Projects

Sight Programs:

In 1990, Lions established SightFirst, a US $143.5 million global initiative to fight major causes of preventable and reversible blindness. The unprecedented program joins Lions Volunteers with blindness prevention experts and organizations and governments.
SightFirst has:Provided more than 2.5 million cataract surgeries.Funded 82 eye clinics and hospitals that are completed or under construction.Improved eyes care in dozens of countries around the world.Currently, SightFirst is treating 8 million people a year to prevent river blindness.Lions clubs support other sight related activates.
Lions:Provide 600,00 free professional glaucoma screenings and make 25,000 corneal transplants possible each year.Establish and support a majority of the world's eyes banks, hundreds of clinics, hospitals and eye research centres worldwide.Collect more than four million pairs of unwanted spectacles annually, for free distribution to those in need in developing countries.Offer screenings, spectacles and sports goggles to athletes through the Special Olympics-Lions Clubs International Opening Eyes Program.

Spectacle collection bin

Provide free quality eye care, Braillewriters, large print texts, white canes and guide dogs for thousands of people each year.

===========

WaterAid:

WaterAid uses its experience, research and documented good practice to influence other international organisations and feed into wider development policies. In this way it generates waves of change far beyond the physical boundaries of its work.

WaterAid believes the key to poverty reduction and sustainable development, the purpose for the World Summit on Sustainable Development, is access to water and sanitation for all. Four out of 10 people are without adequate sanitation. This figure will rocket to half the world's population by 2025. In setting Millennium Development Goals for halving poverty by 2015, world governments have ignored setting sanitation targets.

WaterAid is engaged in advocacy: the process of bringing about change - in government policy, in attitudes, in power relations, or in the way organisations work. WaterAid's vision of universal access to water, sanitation and a hygienic environment requires change in all these areas.

You can visit the WaterAid website at http://www.wateraid.org.uk for more information.

==========

International Youth Programs:

Second only to Lions Commitment to aiding the blind and visually impaired is their dedication to serving young people.

Youth Outreach:

Lions comprehensive program challenges young people to learn, achieve and serve. By focusing on volunteerism and substance abuse prevention, it steers young people away from harmful behaviours such as gang involvement, violence and substance abuse.

Leo Clubs:

Lions clubs in 139 countries sponsor 5,500 Leo clubs. the 140,000 Leo members, ages 12-28, perform community service activities and support a worldwide environment project.

International Youth Exchange:

Each year thousands of young people, ages 15-21, learn about other cultures while staying with Lions host families in countries around the world. Camps in 39 countries bring together many nations to enjoy educational, recreational and cultural activities.

==========

Message in a Bottle Counter Display

This simple to operate scheme enables vulnerable people to feel safe in their homes should they fall ill and need help. Lions Cubs provide small plastic bottle complete with a label displaying a green cross (the internationally recognised symbol for medical care) and two separate stickers, also with a green cross on, one that they fix to the rear of their entrance door to their home and the other to place on the door of the fridge. A form is provided for them to complete with vital information about themselves, their medication and their next of kin. This form is then placed in the plastic bottle, which is then placed in the fridge.

Should they fall ill and be unable to give these relevant details to anyone, then when the emergency services attend once they see the sticker on the entrance door or the fridge they know that there is a bottle that contains the form and that can give them vital information to aid the treatment of the person.

==========

 MedicAlert: Medical identification with 24/7 emergency support

MedicAlert provides medical ID jewellery for people with hidden medical conditions, allergies or the need to portray informtion in an emergency such as blood type or advanced conditions.Situated on the pulse points, our necklaces, watches and bracelets display the international medical symbol to identify your condition in an emergency. This helps medical professionals get you the right treatment quickly, particularly if you are unable to speak.

Your membership of MedicAlert gives you peace of mind that goes beyond your bracelet. Your medical conditions will be reviewed by medically trained staff, who will prioritise the text engraved on your jewellery. A detailed medical record is also held in our secure database, which can be accessed 24/7 by emergency responders.

As a leading international charity, you'll benefit from global awareness of MedicAlert emblems, as well as our education programme with emergency responders. Our emergency phone line is manned 365 days a year, and supports translation in over 100 languages - providing that extra reassurance if you are travelling.

==========

Hyndburn & Ribble Valley Domestic Violence Team (HARV)

HARV are a registered charity and have been providing a service for vulnerable adults and children since 1998. They are a learning organisation rooted in community development, theory and practice; all the services they deliver are built around the diverse needs and issues of the families, individuals and communities they work with.

Accrington Lions serve the community of Hyndburn and have a calendar of community projects/activities that thet support/organise on regular basis throughout the year. They also offer support on an individual basis and also to other groups and are always looking for new projects that they could help with.

After hearing that other Lions groups throughout the district had become involved in supporting their local Domestic Violence Teams by providing them with toiletries for their service users, Accrington Lions decided that this would be a worthwhile project to become involved in. Many women leave their homes when their relationship reaches crisis point and often leave with just the clothes they are wearing and have to start from scratch.

After making contact with the HARV team and deciding that we could work together we provide and initial 20 toiletry bags complete with towel, sponge, shower gel, shampoo & conditioner, comb, deodorant etc. We also provided some gift sets and make up as little extras.

Keen to get the scheme going our newest member Lion Angela took on the responsibility of sourcing, purchasing and packing the bags with a bit of help from her daughter and friends.

Lion Caz went to a team meeting at HARV  to hand over the bags and was given a brief resume by each individual member of the team as to what they do and who they support. This includes men, women, youths and children. As well as referrals the team provide educational, theraputic, advocacy, youth, safeguarding, play services and legal advice.

Having met the team Lion Caz reported that they are a credit to Hyndburn. All the individuals are so passionate about what they do and the service they provide is so diverse and person centred. As well as dealing with the practicalities and after effects of abuse they are also doing work on trying to prevent abuse by educating youths who have witnessed domestic abuse so they will understand that this is not the norm. Unfortunately as they are a registered charity they have to continually apply for funding and grants to support their ongoing activities.

Accrington Lions hope to continue to support the service in the future and if any individual or business feel they can support us by donating unopened toiletries please contact us.

Domestic violence is physical, sexual, psychological or financial violence that takes place within an intimate or family-type relationship and that forms a pattern of coersive and controlling behaviour. This can also include forced marriage and so called "honour crimes".

If you or someone you know are in this type of relationship please contact HARV in confidence on the helpline 01254 879855 or email info@harvoutreach.org.uk

If you would like more information on any of our projects or you feel you can support us in any way,

 please contact Accrington Lions on:

 0845 833 7386 or email accrington_lion@sky.com