ON a glorious summer's day a group of guests from Marches Family Network were treated to a day out on one of the Willow Trust boats by Ross Rotary Club. Accompanied by their carers and helpers, our guests had a fantastic trip travelling along the Gloucester Docks and Sharpness Canal. A beautiful fun packed day was had by all who took part.

The Willow Trust is a charity that offers freedom on the water for the disabled by providing days out for children and adults with learning and physical disabilities as well for those with a serious illness.

The trust has two specifically adapted boats based at Saul Junction, and guests can safely enjoy the excitement of adventure and the therapy of tranquillity in beautiful surroundings with the added benefit of it being totally free of charge.

The Marches Family Network is a registered charity which works with and for children and young people with disabilities or additional needs and their families. They offer advocacy and befriending services, inclusive playcare, home visits, newsletters and a toy library in Herefordshire and south Shropshire.

During the 2013/2014 rotary year, Ross Rotary supported the Sandra's Baby Clothes Project. The generosity of members, families, friends and members of the public, enabled the club to donate a fantastic 17 bags of clothing and blankets

The project was started by Sandra Davey from Monmouth Rotary. She became aware there were a lot of baby clothes being donated to charity shops in the UK but the shops couldn't sell them as new mums tended to buy new clothes for their children. Sandra realised that this resource could be used by others who had very little money to buy clothing for their babies. Her enquiries led her to Elizabeth Tatman from Bolton Rotary who had spent a number of years working in maternity units and orphanages in Romania and distributing these baby clothes to those new mums seemed an ideal solution.

The clothes donated through Ross Rotary were of excellent quality and a big thank you to everyone who supported us. A special huge thank you goes to an anonymous donor who gave a very generous amount of wonderful hand knitted clothes and blankets.

The clothes collected are transported to the warehouse in Bolton, where they are sorted, bailed and sent overland to Romania with the help of The Shoe Box Trust. Here the Rotary Club of Bucharest organises the distribution of the clothes to new mums who are unable to buy baby clothing.

The project continues and Ross Rotary is asking for donations of clothing for babies up to two years. Please take any donations you have to Miles Morgan Travel in Ross. Once again thank you for your generous support.

Ross Rotary Club meets every Monday evening 6.30pm for 7pm at the Chase Hotel. Guests and potential members are very welcome. Please visit our website at www.rossrotary.com