This month as part of our support of the East Grampian Coastal Partnership – Turning the Plastic tide, and Paws on Plastic, groups of members spent time beach cleaning at nearby Stonehaven and Balmedie. The weather was kind and on both occasions a number of bags of rubbish were collected.http://egcp.scot Wrapped up, armed and ready to tackle the job on Balmedie beach! #onlyleavefootprints
Members produced lots of tasty cakes and loads of strawberries for a recent strawberry tea held in a local church hub. There were also items of craft, books and plants for sale. The proceeds from the event will be donated to an organisation based in Moldova since 1996, now called AIM Moldova and previously known as Stella’s Voice. The organisation provides protection for the most vulnerable from human trafficking. It also collects a wide variety of items for refugees including bedding and blankets, essential baby items, toiletries, clothing and non perishable food. http://stellasvoice.org.uk http://aimmoldova.org
‘The solidarity of women is crucial to the formation, development and day-to-day running of Women’s Aid in Scotland’ (Women’s Aid Speaking Out Project). Early in the Women’s Aid movement ‘women helping women helping women’ became a motto and working principle, and working together has remained the central tenet to the work Women’s Aid continues to do today. Grampian Women’s Aid, based in Aberdeen, offers a free and confidential specialist service to women, children and young people in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire who have experienced domestic abuse. Members heard from the organisation’s Prevention and Fundraising Lead who spoke of the invaluable group work done with women over the last two years. President Ruth thanked her for her inspiring talk. A donation will be made to Grampian Women’s Aid as part of our annual distribution of funds.http://www.grampian-women’s-aid.com
Saturday 20th May saw lots of visitors to the Bonnymuir Plant Sale where a huge range of plants and craft items sold very well. Proceeds from the sale of over £700 will be distributed to the Bonnymuir Green Community Trust Roof Fund, Trellis which supports therapeutic gardening and the Aberdeen Royal Infirmary rooftop garden. Sunflowers will be donated to a local nursery school. http://www.bctg.co.uk http://www.trellisscotland.org.uk
Our new club President Ruth was joined by a group of members and guests to enjoy a delicious afternoon tea at Woodbank House on the outskirts of Aberdeen in celebration of King Charles’ Coronation. Tasty savoury items, cakes, wine and a variety of teas were served up and everyone agreed that the afternoon had been a good opportunity to relax with lots of chat. Following our afternoon tea members made their way to the edge of the garden to enjoy the very welcome sunshine.
Aberdeen City Lord Provost thanked all volunteers from a variety of charities and organisations present at the Big Help Out on Monday 8th May which was organised by Aberdeen City Council of Volunteer Organisations (ACVO) and the charity, We Too. He spoke of his gratitude to the many people of Aberdeen who volunteer with a number of organisations. Certificates were handed out to all volunteers who had taken part on the day and to club members who spent time talking to other volunteers and to members of the public.
Come along to the plant sale at Bonnymuir Green Community Trust Garden on Saturday 20th May between 10.30am and 1.30pm when members of our club will join with the garden staff to sell a variety of fruit and vegetable plants and flowers. On sale there will be a selection of perennial plants, summer bedding plants including sweet peas, vegetable plants including speciality black cherry tomatoes, lollo rosso lettuce, broccoli and strawberries, as well as house plants. There will also be craft items for sale. Enjoy a cuppa or a meal at the on site Bonny Cafe which will also be open on the day. http://www.bgct.co.uk
To mark the forthcoming Coronation of King Charles organisations across the country are getting together to encourage more volunteering in our communities. This initiative is called ‘The Big Help Out’. It launches on Monday 8th May and will continue throughout the summer. Club members will gather at the Trinity Centre in Aberdeen on the day between 11 am and 2 pm to meet up with members of the public to promote and discuss opportunities to volunteer with our club, Soroptimist International of Aberdeen. COME AND MEET US AND HEAR ALL ABOUT WHAT WE DO!
This week members congratulated our new club President Ruth and wished her every success for the coming year. Our Immediate Past Louise was presented with a rose bowl to thank her for her leadership last year and to mark the end of her time as Club President.
As part of local activities for Climate Week North East (CWNE) a group of club members joined other volunteers from a variety of organisations including the Marine Conservation Society http://www.mcsuk.org and the East Grampian Coastal Partnership (Turning The Plastic Tide) to clean up Aberdeen beach http://egcp.scot. In spite of the cold the busy participants collected a total of 92 KGs in a couple of hours!
