Welcome to our Club
From Presidents Paddy and Sallie
We are a group of women from different walks of life with a variety of interests who enjoy working together through fun, friendship and fellowship to make a difference to women and children locally, nationally and internationally. There’s more about us in Who we are
Locally we support St David’s Hospice Care, Women’s Aid, Tools for Self Reliance, Monmouthshire Newport Torfaen MS Group, collect and sell pre-loved jewellery for Alzheimer’s Society, make drain bags and comfort cushions for ladies who have had mastectomies. Knit Comfort Teddies which are kept by Social Services, Schools, in Police/Fire vehicles/ambulances and given out to small children involved in traumatic or upsetting circumstances. Give copies of ‘Women in Science’ to local primary schools. Liaise with the chaplain at the Grange University Hospital. Internationally we support Plan (a global children’s Charity), Water Aid, Empowering Girls in Nepal and much more to be found in What we doWhat we do
We can also be found on Facebook under Soroptimist International Cwmbran.
Our meetings , usually a brief business meeting followed by a speaker, ending with light refreshments and a time to socialise are held on the second Monday of the month (with the exception of August and December) at Greenmeadow Golf and Country Club (just off the A4042 on Treherbert Road, Croesyceiliog). We usually have a monthly coffee morning and have other social and fundraising events throughout the year..
What we’ve been doing in 2024
16 day of Activism – 25 November – 10 December Say No to Domestic Violence, Orange the World.
W’eve had a variety of speakers at meetings and social activities during the year. At our October meeting we welcomed Rebecca McDonald head of operations for appeals at Sparkle, one of our charities this year, to present her with a cheque for £1,000 raised at the garden party we had at Mary’s in June.
During our September meeting we looked at different ways of running/organising our club because as with so many other Soroptimist Clubs and other organisations we are having difficulty recruiting members to be officers.
At our July meeting we welcomed 4 potential new members who also listened to a very inspirational speaker Su Baldwin who gave us an illustrated talk “My journey -Circumnavigating the world on an Ocean _Racing Sailboat.
31 October
Today we had a celebratory afternoon tea at Teios in Pontnewydd. We were celebrating special birthdays of Edith one of our founder members and her husband, Des, and presenting Edith, Joyce and Marie with Honorary Life membership certificates to acknowledge the huge contribution they have made to Soroptimism in general and to our Club in particular. Marie joined the Winchester Club in 1980 before transferring here and Joyce joined in 1981.
12 June
We again enjoyed ourselves at Mary’s house for afternoon tea. Following sandwiches we had scones, lemon drizzle cake, brownies, Welsh cakes, bara brith all made by our members. The weather was not so kind to us this year. Shawls and wraps rather than sun hats.
22 May
Carole, the chaplain at Llanfrechfa Grange hospital, kindly invited us for coffee in the lovely chapel at the hospital. We continue to help the hospital and this time donated some bendy straws to make it easier for children when drinking. After coffee we walked through the walled garden to look at our cherry tree then across to the two houses which are available for the parents /carers of children who do not live locally and can stay there.
25 April
Today in the lovely surroundings of St David’s Hospice, having had coffee and cake we presented St David’s with a cheque for £1,000. Over the years we have been supporting them we have given them £30,000.
8 April AGM
11 March – Safety of Women and Girls Open Evening
SI Cwmbran organised an informative, successful and highly aware-raising talks and discussion evening from contributors. This considered the topic from various view points which encouraged empathy of the various stakeholders. The speakers were Deputy Commissioner of Gwent Police Eleri Thomas, DI Angela Hodge ( Domestic Abuse Safeguarding Team in Gwent Police speaking on Clare’s Law), Debra Richards…
3 March Charity Lunch
1 March St David’s Day
Members of SI Cwmbran celebrated St. David’s Day with a coffee morning at Llantarnam Grange, Cwmbran today. Thanks to Llantarnam Grange for their delicious Welsh cakes and bara brith. SI Cwmbran sends St. David’s Day greetings to their friendship club SI Gdansk. Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus.
8 January
SI Cwmbran had an interesting Programme Action speaker meeting last night with Andy Margare and Josie Perry from Torfaen Recycling Team. Members were informed about new initiatives that the council are implementing and how we can all help achieve the recycling targets.
For what we did in 2023 see Programme and events 2023.
Upcoming
6 April 2025 St David’s Day lunch Greenmeadow
Join us
We are always pleased to have new members and if you want to know more, attend one of our virtual meetings or coffee morning or just have an informal chat over a cup of tea or coffee please click on the ‘Join Us’ button below.