Rotary Club of Marlow Thames

The Rotary Club of Marlow Thames, founded in 1997 in Buckinghamshire, UK, is a vibrant local chapter of Rotary International with over 30 diverse members and 40+ volunteers, operating as an unincorporated charitable trust. Its mission embodies "service above self," fostering fellowship, ethical leadership, inclusivity, and positive change through hands-on community service, grants, and global partnerships. Deeply embedded in Marlow's civic life, it blends local action with Rotary's worldwide network to empower vulnerable groups, prioritizing integrity, visible impact, and participatory engagement over rigid strategies.

The club funds broad charitable purposes, including overseas aid, famine relief, support for children, youth, elderly, disabled people, and other voluntary bodies. It backs youth development (e.g., Rona Sailing Project, holiday experiences for disadvantaged youth), community events (e.g., Marlow Santa’s Fun Run), hardship relief, social inclusion for vulnerable/marginalised populations, disaster response, and health initiatives like Global Sight Solutions. Emphasis is on grassroots projects delivering practical community improvements, with a primary focus on Marlow and surrounding Buckinghamshire areas, extending to national and international Rotary-linked efforts.

Eligible applicants are UK-registered charities and community groups, especially small grassroots organisations serving local needs, with no strict income limits but a preference for those aligned with Rotary values. Unsolicited applications are not accepted; funding arises via member referrals, local networking, or demonstrated relevance. Typical project-based grants range from £200–£5,000, decided on a rolling basis at monthly trustee meetings—no fixed deadlines or online forms. Distinctively, it pairs grants with direct volunteering, avoids core/unrestricted funding or large-scale projects, and differentiates through its friendly, proactive local-global hybrid model for ethical, high-impact service.