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SIGBI Conference On-Line (from Belfast) October 30th – 31st 2020

SIGBI Conference On-Line (from Belfast) October 30th – 31st 2020

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In our Centenary year seven members of SI Bristol joined the annual conference online this year and there were over 900 other delegates. It was very different as Coronavirus had not allowed us to travel to Ireland where could also have enjoyed the sites and the atmosphere of this beautiful city.  We could not see the delegates but we understand that The South West and Channel Islands Region was well represented. On Thursday 29th October prior to Conference they ran the Federation Programme Action Committee meeting.  It was introduced and compared by SIGBI Programme Director, Kay Richmond and there were presentations throughout the day. The Conference ran from 13.30 – 17.00 each day and we could watch or catch up in the comfort of our own homes.  SI Bristol set up a WhatsApp group which enabled us to contact each other in a chatty way

New Friendship Link Co-ordinator: Liz N

New Friendship Link Co-ordinator: Liz N

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We are delighted that Liz N has now taken the post of Friendship Link Co-ordinator.  Liz (seen here on the right) is also co-ordinating the Friends of the Club.  These are members who have left and joined other Soroptimist Clubs.  We are so please that Liz has taken on this challenge as she is a long standing member of the Club and is familiar with all our Friends.  We would like to encourage our friends to follow us n social media too: Facebook: Soroptimist Bristol, Twitter: @si_bristol, Instagram: soroptimist_bristol, LinkedIn: Soroptimist International of Bristol Susan G will continue to run the Luncheon Club.  These members are usually longstanding members who have retired from the club but are still interested in us and support the work that we do.

Granny Downs Walk:  Durdham Downs  22nd October 2020

Granny Downs Walk:  Durdham Downs  22nd October 2020

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  On 22nd October, a cohort of SI Bristol enjoyed a tour of trees on Durdham Downs in an area known as the Granny Downs. The socially distanced group were guided round by Gill, one of our members, and examined the features of 17 different trees, including one large leaved lime believed to be 200 years old.  Everyone appreciated the colourful Autumn leaves and the history of the area. It is hoped to repeat the tour next Spring  

New Homes for Trauma Teddies:  Next Link and Missing Link October 15th and Above and Beyond October 21st 2020

New Homes for Trauma Teddies:  Next Link and Missing Link October 15th and Above and Beyond October 21st 2020

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More Trauma Teddies find new home where they will be very happy comforting children Teddies, 50 in total, were delivered to Next Link a charity providing domestic abuse support and Missing Link a charity providing a range of housing and support for women who have either acute or long term mental health needs.  These little bears will be treasured as so often mothers and children have none of their possessions especially toys. Another 50 teddies were delivered to Above and Beyond the local charity supporting Bristol city centre hospitals and other services.  This includes The Bridge helping people who have been raped and sexual assaulted including children. In 2013/14 The Bridge was our Club Charity for the year.  Prior to that we also sponsored a 4 year old girl who needed their counselling services, at that time the NHS did not fund counselling for children

Speaker Meeting October 12th 2020: Lucy’s Impressions of Syria

Speaker Meeting October 12th 2020: Lucy’s Impressions of Syria

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One of our members, Lucy, gave a talk (via Zoom) about her impressions of Syria in 2008.  This was before everything changed in such a devastating way with the onset of the civil war. Lucy spent several days there for work and was able to see something of the country as well as meeting some Syrians.  Visits to the mosques in Damascus as well as the Syrian Coptic churches where she heard the Lord’s Prayer recited in Aramaic were very interesting, but the highlight was a visit to the impressive Krak de Chevalier Crusader castle. She recalled the welcome of everyone she met there and how she often wonders what has happened to them now.

More Trauma Bears go to new homes:  Unseen and The Park Community Centre

More Trauma Bears go to new homes:  Unseen and The Park Community Centre

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On September 22nd 2020, 25 Trauma Teddies were handed over to Poppy at the Unseen charity offices in Bristol (top left). The following week 400 Trauma Teddies were delivered to The Park Community Centre in Knowle (bottom left).  We have been connected to Unseen for many years and were delighted to see the outside of their new premises.  Unseen works towards a world without slavery through supporting survivors and providing them with a safe place to recover from trauma and rebuild their lives.  They do not have a children’s safe house but they do have clients with children and the teddies will be very welcome.   Wendy, the Supervisor of Families in Focus South, at The Park Community Centre in Knowle received 400 teddies.  The Centre has kindly agreed to distribute the teddies to Children’s Services across Bristol.

The Head of Clifton High School receives our book “100 Yeas of Sisterhood: Bristol Fashion”

The Head of Clifton High School receives our book “100 Yeas of Sisterhood: Bristol Fashion”

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On Tuesday, 29th September, President Marion presented a copy of our history book to Matthew Bennett, the new Head of Clifton High School. This presentation was particularly important as the founding President of SI Bristol, Miss Eleanor Addison Phillips, was head of Clifton High School from 1908 to 1933. The weather was so nice that the photograph to document the occasion was taken outside the building where Miss Phillips had her office This is just one of a number of books presented to people who have influenced the writing of the book to say “thank you”.  Other books have been donated to significant people/organisations who value the history of Soroptimist International of Bristol and our contribution to both the organisation and the City of Bristol.  

Speaker Zoom Meeting September 14th 2020:  Frauds and Scams in Financial Services – Ryan Taylor NatWest Bank

Speaker Zoom Meeting September 14th 2020:  Frauds and Scams in Financial Services – Ryan Taylor NatWest Bank

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We were very pleased to welcome Ryan Taylor from NatWest Bank who enlightened us on frauds and scams in financial services. He said that 1 to 2 billion pounds is lost every year due to fraud and scams. This money often goes to terrorist organisations as well as criminal gangs. Only 5% is ever reported due to reluctance, embarrassment and allied issues. Often the object is gaining information as much as getting money. If a data base is accessed, the details can be sold on to various criminal gangs until eventually “you” end up on a “suckers” list!  People on this list tend to be targeted multiple times.  The approach used by scammers includes charm, sympathy, and helpfulness but if you show signs of non-acceptance the approach ends up with threats and intimidation.  Many fraudsters are articulate post graduate students, who have found it a

A huge “Thank You” to our Sponsors:  Rathbone Greenbank Investments and Kellands Chartered Financial Planners and Renshaw

A huge “Thank You” to our Sponsors:  Rathbone Greenbank Investments and Kellands Chartered Financial Planners and Renshaw

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On behalf of SI Bristol President Marion is thanking our sponsors. We had planned to hold our Friendship Weekend in September to celebrate its Centenary.  For obvious reasons, everything was cancelled.  The first event was going to be Alice Roberts talking to Sixth Formers from schools across Bristol (State and Private) in the afternoon and to the General Public in the early evening. We had secured sponsorships from Rathbone Greenbank Investments, Kellands (Bristol) Ltd Chartered Financial Planners and Renshaw .  SI Bristol is delighted to report that both generously agreed to have the funds forwarded directly to our two current charities:  Lifeskills Learning for Living (lifeskills-bristol.org.uk) and National Centre for Integrative Medicine (www.ncim.org.uk). SI Bristol thanks Rathbones, Kellands  and Renshaw for their generosity.  We are grateful for this marvellous boost to our charity contributions during this, our centenary year.  

Teddy Trauma Transfer: Durdham Downs 19th September 2020

Teddy Trauma Transfer: Durdham Downs 19th September 2020

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Members of SI Bristol met on Durdham Downs on Saturday, ensuring social distancing, to say good bye to some of our Trauma Teddies. President Marion welcomed the Lord Lieutenant of the City and County of Bristol Peaches Golding and the Lord Mayor of Bristol Jos Clark who both gave talks about the event. Three hundred (of our 900) teddy bears, knitted by members of SI Bristol, family, Regional members and friends, were given to representatives from the Air Ambulance, the Fire Brigade and the Police. The representatives expressed their appreciation. The 100 bears given to each emergency service was another way we marked SI Bristol’s centenary.  The soroptimists present were delighted to know the teddy bears will help to comfort children.