Goodier (MD105 Youth Camp & Exchange Officer) is aware but it was not used by District A as a resource for 2025.  Details have been shared with this year's camp Lead, Sue Hibbert.

2) MD 105 Youth Camp Hosting

Hosting has reduced to only 5 days to make it easier for Districts to find host families this year.  Every District, except CE is expected to find host families for 4 youths.  Last year we hosted 6. Anyone from clubs interested in welcoming an international young person who may not have visited our country before for up to 5 days should contact me in the first instance for further details. We offer a daily rate of re-imbursement of £25.00 per youth up to a maximum of £125.00.  I will be looking to finalise a list for MD by 1 March this year.

3) Outbound Youth Exchange

John & Kris from Salisbury & District Lions Club have submitted 2 applications for youth in their area to attend a Lions Youth Camp abroad.  These have been sent on to MD and both have secured their first choice of camp. This is the first time Salisbury & District have participated in the scheme in this way and all has gone smoothly.  

Ringwood & Fordingbridge Lions Club have also submitted 10 applications to attend a Lions Youth Camp abroad.  These have been sent on to MD and 7 have secured their first choice of camp.  One has an interview coming up with Wisconsin Lions, USA on-line. A further 5 applications are anticipated.

Any other Lions Clubs interested in submitting applications for youth wanting to attend a Lions International Youth Camp abroad this summer should send their applications to me as quickly as possible as most camps close their application process in March 2026.

So far we have the following outbound youths from District SC:-

1. William G - Japan - Summer camp in TOHOKU, Fukushima

2. Jing F. - Japan - Summer camp in TOHOKU, Fukushima

3. Tom W. – Brazil – Friendship Beyond Borders Camp - The participants will visit various cities and cultural sites across São Paulo state, including museums, tourist landmarks, and beaches. They will also attend a traditional samba school, immersing themselves in local folklore and music. The program will include opportunities for sports and social gatherings to facilitate cultural exchange and friendship

4. Emma L. - Brazil – Friendship Beyond Borders Camp – see above for further details.

5. Zoe C - Finland – Spirit of Karelia Camp – The camp offers the best of Finland: beautiful lakes, green forests, traditional sauna, and a touch of mysterious local art. Join our adventure in Parikkala to create new friendships and memories that will last a lifetime

6. Noah F – Finland – Spirit of Karelia Camp – see above for further details

7. Indigo-Nancy S. – Hungary - The hidden treasures of Central-Hungary. Sightseeing and leisure programs in Monor, sightseeing and leisure programs in Budapest and in the central region of Hungary, Gödöllő Sissi Castle, and activities including: horse-drawn carriage ride, walk in the cellar village, wine tasting, folk dancing, wellness, swimming, sensitisation programmes, City tour in Budapest (Buda Castle, Parliament, Heroes square and more…), Budapest by night.

8. Amy H. – Iowa USA - Camp Activities Include: Learning about Iowa our history and Iowa Lions. They will see historical sites around Iowa, a bison farm, alpaca farm, a county fair, our State Capital, an Amusement Park, one of our shopping malls, frisbee golf, zipline, horseback riding, and more.

9. Isla C - Massachusetts USA – Exploring Boston & Massachusetts

MD have received only 14 applications from the whole of MD105 so far this year and 12 of these are from District SC.

4) District 105SC International Youth Camp 2030

Each District in turn will be invited to host an MD105 International Youth Camp with CE having agreed to host for 2026 at Loughborough, CN hosting in 2027, CW hosting in 2028, N hosting in 2029 and SC being invited to host in the summer of 2030. 

We need to make preparations for hosting the MD105 international youth camp in District 105SC in the summer of 2030 and assembling a team.  MD have produced a guide (https://fliphtml5.com/bookcase/kucxm/) which states that the camp usually lasts for 11 days, 10 nights, should accommodate anywhere up to 40 young people (aged between 18-22), and takes place during the summer break in the UK (late July to August).  

I think we should aim to follow the format approached for the last 2 years and aim for a group size of 20 young people (aged between 18 and 22), I minibus driver, and 3 Lions Leaders on site throughout with additional support as needed on each of the days.  This will need to be agreed by the Committee once established

The District SC hosting team should ideally comprise 6-8 members and the roles we need to fill include:

• Youth Camp Chairman,

• Youth Camp Treasurer, 

• Youth Camp Secretary, 

• Youth Camp Officer for Logistics/Transportation incl minibus driver, 

• Youth Camp Planning Officer, 

• Youth Camp Officials/Counsellors who will be on site throughout (3). 

• Welcome Committee to meet and greet at the airport

• Support from local Lions clubs and previous young people attending Lions Youth Camps abroad in previous years on the various activity days 

There are more positions to fill than District Officers available in the current Youth Team and so recruitment will have to be made externally from Clubs and Zones directly.  An article was published in the January Sentinel asking for ideas and volunteers.  I have received no enquiry about this yet from any club.  Ideally we will need:

1. Ideas of activities and suitable locations for camp  from all clubs; and

2. Volunteers from Clubs who have had previous experience with Schools and/or dealing/supervising youth activities; and

3. A designated Camp Director prepared to be on site at the camp permanently for 11 days (10 nights) during the Summer of 2030; and

4. Access to a Minibus and Driver from a Club who is prepared to be on site at the camp permanently for 11 days (10 nights) during the Summer of 2030; and

5. A representative from each Zone on the Committee; and

6. Volunteers from clubs close to London Airports to create a welcoming committee; and

7. Additional volunteers from clubs who would like to be involved in the planning stages, health and safety, production of camp materials and brochure, finance or helping on site at camp  

Lions District SC will be expected to prepare and submit a bid to The Council of Governors in or around June/July 2029 which will be accompanied by a budget of all anticipated expenditure (accommodation, 3 meals each day incorporating a packed lunch if out and about, transport, visitor attraction costs, welcome booklet, brochure printing, website design, room hire, sports facilities, tee shirt designs, pins, bannerettes), with explanations for each cost and a copy of the programme and draft promotional brochure ready for printing so that it can be circulated at Europa Forum in the Autumn of 2029.  If agreed, the costs will be funded by the MD Youth Fund with any additional costs needing to be sourced directly from Clubs and Zones in our District.

Camp Location

Ideally this would be finalised and agreed with Committee once established and the Camp Director once appointed.  I am however in the interim investigating the following possibilities:

a) An option of securing a static camp at The Avon Tyrell Activity Centre near Bransgore, in the New Forest. This is a purpose built 65 acre site offering accommodation, catering, and instructor led sporting activities at reasonable additional cost, and meeting rooms available at reasonable extra cost (activities include Abseiling, Adventure Trail, Archery, Bushcraft, Canoeing, Challenge Course, Climbing, High & Low Ropes, Mountain Biking, Paddleboarding, Pioneering, Problem Solving, Raft Building, Shelter Building, Tandem Kayaking, Tree Climbing, Tree Top Trail, Zip Wire).  The centre primarily caters for young people aged 12-16 so maybe a bit young for 18-22 year olds and is quite isolated (very little public transport or access to nearby towns and cities) with few options for evening activities or entertainment.

b) the possibility of a travelling camp moving between Youth Hostels around the District and beyond which offer unique, sometimes historic listed accommodation, catered (breakfast, lunch and evening meals) and self catering facilities if needed and meeting spaces with bolt on activities as required.  There are discounts for group booking.  This option offers the greater flexibility of seeing more of the country, better access to different towns and cities for exploring, access to a wider range range of local activities and amenities, sightseeing and shopping.  

Options could include:-

1. YHA St. Pauls - this hostel is steeped in history, with old-school choirboy graffiti (in a wood-panelled classroom), atmospheric spiral staircases and an elaborate exterior. And of course, there's hearing the cathedral bells each morning. The hostel's central location is also great for exploring London on foot, with many of London's famous attractions close by. 

2. YHA South Downes, Lewes - is a uniquely refurbished Sussex farmhouse right on the South Downs Way. This hostel enjoys substantial grounds of its own and is surrounded by the hills of the South Downs National Park, situated next to a railway station offering direct access to Brighton.

3. YHA Swanage, Dorset - A large, sea-facing Victorian villa perched high above the quaint seaside town of Swanage. It is situated five minutes' walk from the town with its beach, harbour and pier and immediate access to the South West Coastal Path and the award-winning beach of Swanage – the only Blue Flag beach along the entire Dorset Jurassic coast.

4. YHA Bath - is situated in a stunning Italianate grade II listed mansion on Bathwick Hill, a street in Bath lined with historic, grade A buildings. The building was built in 1848 by Henry Goodridge.  Close access to the World Heritage City of Bath with its cobbled streets, the Jane Austin Centre and Roman Baths.  There are free town guided tours available.

5. YHA Streatley-on-Thames – a Victorian house five minutes' walk from one of the prettiest stretches of the River Thames and relatively close to Reading and Oxford

6. YHA St Briavels Castle, Lydney - YHA St Briavels Castle is a venue with real wow factor. The castle is over 800 years old, with bags of character and remarkably well-preserved features throughout. This is a Grade I listed ancient monument, where guests are transported back in time to Medieval world of King John and the Magna Carta close to Forest of Dean, cycle trails, and the River Wye.

2030 Camp Finances

This year's camp leader, Sue Hibbert has shared the budget and plan for this year's youth camp in Loughborough and has identified that their budget has been based on 20 youths, 1 Minibus and Driver, and 3 other Lions who will be on site to assist throughout the duration of the camp.  Sue has also kindly explained that the MD Youth Fund will approximately cover £1000 of the costs for each camp youth for their 10 night stay.  

Most of this budget is used for accommodation, food, drink and transport expenses which leaves little scope to cover the cost of any activities or trips out.  Sue is having to source additional funding for these from within her District. We don't yet know what our costs might look like for 2030 but we are likely to be in a similar position. 

Whilst participating in Lions events, volunteering, rambling, hiking and exploring towns and villages might not attract any extra costs at all. We will need to factor in additional costs into the budget for days out and sightseeing.  We will probably need to fund these as a District.

An example of possible expenses that could be incurred include albeit greater discounts could be negotiated for group bookings:

1) London Eye and Thames River Cruise Ticket £49.00 per person

2) St. Paul's Cathedral Ticket £24.30 per person

3) Windsor Castle Young Person Group Ticket £18.90 per person

4) Portsmouth Historic Dockyard Day Ticket £46.00 per person

5) Salisbury Cathedral, Magna Carta, and Spire Tickets £11.00 per person

6) Stonehenge Visitor Attraction Tickets £27.20 per person

7) New Forest Cycle Hire for the day £25.00 per person

8) Jurassic Coastal Ferry Ticket £17.50 per person

9) Traditional Seaside Fish & Chips £15.00 per person

10) Paultons Park Amusement Park £46.50 per person

11) New Forest Agricultural Show Ticket £25.00 per person

12) Swanage Steam Railway Tickets £27.50 per person

13) Homemade Traditional Sunday Lunch made on site in self catering kitchens with local club help and participation from all camp youths £5 per person approx.

This is simply a sample of what is currently available at 2026 prices. We can investigate and agree a full range of options and costs once a committee has been assembled.

Activities such as these could be part funded from the District Youth fund, Lions Clubs individually and part funded by corporate sponsorship.

Dora has kindly provided me with the following information about the District Youth Fund:

• Current balance for District Youth Fund this year is £8,367.77 that included £7,707.77 carried forward from Year 2024-25. This means we have only received £660 from clubs this Lionistic Year for the District Youth Fund.

• The suggest District Youth donation is 2 GBP per member at the beginning of the Lionistic Year, and our total membership is budgeted at 1,000, meaning, we should have £2,000 for our District Youth Fund if every member pays £2.

• We have not paid out anything from the District Youth Fund pot to date for the current Lionistic Year. However, we expect roughly up to £600 to be spent this year for the likes of competitions such as Peace Poster, Youth Ambassador, and also Youth Exchange as in payments to the hosts per youth.

Conclusion – we do not need to increase suggested youth donation provided clubs are able to contribute to the fund for 2030 and the District Youth Funds are not earmarked for other large activities.

District Facebook Page Update

www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61566432036486

The Facebook page continues to grow steadily and we have now reached 99 followers, which is encouraging. However, we still need to continue increasing engagement and attracting more followers.

One of the most recent posts, regarding the Membership Matters meeting, achieved 614 views, which is the highest reach we have recorded so far. This shows that there is good interest when we share relevant district activities.

I have also been supporting clubs with their social media. I have helped one club restructure their Facebook page, and I am due to assist another club in the near future.

To keep the page active and engaging, I would appreciate more content from Zone Chairs and officers, such as updates, photos, and information about club activities or events that we can share.