Lions is a service organisation with about 1.4 million world wide in 44,000 clubs... Lions Clubs began as the dream of a young Chicago insurance man Melvin Jones, who wondered why local business clubs could not expand their horizons from purely business concerns to the betterment of their communities and the world at large. Jones' idea struck a chord within his own group, the Business Circle of Chicago, and they authorized him to explore his concept with similar organizations from around the United States. His efforts resulted in an organizational meeting on June 7, 1917 and the establishment of The International Association of Lions Clubs in October 1917.

Lions stands for: Liberty, Intelligence, Our Nation’s Safety and was officially adopted in 1919. The Lion was chosen as the emblem for the organization because the Lion symbolized courage, strength, fidelity and vital action. The emblem shows the Lion’s head facing in two directions. One head is looking to our past and the other is looking to the future. This emblem was adopted in 1920.

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Lions in the UK.

During the Second World War the Queen Mother, then Queen Elizabeth was Patron of "Waifs and Strays", (later "The Church of England Children's Society"), and received £80,000 from the Lions of Ontario to use on behalf of the children who suffered in the London "Blitz". The Society looked after the evacuation of the children.  After the war the President of the Church of England Children's Society, Colonel Edward Wyndham visited Toronto to thank the Lions Clubs of Canada. He met Bruce Malcolm (Lions International Staff Representative) and was persuaded to visit Lions International Headquarters in Chicago. He was moved by the spirit of Lionism and when he returned to London Bruce Malcolm came with  him. They contacted business men in London, many of whom were Canadian ex-servicemen, who had married and settled in the UK. Some of them had been associated with the original gifts, and between them they formed the London Lions Club with 70 members on 29th December 1949. There are now 20,000 members in the UK spread over about 1000 clubs. 



Lions in Budleigh Salterton.​​​​

Lions set up the Club in Budleigh Salterton in 1980. There are currently 26 members, including 1 of the original members who founded the Club..

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Lions motto is “We Serve” and Club members get involved in various community projects where we have been able to help, either individuals or local organisations that need some support. Working with a group of like-minded individuals who enjoy what they are doing can give a great buzz...



Lions Fund Raising.

We have a number of events that we organise over the year including Gala Week and the annual Duck Race. We get fantastic support from local communities.

To date we have raised in excess of three quarters of a million pounds and all monies raised are donated to local charities, organisations and worthy local causes with the exception of two International projects. Each year we pay for a water well to be sunk in Africa and the cost of a Doctor and Nurse for a day in India to run an eye camp – both projects cost £250.00. The last eye camp was in an Indian Village called Jamshedpur where 25 people had their eye-sight restored, two people had operations for the prevention or imminent blindness and 280 people had cataracts removed.

We also provide “Message in Bottle”, a scheme whereby you store details of medication and next of kin and keep it in your fridge and then place a Green sticker on your front door. Ambulance personnel and Firemen recognise this and know where to obtain the details. Bottles are available from the Health Centre, Hospital, Lloyds the Chemist or from Lion Alan Lowe 01395 443815.

Our latest project is Keysafes for which we ask a donation of £20.00. We will supply and fit. The contact is Lion Alan Lowe, as above.

Budleigh Salterton Lions meet on the second Tuesday of each month at the Dog and Donkey, Knowle, Budleigh 7.30p.m. Meetings close around 9.00p.m. Membership is £50.00 per year (can be payable in two instalments) which covers our local dues, Mutiple District dues, International Dues and Insurance.
We aim to have at least one fund raiser per month and we also put on a Senior Citizens Xmas lunch, co-ordinate Gala Week, and an annual Golf Day in August.



​Lions Community Service.

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Lions are ordinary people, volunteers, who do extraordinary things to help others and support good causes. Members are enthusiastic about making a difference, love to get involved and make things happen and have fun doing it.

Every Lions Club supports a range of good causes and projects in its local community and on an international basis our five global causes are:

Diabetes, Vision, Hunger, Environment and Childhood Cancer.

Clubs organise various Fundraising  events to support their community activities and every penny of the proceeds  raised goes to these good causes. They organise local community events, provide direct support for individuals or groups and respond pro-actively wherever they can.

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Members of Budleigh Salterton Lions Club live across the district, which covers an area of approximately 35 square miles in rural South Devon.

 

If you are interested in joining the Lions or would like to help out at one of our events please send an email to Bslionsclubsecretary@gmail.com or phone Lion Gavin March telephone: 01395 443332