Stamford Festival was founded in 1980.

                   This year Stamford Festival Week is 30 years old and still a favourite with residents and visitors.  The first Sunday of the week has traditionally been Family Fun Day,  now organized by Stamford & District Lions Club.

 The Club was Chartered in 1975 and is part of Lions International, a network of over 1.3 million men and women, in 205 countries and geographical areas who work together to answer the needs that challenge communities around the world. This year we have already seen two disasters, both Haiti and Chile have suffered from severe earthquakes and Lions around the world have responded with immediate and long term aid.

Like most Lions Clubs, we work mainly within our local community, helping where we can. For over 20 years we have provided a free Talking Newspaper. Every week, 52 weeks of the year, a team of readers record the Stamford, Bourne and Rutland editions of the Mercury.  The recording is copied onto tape or CD and is mailed to over 70 visually impaired or blind people, keeping them in touch with their community.

A young man with Asperger's Syndrome was given a laptop computer with special software, enabling him to communicate with his friends and family and keep up with his school work.

Locally a pre-school and primary school have received donations for special projects. 

We raised £1,800 for Marie Curie Cancer Care by holding a Jazz Night Dinner Dance and £1,100 for Macmillan Cancer Support with a Band Concert.

St. John’s Ambulance was given a donation towards the purchase of a new vehicle.

A disabled child was given special bedding equipment, not available from Social Services.

Tickets and transportation for local shows and Pantomime are provided annually to Seniors who would otherwise not be able to enjoy the entertainment.

Travel assistance for an elderly disabled gentleman.

Donations for various student groups working towards specific projects.

We support TACADE, a leading personal development and drug prevention education organisation. 

 

The Lions Youth Exchange Programme aims to "create and foster a spirit of understanding among peoples across the world" it enables exchange between countries in every part of the world. 

 

The Lions International Peace Poster Contest encourages young people, ages 11 to 13, to artistically express their views of peace - the worldwide winner is introduced at the Lions United Nations Day at the United Nations Headquarters in New York. 

 

LEOs are young people aged between 11 and 28 years. LEO stands for Leadership, Experience and Opportunities for young people from all backgrounds, races and religions. There are over 5,000 LEO Clubs representing 137 countries with a membership of 142,000 young people. 

 

In the British Isles and Ireland the Lions 5 nations Youth Football Tournament allows teams (under 14 years old) to compete against each other in the only EUFA sanctioned competition for this age group.