Bangor club celebrated the 100th anniversary of Soroptimist International with a glass of bubbly. We also lit candles to light the way forward to a better life for women and children around the world. Regional President, Louise, and our next regional president, Yvonne, celebrated with us. Soroptimist International 100th Birthday celebration

On a Saturday afternoon at The Innings, Bangor we gathered together to celebrate Enid’s 99th birthday. We had a bite to eat and a little speech and a cake to cut. We are looking forward to celebrating the next birthday in a year’s time.

On 18th September President Gudrun and Club members from across the Region met at Coleg Cambria Deeside for the first Face to face meeting since lockdown. On display was the new centenary banner with a square for each club in the region (past and present) made by club members. For more information click on Region Meeting and AGM

On the weekend of 11th and 12th September 2021 Six members of Bangor Club did #WalktheRegion as part of the 100 mile fun walk to lead into the Federation Conference of 2021 in Llandudno. We walked approximately 60 miles – Porth Penrhyn to Llanfairfechan on Saturday and Llanfairfechan to Penmaenmawr and back to Llanfairfechan + Llandudno Promenade on Sunday. If you would like to see more information and photos in the Region click on Region Centenary Fun Walk

In 2018/19, during the NHS and our club 70th anniversaries, President Andy Hawkins chose to support Dementia Care in Ysbyty Gwynedd Hospital and we raised £5,000. Here is how Andy recorded the event: With photographers, press and all of their ‘tech’, To the Hospital team we presented our cheque, Promoting their work – and ours – with elation; A Plaque will be placed to record our donation. A quiet room for patients is what they intend For reminiscing, relaxing and being with friends. And here is the plaque: Then in 2020/21 President Diane Davies and members raised over £2,500 for Dementia Care. This went to purchase 10 dolls, 10 sony CD players and 6 Bush DVd players and the reminder of the money will either go towards a sheltered area within the garden , or to modify the therapy lounge. We are so happy to

In August Bangor club members and friends joined together for a lovely evening at Jenny’s house to enjoy pizza and prosecco whilst raising money for President Gudrun’s charity – Women’s Aid. A fantastic total of £1,000 was raised. Many thanks to Jenny for kindly hosting the event and also to Vicki for her delicious desserts! It was lovely to get together and see our friends again after such a long time and we enjoyed a beautiful sunset on the way home.

On a sunny June evening several of our club members met up on Bangor Garth Pier for a walk, a chat and a bit of food and drink. Garth Pier is the second longest pier in Wales and the 9th longest in the country (470m). It was opened in 1896 by Baron Penrhyn. In 1971 ownership was transferred to Arfon Borough Council who were going to demolish it but Bangor City Council were able to save it and obtain a Grade II listing for the structure, with the planning officer considering it one of the three finest surviving piers in Great Britain. Restoration work was needed and it was reopened in 1988 by the 7th Marquess of Anglesey. More restoration work was needed from 2018 and it was reopened completely this year. It has been very popular for recreation with all the restrictions of the

The Jafuta Foundation is a non-profit organisation focused on helping humans and animals alike by creating and maintaining equilibrium between community, wildlife and conservation, education and culture. So explained Gail Van Jaarsveldt, founder of the Jafuta Foundation which is based in the Hwange West region of Zimbabwe near Victora Falls. It was set up in 2013 and has three full-time workers. Their first project was the Girls Dignity program where reusable sanitary pads were made in rural schools and communities. The Biogas project saves women and children walking miles to collect firewood; every home has a cow and the manure decomposes in small polytunnels giving off methane, which is then piped into the huts for cooking. They also have projects to provide clean water to villagers and also waterholes in national parks to encourage lions and elephants to stay nearby rather than ruining the villagers’

We recently had a talk by Colin Keyse from Ffarm Moelyci which is one of the UK’s first community owned farms and pioneered the idea that community ownership can play a part in how farming both grows good food and nurtures strong communities. In 2018, after a long period of uncertainty, the farm was sold on the open market to a consortium Ymlaen Moelyci. This consortium brings together charities and charitable incorporated organisations, private individuals, philanthropists, farmers and other businesses. Colin explained that Moelyci is a safe, neutral ground, experimenting with ideas for sustainable farming and living. There is a donkey sanctuary, allotments and also a forty-seat barn with Wifi and audio-visual which is available for groups that come and visit. They have a shop and cafe on the premises and everyone is welcome. See their website for more information about the valuable work they