Here is a brief overview of the projects we have been involved with during 2018-2019. For more details visit Club News.
This year has been another very busy and rewarding year with all the Programme Action Projects we support. Many thanks to everyone who has contributed.
EDUCATION
The Club continues to financially support the education of a teenage girl in the Cape Verde Islands through the Cape Verde Education project. Several members also personally support this project enabling even more girls to continue their education. We receive regular updates on the progress the girls are making, as well as photographs of them.
Members still collect items for recycling, including used ink cartridges, old CDs, DVDs, biros and pens, jewellery, stamps and coins, bras, bedding and towels, and toiletries, as well as items for various tombolas and raffles. These items go to various charities, including the Diamond Education Grant, Calan DVS (formerly Bridgend Women’s Aid) and into the SIWSHEHT (Soroptimist International Wales South Health Education & Hygiene Trust) charity account for future projects.
Members ran a Tombola stall at the English Speaking Union’s summer garden party in Fonmon Castle to raise money for our Educational charities.
Following contact with our Friendship Link SI Moreton North in Queensland, Australia, we have recently sent four books to a Soroptimist Club in Papua New Guinea for a new library in a primary school out there.
ChoraChori project
We have continued to support this project financially and we are delighted that our proposal was chosen at SIGBI Federation Conference in October as the next Federation Project starting after the Federation Conference in 2019. Rayner and Helen worked extremely hard with Philip Holmes, ChoraChori, to put in the application and Helen and Philip gave an excellent presentation in Liverpool. (All club members also had the opportunity at a club meeting to put forward suggestions after seeing the first draft of the presentation and Helen took these on board when drafting the final one.)We look forward to confirmation that Helen and Rayner become the Project Liaison Officers to take the project forward for Federation. Meanwhile, from the club, more money has been sent to the project, including one donation which was doubled through the Christmas Big Give appeal.
Even more money should be on its way soon following our very successful fashion show held in March at the Heronston Hotel with over 100 people attending. Samantha B provided the clothes for the ‘in house‘ models and with her assistants ensured us of a very entertaining evening.
Christmas Tree Festival
This year the club Christmas Tree in Nolton Church Christmas Tree Festival was beautifully decorated by members with beaded stars (thanks to Sue Jones) and the ‘tooth bag hearts’ made by girls in Nepal who are supported by the project and for sale to rise their funds. As usual, the tree gets a great deal of attention and helps to raise the Club’s profile.
Members still support Barnardo’s work with families at Parc Prison by helping in the cafe run for visiting mothers and children etc.
Contact the Elderly
Members continue to provide ‘Teas for the Elderly’ on Sundays once every 2 months at members’ homes. Members also provide transport and have a summer visit with tea out as well as attending Contact the Elderly teas.
Calan DVS (Women’s Aid)
This Autumn we had a speaker from Calan DVS to update us on the support given locally to vulnerable, abused, parents and children. We learnt of a centre where people can ‘drop in’ for help in the County Borough offices as well as the refuges. Members continue to supply toiletries, towels. instant coffee, tea, and sugar as well as other items when requested. Last Christmas lovely gifts were collected from members and sent for the children at the refuge.
Y Bont
Craft mornings continue to be a main attraction for a number of members who make items to support fund raising for this local charity.
Food Bank
A collection of food for the local Food Bank is made at some meetings.
Operation Christmas Child
More shoe-boxes were collected from members in November for this year’s delivery to children in Eastern European countries.
International Women’s Day
This March, members of S.I. Bridgend again walked from Porthcawl Coney Beach to Rest Bay and back to the Atlantic Hotel for coffee to celebrate International Women’s Day. Members wore our Soroptimist International sashes and were stopped a few times by members of the public who were curious to know who we were and what we were doing. Spreading the word! The weather was very windy but those Soroptimists who did turn out still had fun!
Remembrance Service
Last November, our President Elect and other members took part in the Bridgend Town’s Remembrance Service and laid a wreath with the Soroptimist Logo on it at the town’s war memorial in the centre of the town. A very moving occasion.
International President’s Appeal
This year a very enjoyable social supper evening was held in Rayner’s house in support of the International President’s appeal, ‘Women, Water and Leadership’.
Fund raising breakfasts.
Rayner and Carys have held these this year at their homes with help from several members and lots of ‘supporters’! Rayner’s money raised went to Fairtrade (held in Fairtrade fortnight) and Carys’ funds were sent to the Purple Teardrop campaign.
The Club has also supported the following during the year – Samaritans, Ty Hafan, White Ribbon Campaign, Alzheimer’s Society, Life for African Mothers and St David’s fete in Laleston.
All these activities provide a service and support to various organisations as well as raising the profile of the Soroptimist International.
Carys Brown