Community Engagement and Youth Initiatives at Merton Rotary!

Barry the Winner!

Tablecloth to designer!

The newly named Club has been actively engaging with the local community to shape and develop its charitable initiatives.

Angeles, a retired Head Teacher, is leading a strong focus on supporting young people. One of the Club’s key projects is a sewing initiative that repurposes unwanted but good-quality fabrics such as tablecloths and curtains into new clothing for charitable use.

In 2026, the Club hosted its first Rotary Young Musician competition in partnership with Merton Music Foundation, marking an important milestone in its youth engagement efforts.

Merton Rotary is keen to further expand its youth programmes. In addition, the Club hosted the Rotary South District final of the Young Chef competition in the spring.

Alongside these initiatives, the Club has been collecting and creatively upcycling tablecloths and curtains into distinctive vintage-style suits and other garments, helping to raise additional funds for its projects. Those interested in supporting or getting involved are encouraged to get in touch.

It was a successful season all around with winners across the board, and even Barry securing a win of his own on the night.