Mend the Gap is a registered charity based in Bristol which runs projects in Eastern Africa that aim to eradicate poverty and advance education. When two independent schools in Bristol merged in 2017, Bristol Soroptimists were able to acquire supplies of new and nearly new school uniform which needed a good home. In many African countries, children without school uniform are not allowed to attend school and many such children often drop out of education altogether and miss out on life’s chances and a way to break out of the circle of poverty. Recycling these uniforms to schools supported by Mend the Gap in Bochoroke, Kenya, has made a big difference. Not all children in the village can afford to go to school, so to wear a uniform is a visible sign of school membership. Hard-wearing school clothes are important as they will be passed

The backpack project complements the Mary’s Meals school breakfast programme. It provides children with items that help to support their education. Club members collect items from the list provided by Mary’s Meals and then these are put together into backpacks for school. Items include school stationery, school uniform, flip flops or sandals, a ball, a spoon, towel, soap, toothbrush and toothpaste. Last year two independent schools in Bristol merged with the result that large quantities of pens, pencils and other school stationery items along with new and nearly new school uniform needed a good home. We were able to provide a good home by recycling useable backpacks, stationery items, dresses, jumpers, shorts and tops for the Mary’s Meals project. 30 completed backpacks were then sent to Mary’s Meals for onward distribution We also sent 5 large sacks/boxes of extra items for use in the schools.

First a little bit about Mary’s Meals Breakfast Project. Mary’s Meals delivers hope to over a million children every day in some of the most vulnerable and poor areas of the world. Many children living in the world’s poorest places are too hungry to go to school. Hunger also reduces a child’s concentration and learning ability and many children drop out of education because of this. The Mary’s Meals programme is excellent because, working with the whole community, children are given at least one good meal a day. Before Mary’s Meals establish a feeding programme in a new area, the community has to appoint a committee of parents, teachers and volunteers, who take responsibility for cooking and serving the meals for the children. Wherever possible, locally-sourced food is bought from producers that work with smallholder farmers in order to support the local economy. Educated children

Several Soroptimists (Liz F, Liz G, Liz N, Marion, Yvonne)  helped by packing bags at food counters at Marks and Spencer, Broadmead and Waitrose, Henleaze. During 2017, over £1,400 was raised for this appeal. The Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal helps disadvantaged children under the age of 16 (or 18 if disabled) who reside within the Bristol city boundary to have a better Christmas by providing vouchers that can be exchanged for food, clothes and toys. Recipients are nominated by the Children and Young People’s Services, Social Care Division, City of Bristol, who vet all applications that are also substantiated by the applicant’s social worker, teacher or doctor, thereby ensuring that the help reaches the right children. The charity aims to provide relief to approximately 1.650 disadvantaged children.  Each child receives two vouchers: 1 x £20 to be spent on food and 1 x £20

Starting on 22nd January, 2018 there will be a table at each Business meeting where members can leave fliers and information about activities and events in Bristol and its surroundings. The photograph shows Liz N setting up the first Table. Members looked at the information and took any fliers of particular interest to them. Please bring brochures, fliers, notices, requests and anything you think will be of interest to share with members. Any material not collected at the end of the meeting will be discarded.

In December 2017, Denise M and Liz G took part in performing mock interviews to students at the Bridge Learning Campus. This campus is an Academy in Hartcliffe, Bristol. This annual event involves giving practice interviews to Year 11 students by people from business and voluntary groups.  Interviews last all morning with a format of six students with each pair of interviewers. Interviewers cover many aspects, including general type questions and giving advice regarding appearance, confidence, and quality of answers.  Interviewers also advise students to write a Resume that is as good as they are, and give verbal feedback on how they did overall. Interviewers record their notes and Feedback Forms are returned to students. Students and school officials find them to be invaluable.

On Saturday 16th December 2017, nine volunteers gathered at Colston Hall to enjoy the ‘English Christmas Music’ concert performed by the Bristol Choral Society Bristol Ensemble and conducted by Hilary Campbell. The programme consisted of ‘Christmas day’ and ‘Psalm 148’ by Gustov Holst, ‘A Ceremony of Carols’ by Benjamin Britton and a ‘Fantasia on Christmas Carols’ by Ralph Vaughan Williams. We were also treated to ‘Interlude’ beautifully played by harpist Anne Denholm. The team (Carol, Gill, Jeanette, Liz N, Lizzie, Lucy, Marion, Pauline H and Susan G) collected £244.43 from the happy, departing audience, for the Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal. For more information about this Appeal check out: www.lordmayorofbristoappeal.co.uk; registered charity number 288262.