The first Lions Club was founded in Chicago in 1917 by Melvin Jones.

Today the Melvin Jones Award is the highest Lion Award and is only given to those who have performed outstanding services to the community over a long period of time.

The first British Lions Club was formed in 1949 as a result of the Queen Mother's initiative.

Today there are 42,000 Lions Clubs throughout the world – 900 of which are in the UK.

In the last four months Newhaven, Peacehaven and Seaford Lions have donated more than £5,000 to various organisations and individuals including a gymnastics academy, air cadets, Scouts, two youth marching bands, and Snapps, a charity which cares for children with special needs and their families.

The club has bought a wheelchair for a disabled person, contributed towards a nursery school playground, provided a laptop for a student with special needs, funded a drugs and alcohol prevention education programme to Sussex Downs College, and bulk supplies of goods to Belarus which is still suffering from the effects of the Chernobyl disaster 10 years ago.

Every year the club also sponsors the Peace Poster Contest for young people between the ages of 11-13, and the Young Ambassador Award for young people who are engaged in community work.

The club has its own annual Brian Smith Achievement Award for young people who have had to struggle against a disability or have had to care for someone at home and still remain cheerful and lead as full a life as possible.

Internationally, Lions Clubs throughout the world are renowned for Saving Sight. This service began as a result of a challenge issued to Lions by Helen Keller in 1921 for Lions to become Knights of the Blind.
Lions Clubs International Foundation (LCIF) operates the Sightfirst Programme which is the world's largest blind preventation programme.

The mission of the Sightfirst Programme is to significantly reduce preventable and reversible blindness worldwide but particularly in developing countries, where 90 per cent of avoidable blindness exists.

So far the mission has saved the sight of 24 million people, provided 65,000 treatments for river blindness, restored sight to 4.5 million with cataract, built or expanded 258 eye hospitals and clinics and trained 68,000 opthalmologists and other professional eye care workers.

Through LCIF Lions also contribute to disaster funds.

LCIF are able to send funds and aid directly to those clubs in the areas affected by tsunamis, typhoons or earthquakes, so that it can be used quickly by those most in need.

NPS lions also collect used spectacles, which are sent to countries in the developing world, and help to set up dental care in these same countries, build water wells, provide education kits and many other services to help improve the lives of those living in dreadful conditions in the developing countries.

Newhaven, Peacehaven and Seaford Lions Club very much appreciates all the support it receives from local people.

Members could not carry out these services if it were not for the support and good will of the local community.

Each time a donation is made or a presentation takes place or a young person is recognised it is thanks to the support the Lions Club receives locally. No public money is spent on administration – all admin expenses are paid for by the members themselves.

Last year Lions donated approximately £220 million and 76 million hours of service to their communities – the equivalent of 31,000 people working full time for one year.

'Lions make a difference everyday, everywhere'.