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

    Our last Speaker meeting featured a talk by Sue Stops about Hotwells Pantomimes and Panto Dames.     The Hotwells panto is a long-standing community tradition in Bristol, typically staged by the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association. Formerly held at the Hope Centre, the tradition continues with the group performing at the local Hope Chapel since at least 1981, even after the Hope Centre closed in 2001. The panto productions by Hotwells are known for their community spirit, a blend of humour suitable for both children and adults, dramatic sets, lavish costumes, and live music. The pantomimes are created, written, designed, produced, and performed entirely by local community members, including volunteers from the Hotwells & Cliftonwood Community Association. Sue Stops also spoke about her brother, Chris Harris, and his involvement with Hotwells Pantomimes. Chris Harris was a prominent Bristol actor and pantomime dame

    On Monday 13th October we were delighted to welcome Helen Powell to our Speaker meeting.     Helen is a lawyer and a prominent founder member of We Love Stoke Lodge, a local community group composed of former and current residents for whom the last green space in Stoke Bishop is very important. Their work aims to protect the area for future generations. Helen took us on a fascinating journey through the rich history of Stoke Lodge and its surrounding green space.  Stoke Lodge is a Grade II listed house located in the heart of Stoke Bishop and is surrounded by 23 acres of beautiful parkland. The grounds are  known for its collection of magnificent, protected, and historic trees, with many champion and notable trees on the national register, as well as a wide variety of wildlife, including bats, foxes, badgers, and deer. The arboretum is