To mark the start of #16Days of activism and the United Nations’ UNiTE campaign to #OrangeTheWorld, SI Bristol members Ruth and Ivete delivered 29 orange bags of essential toiletries and treats to be given out to survivors as they arrive at Next Link Domestic Abuse Services in Bristol. The majority of survivors flee without possessions, over the last few months our members collected these items to support them. The reality is that women and children will often arrive at Next Link with no personal belongings. This is because they may see a fleeting chance to leave their abusive situation, and they take it, without having a chance to pack anything. For women leaving a domestic abuse situation, packing their children’s favourite comforters, toys, clothing and toiletries – let alone a Christmas gift – is often the last thing on their minds. Soroptimist Bristol will

      Each wearing orange, six members of SI Bristol caught the train to Weston-super- Mare.   On the journey from Worle Councillor Wendy Griggs, Chairman of North Somerset Council, spotted our banners and introduced herself. She remained with us until we joined the rest of the Soroptimists and others outside the station. Where she met up with the Mayor of Weston super Mare for the March. We marched through the shopping area, handing out bookmarks, to Grove Park where we tied ribbons on the railings round the pond. Each of the 110 ribbons represented a death from domestic violence over a year. Other Soroptimists joined us there and there were seven from SI Bristol in total. From there we gathered at the bandstand for speeches about domestic violence and the importance of eliminating it. Two statistics stand out: only one quarter of instances

  Thanks to all our efforts today we raised £243 for Mary’s Meals.  Not a bad morning’s work!  There was hardly anything left, so we could say we sold out! All Mary’s Meals donations between now and the end of January will be doubled in their “Double the Love” campaign so that will make £486 from today’s fundraising which will feed 25 children for a whole school year with a nourishing breakfast. That is a wonderful feeling! Thank you to everyone who helped at the hall today and also to all who contributed with items for the Soroptimist Bristol stall at Westbury-on-Trym Methodist Church Hall in Bristol