Recently a representative of SANDS, the Stillbirth and Neonatal Death Society, gave a truly impressive talk about the charity's wonderful work. Its vision for the future is a world where fewer babies die and anyone affected by the loss of a baby receives the best possible care and support as long as it is needed whether it is some years after a loss or early on in a pregnancy. The charity works in partnership with health professionals, trusts and health boards to offer a range of training programmes and bereavement care resources to ensure that bereaved parents and families receive the best care wherever they are in the UK. Within the UK there is a helpline, the SANDS online community, a private support page on Facebook and various other online support meetings and in addition within Scotland groups share experience and best practice. The charity

Our Federation’s recent ‘Day of Action’ saw a group of club members gather to knit a ‘Thin Red Line’ to depict a key threshold for climate change and to raise awareness of the impact of climate change, global warming and other climate disruptions. The focus for the day was on poverty and the effect of climate change on poverty worldwide now and in the future. Members aim to continue knitting!

Once again a group of members took part in the Big Help Out in the Trinity Centre in the city. Organised by the local charity ‘We, Too’ in conjunction with ACVO (Aberdeen City Voluntary Organisations) following a very successful campaign initiated by King Charles last year, and at the culmination of this year’s national Volunteers’ Week, a variety of organisations set up their stalls to showcase the work they do and the causes they support, providing members of the public with opportunities to become volunteers. At the end of a very busy day ‘Thank You’ Volunteer Certificates were distributed to all the volunteers present.

Club members recently gathered to hear a talk from a representative of the charity, CHSS, which provides service and support for people living with chest, heart and stroke conditions as well as Long Covid in Scotland, through their Community Healthcare Support Team.  Their ‘NO LIFE HALF LIVED’ strategy supports anyone who needs them to live full lives. The charity also supports health professionals and carers, and their dedicated stroke nurses help patients who return home from hospital following a stroke. There is a telephone interpreting service and an air quality & weather alert service. http://www.chss.org.uk     adviceline@chss.org.uk

A group of members were delighted to attend the Big Lunch  hosted by Grampian Women’s Aid, the specialist service to women, children and young people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who have experienced domestic abuse. The theme for the lunch was ‘Women and Work’ with guest speakers who shared information about the work and volunteering they do. The attendees were women who GWA has supported and have done the ‘Own My Life’ course, the natural progression of which is a new syllabus being developed to support women with employability hence the theme of the day.http://www.grampian-womens-aid.com

 BONNYMUIR COMMUNITY TRUST GARDEN PLANT SALE On Saturday 11th May members were busy at the Bonnymuir Community Trust Garden with our annual plant sale. A range  of plants were available to buy including dianthus, foxgloves, mallow, Siberian iris and several varieties of geranium. A herb section offered borage, mints, thyme and rosemary. Also available were house plants together with ceramic pots. There was a section on companion planting with marigolds. Focus as always was on insect friendly plants. There was also a craft and card stall and a tombola. Sunflowers were gifted to children attending and there was a photograph competition for them, too. The sale was well attended raising over £800.  

SANDS, the stillbirth and neonatal death society, first set up in 1981, is a registered charity which works to support anyone affected by the death of a baby, to improve care for bereaved parents and to create a world where fewer babies die. http://www.sands.org.uk In the grounds of Aberdeen Maternity hospital adjacent to the Rubislaw wing a small garden which is promoted by the SANDS charity, was laid out some years ago to provide a space for families and staff members to relax in peaceful and attractive surroundings.  Over time the garden has needed considerable attention so last year a group of club members volunteered to take on the work to improve the site. Weeding, cutting, tidying, replanting and repainting was done over several weeks during the summer, and when thoroughly restored with colourful flowering plants in pots and flower beds the garden took on

Our club has turned 95 - and we have celebrated in style! A chilly morning in beautiful Duthie Park saw members and friends handing out pots of spring bulbs in order to mark International Women's Day. Of course this was followed by coffee and chat in the warmth of the Winter Gardens. Later we attended a wonderful Civic Reception in the elegant surroundings of the Town House, where a fantastic spread was hosted by our Lord and Lady Provost, David and Hazel Cameron. It was so nice to see our own Margaret Smith's portrait from when she was Lord Provost displayed so prominently.   A wonderful Diva tribute show at the Tivoli theatre was the evening's experience, with stars such as Annie Lennox, Blondie, Adele and Madonna portrayed on stage in all their fabulousness! Impossible not to sing and dance along with the music. The

We were delighted to see so much support for the UN "16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence" throughout Aberdeen and in particular in the Rosemount area. Shops and businesses throughout Rosemount and beyond, showed their support by displaying Orange bunting, balloons and posters to raise awareness of this important issue. Carole Baxter of the BBC's Beechgrove Garden chose her favourite display on Friday December 1st and the winner was "Wool for Ewe" who receive a £200 donation to a charity of their choice. Club members joined other Aberdeen women's organisations on 25th November, the first of the 16 Days, taking part in the annual "Reclaim the Night March". Marischal College and His Majesty's Theatre were also lit up in Orange. "We are so pleased that the people and businesses of Rosemount have risen to the occasion in supporting the challenge of ending violence