CREDITON Boniface Rotary has been thanked for supporting Amber, a 24/7 residential employability, independent living skills and personal development programme to support young people into education, training and employment and somewhere safe and sustainable to live.

The Rotary Club started supporting Amber after it was chosen as the Club’s Charity of the Year by Nick Arnold in his presidential year in 2017.

Sam Chandler, fourth left, of Crediton Boniface Rotary donating the 2025 Christmas turkey, which the club has done over the last few years.
Sam Chandler, fourth left, of Crediton Boniface Rotary donating the 2025 Christmas turkey, which the club has done over the last few years. (Crediton Boniface Rotary)

Amber has a residential centre at Ashley Court, Chawleigh, and Rotary Club members have provided financial and manual support.

There has been the annual donation of a turkey at Christmas thanks to Rotarian Sam Chandler, decorating by Roger Pennington, Paul Fallon, Nick and others and recently Fred Oliver has been tacking students how to bake on a regular basis.

When Crediton Boniface Rotary presented Amber with a football kit.
When Crediton Boniface Rotary presented Amber with a football kit. (Crediton Boniface Rotary)

Roger and Rotarian Paul Fallon helped as drivers for a three peaks challenge.

The Rotarians helped Amber collect donations at the Devon County Show when it was Show Charity of the Year.

They recently donated items such as new pillows, a kitchen blender, wellies and spades which they used on a tree planting activity with Taw Fishing Club.

Fred Oliver of Crediton Boniface Rotary, teaches students baking at Amber, which he does on a regular basis.
Fred Oliver of Crediton Boniface Rotary, teaches students baking at Amber, which he does on a regular basis. (Crediton Boniface Rotary)

Also, they regularly contribute to the Big Give Christmas Challenge donating the proceeds of the Will Blake Trio events.

Rotarians also supported Michelmores 5k in Exeter in 2018 and 2019 where they helped give out medals.

The Amber Centre at Chawleigh recently featured on BBC Countryfile when the focus was on youth homelessness.
The Amber Centre at Chawleigh recently featured on BBC Countryfile when the focus was on youth homelessness. (Amber)

Rebecca Fry, Fundraising and Communications Manager at Amber, said: “Everyone at Amber is so grateful to the Crediton Boniface Rotarians for their enduring support over the years.

“The amount of different things they have supported us with is really quite incredible and makes an enormous difference to the young adults we support at our centre.

Rotarian Fred Oliver with the blender donated to the Amber Centre at Chawleigh.
Rotarian Fred Oliver with the blender donated to the Amber Centre at Chawleigh. (Crediton Boniface Rotary)

“From raising much needed funds, to donating items we need, to helping with decorating and Fred sharing his love of baking they are all helping young people move on from really tough times to bright futures.”