On Sunday 25th November, seven members from SI Bristol and Soroptimists from throughout the southwest joined the SI Weston-super-Mare Club in their initiative to raise awareness and support the United Nations annual “Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women”. Soroptomists travelled by train (hence “railing”) to Western-super-Mare station to join members of the local Club. Most were adorned in distinctive orange clothing (including wigs) because that is the colour designated by the UN for that day. The group walked in an orderly fashion from the station, via the sea front, shopping precinct and park, to the Commemorative Garden. Many carried banners highlighting abuse against women (again hence “railing”). During the walk, “Loves me /Loves me not” bookmarks were enthusiastically given to members of the public. This publicity material has been carefully produced to define in clear and simple terms the difference between a good

SI Bristol is concerned about the amount of single-use plastics and disposal of goods containing plastic have on the environment – air, land, rivers, seas and oceans. In order to learn more about what happens in our area, various institutions and companies were asked how they were dealing with this issue. Articles from the press, magazines and social media were collected to give members a sound understanding of the dangers of plastic waste and how it can be reduced and cleared from the environment. The responses received were mainly encouraging but often slow to make an immediate impact. Some companies were making positive changes, e.g., Only using non-disposable plastic cups, using non-plastic cups, and encouraging customers to bring their own cups, containers or bags. Taking plastic out of tea bags Reducing packaging Using non-plastic, vegetable-based  compostable envelopes for mass mailings. Junior and senior schools were

Programme Action has developed a list of information related to recycling and reduced use of plastic. The idea is to support places and shops that make an effort to reduce the use of plastic and to take individual responsibility for recycling and being aware of using plastics. Hopefully, this list is just a beginning and Liz N encourages anyone with further knowledge to contact her so the list may be kept up-to-date and relevant. Good Practice – National Trust now uses biodegradable wrapping for their magazine. They are made from potato starch. – City Hall sells reusable cups in their canteen. – Waitrose to plan to get rid of plastic cups by Autumn 2018. – A Swindon firm ‘Recycling Technology’ has developed a process to recycle previously non-recyclable plastic items. – Ann Garvie is producing a document “Sustainable Development Goals – What we can do”.

On 17th March Marion and Yvonne, and on 23rd June Liz N and Marion helped to raise money for the Lord Mayor of Bristol Children’s fund by packing bags at food counters at Marks and Spencer, Broadmead. Respectively, the amount collected was £180.88 and £362.86. The amount collected in March was low because there were only enough volunteers to cover four hours. In June, Barclays Bank supported the activity by matching the amount collected via their £4£ scheme. Thus, as a result of these two events, a total of £806.60 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

Programme Action has developed a list of information related to recycling and reduced use of plastic. The idea is to support places and shops that make an effort to reduce the use of plastic and to take individual responsibility for recycling and being aware of using plastics. Hopefully, this list is just a beginning and Liz N encourages anyone with further knowledge to contact her so the list may be kept up-to-date and relevant. Good Practice – National Trust now uses biodegradable wrapping for their magazine. They are made from potato starch. – City Hall sells reusable cups in their canteen. – Waitrose to plan to get rid of plastic cups by Autumn 2018. – A Swindon firm ‘Recycling Technology’ has developed a process to recycle previously non-recyclable plastic items. – Ann Garvie is producing a document “Sustainable Development Goals – What we can do”.

SI Bristol responded to the request by SIGBI to conduct a survey. The purpose was to obtain data about the level of understanding the public has regarding human trafficking and modern slavery. The survey was conducted by SI Clubs throughout UK. Club members encouraged people to complete the survey (online or on paper) between 1st and 7th October 2017. On 7th October, a team of SI Bristol volunteers (Carol, Liz N, Lizzie, Helen, Hilary B, Pat I, Sue P and Yvonne) conducted surveys at Southmead Hospital lobby.  The number of online submissions is unknown; 111 paper surveys were submitted (80 from Southmead Hospital and 31 others) from a diverse range of respondents. A total of 552 Forms were submitted from SIGBI (which consists of 17 Clubs). This means that SI Bristol’s activity contributed a fifth of the paper surveys. Responses provided valuable information to the

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