Lions work promoted on BBC NI News .

On Tuesday last, Newcastle Lions Club were pleased to have one of the service activities which they undertake, in managing and maintaining ten defibrillators , promoted on television on BBC NI Newsline , BBC Digital Service and on the radio on Evening Extra. The club have been undertaking this work for five years . They also now have help from staff from TGem Healthcare .

As part of the news article, the Lions were interviewed by BBC NI Health Reporter, Rory O'Reilly. He also interviewed Stephanie Leckey from NIAS and Sean Mc Laughlin whose life was saved by a defibrillator. While taking part in a charity boxing match in Ardglass, Sean took a heart attack and the defibrillator had to be enabled on three occasions to save him The news article has helped promote information about the work of Lions in Northern Ireland.

Photographs:

2 VDG Marian McGreevy is interviewed for BBC NI by their health reporter Rory O'Reilly

Lion Frank McGreevy gives an interview with BBC NI Rory O'Reilly re one of the Lion defibrillators.

Newcastle Lions Club annual appeal for recycling items for Africa underway.

On Saturday 13th May between 9.00 am and 3.00 pm ,Newcastle Lions Club will hold their annual recycling appeal to help people in Africa. Through the great generosity of the owner Daniel Mc Cann, the drop off point for the collection will be at Mc Cann's Fish & Chip Shop Main Street Newcastle. The Lions wish to stress that under no circumstances ,nothing is left at Mc Cann's until the Saturday of the collection. As in previous years, the Lions are looking for, good or broken tools such as saws, hammers or spades. Sewing machines both treadle and electrical and adult bicycles, rusty or good. Newcastle Lions are already running a fantastic recycling programme for used spectacles, if you wish you can leave these also.

The Lions have been thrilled to hear about the fantastic work of the Downpatrick based Tools for Solidarity. As part of the Lions annual collection , tools and sewing machines are despatched to TFS. Today the group has two volunteers, John and Sofia working in Tanzania. They are, helping to train students how to use a sewing machine so that they then can become self sufficient . Downpatrick and Belfast TFS have three training centres in Iringa, Mwanza and Njombe Tanzania. In December 2022 , TFS sent out a container of sewing machines and tool kits to Iringa. In Tanzania TFS volunteers are also providing vocational training for people with a disability . As part of this project those with a disability will receive, training ,tools or a sewing machine and some small capital to start their own business. If you have a sewing machine but are unable to bring it to Newcastle, please contact the Lions on 07725725932 for collection.

Newcastle Lions members, Marian Mc Greevy and Lion President Liz Murphy with Teresa Mc Cann and Daniel Mc Cann and lions Robin Mc Caren, Terry O'Reilly and Dan O'Reilly display some of the items the Lions hope will be donated on Saturday 13th May at the drop off point at Mc Cann's Fish & Chip shop.

Sewing machines donated previously from County Down now being used to help families in the Njombe village South Tanzania.

Lions make a push for defibrillator appeal

Following a fantastic collection in February for Lions International's Turkey Appeal at Base Coffee, Lion President Liz was thrilled to be invited by Base owner Charlie Magennis to hold another collection over the Easter weekend 8th & 9th April.

Having had to abandon the February collection which was to help the club's defibrillator appeal, when the Turkey Earthquake disaster occurred, the club collected instead for that. With the club still needing to find some finance to pay for replacement parts for the defibrillators located around the town, they were pleased to make the Easter appeal for the defibrillators. As well as maintaining and inspecting ten defibrillators located in Castlewellan, Maghera and Newcastle, the club are now at the planning stage of providing minimal awareness training in CPR and defibrillator use. The club have secured premises for training and are currently finalising dates over a three day period.

In other news regarding Newcastle Lions, on Thursday the club were thrilled to make a presentation regarding their recycling initiatives for spectacles and other useable products such as sewing machines, tools and bicycles at the Northern Ireland Resource Network Connecting and reconnecting day at CAN, Compass Advocacy Network at Lislagan Farm Ballymoney .CAN is a bold and creative organisation supporting children, young people and adults with learning disabilities ,autism and mental health issues on the North Coast of Northern Ireland .Representatives from many of the local councils, Bogside & Brandywell Initiative ,Bogside & Brandywell Initiative , CAN, East Belfast Mission, Queens and Ulster Universities and from Galway CRNI listened how the club had sent nearly 8,000 pairs of spectacles last year to Lions Medico France as well as helping three other charities with the products already mentioned. The club were invited to make a thirty minute podcast on their work , which NIRN will make available to help promote their message of reuse and repair.

Photograph. Newcastle Lions members Lion President Liz Murphy, our lion, and lions Tom Hughes Marian Mc Greevy and John Mc Donagh at Base Coffee