Our Ongoing Service

Arthur Rank Hospice

This is the local hospice which works closely with Macmillan Nursing services. A number of club members volunteer greeting visiting relatives and friends, working in the library researching information and filling envelopes.

In addition the Club hosts “Big Coffee Mornings” and “Tea@Three” and other events raise funds

The Cambridge Women’s Refuge

In March the club was pleased to welcome the Project Worker from the Cambridge Women’s Aid to our meeting and to give her the toiletries and other items that club members had collected.

She told us that Women’s Aid in Cambridge was established in 1977 and has been helping women who have been the victims of domestic violence ever since. She explained that many of the women, and their families, come in a state of crisis having had to leave their homes in a hurry and often bring nothing with them. All of the gifts given go into the magic attic and go towards giving each new arrival a welcome pack.  The gifts given by the club, and other groups, are much appreciated.

Each year over one hundred people will be accommodated in the refuge and over five hundred helped by the outreach service. Most people will stay for 6-7 months before being re-housed and starting out on a new life. Angie explained that leaving a relationship is not a sudden action but a process that can take months or years.

Sadly the residents of the refuge include a number of families with young children and it is not unknown for the refuge to be a baby’s first home. We were told that the local schools are very helpful in providing places for children from the refuge and activities are provided for them at the weekends and school holidays. The present accommodation includes a number of family rooms and space for children to play.

The issue of violence against men was also raised and it was explained that the issues are different and that it is hoped to launch a voluntary perpetrators service shortly as a first step.

WaterAid

WaterAid works in 17 countries providing water, sanitation and hygiene education to some of the world’s poorest people. We hold raffles, wine and cheese events and supper evenings to raise funds for this charity. World Water Day in March highlighted issues on sanitation.

Each year we mark this day with a Spend a Penny – Save a Penny collection. During the year we will hold raffles and other fund raising events.

Marshalling/Collecting/Tin Shaking

Some members act as marshals/stewards at various local raising funding events.

Bridge the Gap and the “Chariots of Fire” - these are local events held each September to raise funds for local charities. The charities selected vary each year and have included Arthur Rank Hospice, Cam Mind, Camfed all of which the Club already supports.

Oxfam Walk – a local sponsored walk to raise funds for the work of Oxfam. The video of walk , which took place at Chilford Hall, is on their website and clearly illustrates the involvement of all participants. For those Soroptimists visiting this page please do open the video and spot a very important member.

Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal – another national fund raising event which members support.

This event is Marie Curie Cancer Care’s biggest fundraising campaign, which takes place throughout February and March each year. This year they aim to raise £5m through lots of fundraising activities including street and store collection. Our members will be taking part by collecting at the local supermarkets.

Licking Lassa Fever

Lassa Fever - the Club supports SI South Wales in collecting of unwanted jewellery – good, costume, broken, odd earrings, to transform the lives of the entire population of 75 villages in rural Sierra Leone, by providing wells, latrines, food and water containers, tools and seeds to grow their own crops, education materials and community outreach workers.