Despite the order to stay at home, work is still continuing for one of Oswestry’s rotary clubs.

THE Borderland Rotary Club has had to cancel two of its major events – the Dairi-Pak Mountain Bike Challenge and the Rotary Youth Leadership Awards.

But the club is keeping the wheel turning with its work to help fight against the spread of COVID-19 and its work alongside Lendwithcare.

The Purple for Polio campaign, in partnership with the Bill Gates Foundation and Rotary International, has redirected its resources for the time-being to help prevent the spread of COVID-19.

In 13 countries worldwide, polio volunteers have been re-deployed to prepare and respond to the pandemic.

A spokesman from Borderland said: “It’s great to think that small activities and contributions from all the local Rotary Clubs go towards the greater good and, in this time of peril, that infrastructure can be of immediate use to combat this worldwide threat.”

Along with many local causes supported by Borderland Rotary, they are very proud to be associated with the British charity Lendwithcare, one of the leading microfinance providers to poor and low-income farmers and small businesses in the developing world.

Currently Lendwithcare is providing loans via trusted local agents to entrepreneurs in around 12 countries including Peru, Rwanda, Palestine and the Philippines.

Over recent months, Borderland Rotary Club and individual members have together lent £2,250 to 43 of these entrepreneurs, and it is estimated that 200 jobs have been created or supported by the loans.

Mike Barker, who runs Lendwithcare for Borderland said: “It’s good to see repayments coming in and very satisfying to be able to recycle the income straight back into more loans helping more and more struggling families.

“However, right now the poorest and most vulnerable people in most of the countries in which Lendwithcare operate are suffering coronavirus lockdowns significantly stricter and more financially crippling than in Britain.

“For this reason, repayments have been suspended to help our clients survive these difficult times.”

“It’s not possible to arrange any new loans at present, but once restrictions are eased it will clearly be even more essential than ever for families in these countries to have access to affordable, ethical loans to allow them to recover and restart their business's.

“Let’s hope we can all restart our lives and businesses soon!”