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Bridge Learning Campus Interviews

Bridge Learning Campus Interviews

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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.

Christmas Concert Fundraiser for Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal

Christmas Concert Fundraiser for Lord Mayor of Bristol’s Children Appeal

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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.  

Christmas Gifts: Shoe Boxes for UNSEEN

Christmas Gifts: Shoe Boxes for UNSEEN

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On Thursday 8th December, gifts donated by SI Bristol members were wrapped ready to give to UNSEEN for current residents of their Safe houses. A team of Programme Action committee members (Liz N, Marion, Sue P and Yvonne) wrapped items to be given to people spending Christmas in an UNSEEN Safe House. Nine items were colourfully wrapped and placed in shoe boxes (8 for women and 5 for men). The shoe boxes and their lids were wrapped separately in gift paper, giving a festive look. That meant we wrapped 143 items! A big thank you to SI Bristol members who contributed items.

Caring in Bristol and our Christmas Party

Caring in Bristol and our Christmas Party

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On 4th December, 2017, we enjoyed our Christmas. After a delicious meal, our gratitude of the kitchen staff at the Golf Club was shown. This was followed by two activities: one a quiz to work out the associated place name from a clue and the other to identify people from photos posted around the room. Money was collected for Caring in Bristol, a charity that strives to create a society where everyone has a home, has hope, and is part of their community. They deliver projects around homelessness that include the 365 Shelter, Caring at Christmas, Bristol Nightstop, and the Survival Handbook publication. The evening concluded with carols sung by The Owls of Pill. We were encouraged to sing along and we proved to be in fine voice. The Owls are a group of all-male singers, garbed in Dickensian costumes. They took a collection from

A Jolly Evening in Aid of UNSEEN

A Jolly Evening in Aid of UNSEEN

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On Saturday 25th November, Soroptimists and Friends were entertained by the Harry Brown Singers with a selection of lively music. They had us all lustily joining in with Row the Boat Ashore and other songs with a nautical twist. The evening was enhanced by the ploughman’s supper in the interval and the drinks on offer at the bar. Many thanks to Denise and her team as well as all the other helpers. A representative of UNSEEN our club charity gave a short talk in the interval and a collection was taken.  

Railing Against Abuse 25th November

Railing Against Abuse 25th November

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On 25th November Soroptomists from throughout the southwest joined the SI Weston-Super-Mare Club in their initiative to raise awareness and support the United Nations “Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women”. Soroptomists from Barnstable, Bath, Bridgewater, Cirencester, Plymouth, Swindon, Taunton, Tiverton and Western-Super-Mare travelled by train (“railing”) to Bristol Temple Meads station to join members of the Bristol Club. Most were adorned in distinctive orange clothing (including wigs). The main group walked, in a very orderly fashion, with banners and a loudhailer from Temple Meads Station to the Lord Mayor’s Chapel at the bottom of Park Street. A small group, including Tara Arkle, took the bus to College Green. During their “railing”, Soroptimists distributed “Loves me /Loves me not” bookmarks and cards to other passengers. This publicity material has been carefully produced to define in clear and simple terms the difference between good and

United Nations Day for the elimination of violence against women

United Nations Day for the elimination of violence against women

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At our Regional Meeting on 18th November we were privileged to hear Tara Arkle, a writer and campaigner talking about domestic abuse. She was passionate about her subject and an inspiration to us all. Her talk was particularly relevant because on 25th November Soroptomists from throughout the south west will join SI Weston-super-Mare club to raise awareness and support the United Nations Day for the elimination of violence against women. Soroptomists will travel by train to Bristol Temple Meads station, many wearing distinctive orange clothing and distributing “Loves me /Loves me not” bookmarks and cards to people as they walk through Bristol with banners, ending at the Lord Mayor’s chapel. Dame Joan Collins has added her support to the campaign and she will be at the Lord Mayor’s chapel. The Lord Mayor of Bristol, Councillor Lesley Alexander and the Police and Crime Commissioner, Sue Mountstevens

‘Let’s Nail It’ Unseen’s campaign to raise awareness of slavery in nail salons

‘Let’s Nail It’ Unseen’s campaign to raise awareness of slavery in nail salons

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At the end of 2016 police raided nail salons because of modern slavery, with more than 60 businesses facing fines. And so SI Bristol joined businesses and community groups across the country painting our nails neon yellow to raise awareness of slavery in nail salons and empower everyone to be able to recognise this hidden crime and report it.

Survey on Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery 1st – 7th October 2017

Survey on Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery 1st – 7th October 2017

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We hope you may like to help us by answering a few questions on what you know about human trafficking and modern slavery. The online survey is only open until 7th October and it really only takes five minutes to complete. Below is an explanation about what we are doing but to speed it up for you if you put www.sigbi.org/ukpac/survey/ into your browser it takes you directly to the survey. If you want to remain anonymous where it asks for your email address put in slaverysurveyuk@gmail.com More Information about the survey Survey on Human Trafficking & Modern Slavery  1st – 7th October 2017 Does slavery happen in the UK today? The Soroptimist Club of Bristol is taking part in a larger survey (along with Soroptimist Clubs, across the whole of England) during 1st – 7th October this year. This is with the support of

Sausage Sizzle in aid of Unseen and the Meru Women’s Garden Project

Sausage Sizzle in aid of Unseen and the Meru Women’s Garden Project

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On Saturday 22nd July we were treated to a most enjoyable afternoon at Vyv’s lovely home.  We were warmly greeted by Denise, Anne and manged the bar, Ruth had been helping all day with cooking the delicious sausages and Duncan, with his health and safety hat on, made sure that we were able to admire the beautiful garden without any mishaps.  We raised £315 for Unseen. We had a stand with our Programme Action activities including highlighting SIGB’s Meru Women’s Garden Project.  We raised awareness and sold produce from our gardens including jam and the amount collected will go towards our next year’s donation towards the project.  It was a very happy gathering of members, husbands, partners and friends and family and an opportunity to enjoy a summer garden party whilst raising funds for this year’s club charity.