At our Club Meeting on Monday 23rd March, we welcomed a representative from WomanKind Bristol to talk about the charity. Womankind Bristol is a mental health charity run by women for women.  They help hundreds of women to improve their mental health and wellbeing so they can experience a better quality of life. The charity has a Helpline, providing a dedicated listening ear and support for women to talk things through, whatever the reason.  When women are going through difficult times, simply feeling heard and understood can make a big difference.   The helpline is there to support any woman or girl aged 16 and above who is in need of a listening ear. Helpline: 0117 916 6461         helpline@womankindbristol.org.uk Womankind offers one-to-one Counselling, a confidential space where women of all ages, cultures and backgrounds can feel safe and supported.  Their General Counselling

      Two SI Bristol members (Jacasta and Marion) gave Year 10 students one-to-one Mock Interviews at Yate Academy.   We have collaborated with Bristol Rotary Club in previous years to help students prepare for upcoming work experience interviews and give them feedback as a key part of their preparation for job interviews. On this occasion we worked with the Kingswood Rotary Club. There were 25 desks in the auditorium and during the course of the morning, each participant interviewed 5 or 6 students. The event was under the supervision of a school teacher.  We carried out mock interviews, after which we completed a feedback form for each student on different elements of performance: verbal communication, body language, general attitude, quality of answers and areas to develop. Bristol Soroptimists are committed to continuing their support for schools by offering their time and assistance on

  The International Women’s Day 2026 celebrations at Bristol City Hall today was an exciting and stimulating event for Soroptimist Bristol. This event, organised by Bristol Women’s Voice, reflected our values of nurturing, connection, solidarity and empowerment. Our Programme Action leader, Bridget, organised a team of fourteen members who worked five shifts interacting with many interested visitors who came to talk to us throughout the day. We showcased our projects through a short video shown in a loop. We also connected with many other women groups and charities to learn about their activities. There were over 50 workshops on offer, talks and performances, as well as a variety of food stalls from various parts of the world. We thank Bridget and all our members who generously donated their time today to make this such a successful event. #IWD2026 #SoroptimistBristol #StandingUpForWomenAndGirls #Soroptimists @soroptimistgbi Soroptimist SIGBI

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

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

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!

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.

  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.  

    Six members of Soroptimist International of Bristol (SB, LC, BJ, DM, MR, SS) supported SI Weston-super-Mare and District at their annual Railing Against Abuse march on the 25th November 2025.    This is the date of the UN ‘International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women’ and begins 16 Days of Activism. The statistics regarding violence and abuse are still alarmingly high. Members from several Soroptimist Clubs from throughout the SW&CI Region met outside the Weston-super-Mare Railway Station. About 60 attendees walked from the station through the town to Grove Park, handing out Relationship Bookmarks (that explained the difference between good and bad relationships) on our way. We were highly visible in our bright orange coats and accessories and bold banners. Following talks by Ruth from SI Weston super Mare, the Deputy Mayor and a representative from NextLink, we tied 101 orange ribbons