Skip links

Annual Visit to our Soroptimist Hotel, Number 63 Bayswater Road

Annual Visit to our Soroptimist Hotel, Number 63 Bayswater Road

in

  On the 26th of February, a group of us spent our annual visit to London, staying at our Soroptimist hotel, Number 63 Bayswater Road, overlooking Hyde Park.       On the first day, Pauline organised a lovely dinner at our usual Italian restaurant Taormina remarkably close to where we were staying. On Friday Ruth organised a brilliant outing for us to dine at Cote and then to see “Into the Woods” at the Bridge Theatre, which was lovely. There were many things we did as a group and individually such as: The Immerse Experience, Leighton House, the Glass Elevator near St Pauls and a special Seurat exhibition at the Courtauld Gallery. It was a successful trip and an opportunity for a great social get together.  We did have fun!  Thank you again Ruth and Pauline for organising us all.

We Welcomed Alison at our Speaker Meeting 9th February 2026

We Welcomed Alison at our Speaker Meeting 9th February 2026

in

    We were delighted to induct a new member at our Speaker Meeting last night, Dr Alison Wint.     In joining our Club, Alison will be following in the footsteps of her mother who was a committed Soroptimist. We welcome Alison very warmly and hope she will find fulfilment in her Soroptimist journey. #SoroptimistBristol #Volunteer #Soroptimists @soroptimistgbi  

Speaker Meeting 9th February 2026: Terry Ransome “Filton in Space – 65 Years

Speaker Meeting 9th February 2026: Terry Ransome “Filton in Space – 65 Years

in

  Terry Ransome came to our Supper Meeting on Monday 9th February to talk about “Filton in Space”.     Terry had worked in the aerospace industry for over 30 years before his retirement and gave us an interesting talk about the development of space exploration, particularly where it was connected to Bristol (if we’re allowed to call Filton Bristol!). He started telling us how impacted he was by the moon landings as a young person and how that had sparked his interest in space. Terry described in detail the various satellites that were made or part made by BAC (the British Aircraft Corporation). The first of these was the Skylark, but later ones had Shakespearean names, such as Prospero and Ariel as well as names chosen by a member of the public who’d won the chance to do this in a competition. The satellites

January 2026 Club Meeting: Welcome to Jenny Benson from Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS)

January 2026 Club Meeting: Welcome to Jenny Benson from Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS)

in

At our Club meeting on Monday 26th January, we were pleased to welcome Jenny Benson from Somerset and Avon Rape and Sexual Abuse Support (SARSAS). SARSAS is a local charity dedicated to supporting anyone affected by rape or any kind of sexual assault or abuse at any time in their lives. They listen, believe and support survivors. SARSAS provides a wide range of services and consult with people to best meet survivors’ needs. The charity started in 2008 as Bristol Rape Crisis, before expanding in 2013 to cover the whole of Avon and Somerset. They then started to provide much needed counselling services and changed their name to SARSAS. The charity is part of Rape Crisis England and Wales which has 38 member organisations covering the whole of the UK. There is a huge emotional toll as a result of the trauma of rape and

PhysioNet: Volunteering at their New Depot near Slimbridge

PhysioNet: Volunteering at their New Depot near Slimbridge

in

Four Soroptimists visit PhysioNet at their new south west depot in Cambridge near Slimbridge (Gloucestershire). On the cold, windy and grey morning of Saturday 24th January, a group of four Soroptimist Bristol members (Funlola, Bridget, Marion and Ivete) volunteered with PhysioNet at their new south west depot in Cambridge near Slimbridge (Gloucestershire).  Bridget, SI Bristol’s Programme Action officer, organised our attendance with Sarah from PhysioNet.Together with other volunteers, we helped fill a shipping container with refurbished mobility equipment destined for Fiji,  the 27th load to the islands since 2009. Vodaphone Fiji once again covered the shipping costs to Fiji Mobility Alliance (formerly the Spinal Injuries Association). The equipment (1168 items) had to be loaded in two phases: from PhysioNet’s base to the vans and then from the vans to the shipping container. The container was too large to be driven on the narrow lanes leading

Speaker Meeting 12th January 2026: Homeless Charity – Jasper Thompson, Founder and CEO

Speaker Meeting 12th January 2026: Homeless Charity – Jasper Thompson, Founder and CEO

in

  On Monday 12 January, Soroptimists Bristol reunited after the Christmas break for the first of their monthly Speaker and Supper meetings. We were delighted to welcome Jasper Thompson, Founder and CEO of Help Bristol’s Homeless Charity, alongside Project Manager Kerrie Woolf. Jasper, who moved from Jamaica to Bristol aged eight, shared his remarkable journey. After a challenging childhood that saw him enter care at nine and living independently by sixteen, he later excelled in the army before running several successful Bristol businesses and working internationally as a close protection officer. Inspired after returning from Jamaica on a cold winter’s day, Jasper decided to take action to support people experiencing homelessness. What began as distributing essentials soon grew into the creation of innovative “micro-flats” made from converted shipping containers. Since designing the first unit in 2016, Help Bristol’s Homeless now provides 33 supported single-occupancy homes

SI Bristol: Christmas Party 2025

SI Bristol: Christmas Party 2025

in

    On Monday 1st December we held a wonderful Christmas Party for members and guests with a delicious supper followed by music with Ian Towers.    Ian was brilliant on the piano and sang well known, cheerful songs, some by members’ request. The songs were interspaced with carols and we all joined in the singing! It was good fun and lifted our mood! During the evening, as is our custom, we raised donations for Caring in Bristol. We are delighted to report that we were able to raise the sum of £260 (further donations expected), which will hopefully be doubled in the Big Give to £520 or more. For over three decades Caring in Bristol has run the Caring at Christmas project. Having changed over the years to adapt to the needs of people experiencing homelessness and precarious living situations in Bristol, it is

Another Successful Christmas Fayre: November 2025

Another Successful Christmas Fayre: November 2025

in

Our Club had a stall in aid of Mary’s Meals at the Westbury-On-Trym Christmas Fayre this morning. The fayre had a very Christmassy atmosphere and a very good number of people wandering through the various stalls. Pauline, Ruth, Carol, Susan S and Susan W did a wonderful job manning the stall and we were delighted to raise £174.84 which will benefit from being doubled to £349.68 if sent to Mary’s Meals before Christmas. Well done everyone!

Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: A Candlelit Vigil 27th November 2025

Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women: A Candlelit Vigil 27th November 2025

in

A Very Moving Candlelit Vigil: 27th November 2025 Nine Soroptimist Bristol members joined Next Link’s Candlelit Vigil walk from Queen’s Road to College Green yesterday evening to mark the UN’s International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women.   SI Bristol members met at the Victoria Rooms which was illuminated in orange for a photoshoot and were pleased to be joined by some QEH students. We marched from there to Next Link to join a large number of participants. At Next Link Domestic Abuse Services’ office in Queen’s Avenue we were offered a cup of hot chocolate and collected a candle to take on the walk. Despite the drizzle which accompanied us, we estimate that approximately 200 people took part on the Candlelit Walk from Queen’s Road holding placards and a lit candle.  It was good to see many male allies at the vigil.

Soroptimist Bristol’s Message of *Hope* by Delivering Bags to Next Link: On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

Soroptimist Bristol’s Message of *Hope* by Delivering Bags to Next Link: On International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women

in

  Funlola, Lucy, Ruth, Lizzie and Ivete delivered 50 Orange Bags of HOPE filled with toiletries to offer support to women looked after by Next Link Domestic Abuse Services in Bristol. We know many women only have a small window of opportunity to flee their abusers, often taking nothing with them as they leave to seek refuge. We hope the Orange Bags of HOPE will serve as a demonstration of Soroptimist support and bring a ray of brightness for a better future.