International

Support for Neurological Impaired children in India

Manjula “Manju” Patankar founded Roshni (“light”) in Gwalior to support the neurologically impaired. In 1998, Highworth & District Lions Club donated £500, followed by £1,125 the next year.

Before Roshni, families travelled long distances to Delhi; disabled children were often hidden. By 2001, progress was clear: mothers learned to support their kids, and skills grew — one boy with Down syndrome ran reception.

Funding grew, while volunteer Penny O’Sullivan set up Friends of Roshni UK to hire physiotherapists. Expanding numbers led to a larger, purpose-built centre, with a Lions Club-named Sensory Room. After Manjula’s death, her family and foundation continue her work: from 24 children, it now supports 450.

It thrives with an internship scheme with Manchester Metropolitan University, started by former Lion Jack Thornton and wife Jill. In 2025, the Lions Club donated a further another £2,000.

Highworth and District Lions support SHAP in providing aid to Ukraine

The Swindon Humanitarian Aid Partnership (SHAP) is Swindon’s main charity supporting Ukraine. Highworth & District Lions Club is its key local fundraiser and supporter.

SHAP formed soon after Russia’s invasion. In 18 months, it collected, sorted, packed and delivered over 1,100 tonnes of aid, mostly to eastern Ukraine where fighting is heaviest.

Ongoing Work:

SHAP: Ships essentials, medical supplies and volunteer made “comfort candles” (heat/light sources). It also converts buses into field hospitals and “Children’s Story Buses”.

Lions Club: Funds bus conversions and helps source furniture for Ukrainian families settling locally.

Get Involved: Donate money via SHAP’s website. For volunteering, goods or queries, contact the Highworth Charity Shop.

2025 Flood relief funds to support India & Pakistan borders and Texas

When severe flooding hit during 2025, The Lions Club International Foundation pooled funds from Lions clubs worldwide - including Highworth’s share - to deliver fast, targeted support. This funding helped provide emergency supplies, clean water, shelter, and recovery aid to affected families. By giving locally, Highworth Lions directly strengthened the global response, turning community generosity into practical help for people in the following areas.

In August–September 2025, severe flooding hit Eastern Pakistan and Northern India. Triggered by heavy monsoons in Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, flash floods led authorities to open dams feeding rivers into both Punjabs. This flooded over 1,400 villages in Pakistan’s Punjab and another 1,400 in India’s Punjab, displacing 1.2 million people in Pakistan and 300,000 in India.

On July 4, 2025, destructive and deadly flooding took place in the Hill Country region of the U.S. state of Texas. During the flooding, water levels along the Guadalupe River rose rapidly. As a result, at least 139 people were killed, at least 117 of them in Kerr County. Since then, communities have stayed on the path to rebuilding homes and businesses impacted by the storm. It's been estimated that the floods caused between $18 to 22 billion in damage across the region.

Philippines Earthquake

Highworth Lions raise funds locally through events, collections, and community donations. These contributions are forwarded to the Lions Clubs International Foundation, the global humanitarian arm of Lions International. When a powerful earthquake struck Philippines, LCIF combined funds from Lions clubs worldwide - including Highworth’s support - to mount a fast, large-scale response. This pooled funding provided emergency food, clean water, medical aid, shelter, and essential supplies to affected families. Through this global network, local generosity from Highworth directly delivered life-saving help in the Cebu Province in the Philippines.

A 6.9-magnitude earthquake hit Cebu, Philippines, on 30 September 2025, causing displacement, damage, service cuts, and rising protection needs—especially in northern Cebu. Families moved to evacuation centres, stayed with hosts, or remained in damaged homes. Remote upland villages faced limited access to aid due to terrain, transport issues, and weather.

By February 2026, 592 families (2,276 people) were in 7 evacuation centres across Regions VII and VIII; 2,485 families (9,481 people) stayed with relatives. Aid gaps persist, particularly for those outside official centres.