Rotary is one of the world’s leading membership and humanitarian service organisations, with 1.4 million members globally in over 35,000 Rotary clubs in more than 200 countries.

Members of Rotary volunteer their time to make a difference in their local communities and around the world through projects which support education, fight disease, promote peace, provide clean water and much more.

Through membership of their local club, individuals volunteer on community and humanitarian projects and activities which make a difference locally, nationally and globally.

Rotary members are People of Action, ready to turn their ideas and vision into lasting change, by creating opportunities, supporting those who need it most and transforming their lives.

In Great Britain and Ireland, there are around 35,000 members in over 1,500 clubs.

Rotary members are determined to tackle some of the world’s biggest humanitarian challenges through Rotary’s Seven Areas of Focus:

• Peacebuilding and conflict prevention
• Disease prevention and treatment
• Water, sanitation and hygiene
• Maternal and child health
• Basic education and literacy
• Community economic development
• Protecting the environment

These areas underpin all of Rotary’s projects, activities and initiatives. 

The greatest example of this is Rotary’s campaign to eradicate the world of polio, a paralysing disease affecting children. In 1985, Rotary pledged to rid the world of the disease, at a time when there were 1,000 cases per day in 125 countries.

Over three decades later, with the tireless volunteering and fundraising efforts from Rotary members, in collaboration with international partners, the number of cases worldwide has reduced by 99.9%, with over 2.5 billion children receiving a potentially life-saving vaccination.