Lions Club of Tavistock
Serving our local community since 1976

Now we need to start thinking about Carnival 2025!

The Procession will be on Sunday 20th July 

The theme - 'Tell us a Story!'

Our Young Ambassadors

Tavistock Lions Club have had 10 new young members this year!

The Young Ambassador scheme is in its second year having started last year with two boys, Sam and Harry and two girls Courtney and Mary. This year there are no fewer than 10! They are pictured above from left to right George, Georgia, Pippa, Rosie, Anna, Emelia, Kelsey, Poppy, Charlotte, and Honey.

Alan Wroath, Lions’ President, explained that the idea for the Young Ambassadors was a development of the role of the Carnival Princess. ‘The girls got such a lot from being princess or attendant,’ he said, ‘but we thought we could make it more active and show young people more about what it means to be a Lion. We also wanted to give boys the opportunity to be involved.’

Ironically this year all 10 are girls, but ‘At least the boys have had their chance,’ Alan said.. Therese Frattaroli, the Lions Youth Officer said the girls have been absolutely brilliant. ‘They have involved themselves in so many different activities. They designed their T-shirts, they helped us deliver programmes for the Carnival, they supported us on Fun Day at the Dog Show and Craft Tent, they presented prizes and created their own entry for the carnival procession – The Wizard of Oz. They were only disappointed that we would not let them be judged because we thought that there was a conflict of interest!’

This term the girls have learned a lot more about what Lions do. They delivered Christmas leaflets, sold LED light sticks at the Fireworks display, raising £120 for the Youth Café, they helped at Remembrance Sunday by collecting the orders of service and joining the President in laying the wreath. They made some of the lions on our Christmas tree in the St Eustachius festival and gave out hymn sheets at the switch on of the Trees of Light. They delivered cards as part of the Christmas Post, but perhaps their biggest undertaking was their stall on the Square where they decided they would like to raise money for the RSPCA. With their tombola, lucky dip and ‘name the bear’, they raised nearly £200. They have also learned about some of the less exciting things of fundraising such as how to ask permission for a stall on the Square, what a risk assessment entails and how to contact a charity like the RSPCA. Next term we shall be looking at how all their efforts can qualify for a prestigious Lions’ award the young leaders in service. And then we will be thinking about our next year’s intake!

Therese said that the girls seem to have really enjoyed the experience. George said ‘It’s amazing and it’s fun!’   Honey said "I liked the ambassadors because I got to do things like be in the carnival and help my local charity " while Rosie who, with Emelia is always the first person to volunteer for anything, said she liked meeting new people from different schools.   Alan said that an important part of the idea was that the team should decide what they wanted to do and how they would like to do it. ‘It’s been wonderful to watch the girls grow and mature.’   Parents too commented they had seen a difference in the girls. Georgia’s mum said ‘I think it's taught them all about the importance of community and has given them a sense of responsibility. It's helped with transition into secondary school too, as they've made new friends they didn't know before. Rosie’s mother felt that it gave Rosie some independence and she got to help raise money for the community. Kelsey’s mother said “From a parents point I think the experience for the girls is an amazing opportunity.”

So if you are in Year 6, when we are looking for girls AND boys next year to be Young Ambassadors, why not put your name forward?