International Women’s Day 8th March 2021 Once again Soroptimist International of Bristol join Bristol Women’s Voice to mark International Women’s Day. Across the world thousands of Soroptimists will mark International Women’s Day with hundreds of activities and events on and around 8th March.  In some countries just gathering puts women’s lives at risk. Events highlight the economic, political and social achievements of women, and raise awareness of work still to be done to build a better world for women and girls. Due to the pandemic members of Soroptimist International of Bristol are marking this very special day in a different way to that originally planned.  Below is the link to a  short video (1.35 minutes) we have made to support  the rights  of women to equal treatment, their right to respected and their achievements in society with the theme “We Choose to Challenge”.  If you can’t open the

We reached our ambitious target and raised £1,590.  Donations were made by Club members, but read on!  This included their participation in a virtual event (in place of a porridge fundraising event on the Downs) as part of International Porridge Day (10th October) and the Christmas ‘lay a spare place’ appeal. By sending the money before January 31st 2021, the £1,590 was matched through the UK Government’s ‘double the love’ funding programme. Thus, SI Bristol’s donation instead of only supporting 100 children supported 200                children for a school year.  Well done indeed.

SI Bristol embraced the ‘16 Days of Activism’ for 19 days!  (22nd November to 10th December) A cohort of our members ‘attended’ The Creative Forum that Tara Arkle organised to replace the SI Weston super Mare annual Railing Against Abuse planned to gather in London this year. This Forum was on 22nd November – three days prior to the United Nations (UN) International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women annual awareness day.   This multi-year UN End Violence against Women campaign is an effort aimed at preventing and eliminating violence against women and girls. This year the focus was “on amplifying the call for global action to bridge funding gaps, ensure essential services for survivors of violence during the COVID-19 crisis, focus on prevention, and collection of data that can improve life-saving services for women and girls.” The 2020 theme was “Orange the

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

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.

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.

On 25th August 2020, 50 Teddy Bears were given to Children’s Hospice South West at Charlton Farm, Wraxall.      Six members of SI Bristol (President Marion, Programme Action Officer Yvonne, Ivete, Lizzie, Pauline C and Sue P) made sure the bears were happy in their new home.  The bears will be given to children, who use the Hospice, to help comfort them. Many thanks to Yvonne for organising the event and to Pauline C who made our lovely new table dressing, which made its debut