Two charities have benefitted from a donation of £20,000 raised thanks to the success of the Rotary Club of Bath’s annual community firework display at the Rec last November.
Allan Gait and Chris Davies presenting a cheque to Mark Cadbury | Photo © Rotary Club of Bath
The Armed Services welfare charity, SSAFA and The Glasshouse Academy, which helps young people develop confidence through sport, each received £10,000 at a special Rotary lunch earlier this month.
Attending the lunch were representatives from several other organisations who helped raise the funds by selling tickets, arranging public collections and setting up barriers and signs on The Rec.
These included the University of Bath Students’ Union RAG team, the 93 Squadron (Bath) of Air Cadets, and members of the Rotary Club of Bathavon.
South-West Chairman of SSAFA, Tony Singer, said: “This tremendously generous donation will mean we can expand and reinforce our activities across BANES, supporting active and former service people and their families with specialised help.”
Mark Cadbury, Chief Marketing Officer of Bath Recreation Ltd, said: “This kind donation will help ensure that the Glasshouse Academy’s education and physical activities for local school communities and young people will continue to be well focused and effective.”
The 2023 Rotary fireworks display was attended by 6,500 people and watched by many thousands more across the city.
Held at the Recreation Ground in early November each year, it is supported behind the scenes by Bath Rugby, with further help provided voluntarily by events equipment company Powerline, and road specialists Volker Highways.
Rotary President, Allan Gait, said: “It is thanks to the generosity of our sponsors and supporters, and of course the good people and students of Bath who buy tickets, that we are able to make these donations.
“We can only hold the event thank to the many volunteers who help us set things up on the day and then steward the event, and thanks must go to them too.”
