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Programme and Events 2023

2023

November

Members of SI Cwmbran enjoyed a coffee morning at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre today to promote the start of ‘Orange the World 2023’ 16 Days of Activism. The club promotional board was placed in the foyer which will be left for visitors to the centre and cafe to see over the next two weeks. Thanks to Llantarnam Grange for their co-operation.

Our guest speakers at our business meeting were Caroline and Jo from Torfaen Voluntary Alliance about what they can offer the community in terms of advice and support.

October

We had a very successful and enjoyable musical evening at Ponthir Village Hall on 13 October, certainly not unlucky for us.   We raised £1,118 for our Club Charities including St David’s Hospice Care and MS Society Cymru.  We  were entertained by the very talented Harmonize choir as well as individual artists singing, playing the harp, saxophone and piano.

At our business meeting, Richard Watkins from Age Cymru Gwent talked to us about all the scams we need to be aware of.

This month we donated small teddies to the neo-natal unit at the Grange and will be donating them to ‘Seren Dwt’.

The knitting pattern for these can be found under Sewing/knitting pattern instructions.

September

At this meeting we donated 33 drain bags and 11 comfort cushions made by members and friends which will be used by ladies who’ve had breast surgery.

July

We had a coffee morning at Rosemary’s where we put together toiletry bags for the 2 houses at the Grange hospital reserved for the parents/carers of children in the wards there.  Also donated were duvet sets, towels, tea towels, mugs and pictures for the houses.

At our business meeting, by request for another talk,  Rhian  Morgan from the Gene Park at the Heath Hospital came to speak to us this time on the use of DNA in forensic science.

June 

We had a lovely afternoon tea in Mary’s beautiful garden and could not have asked for better weather and company as well as raising money for our charities.

Our speaker at our business meeting was the former High Sheriff of Gwent who gave a talk on Local Government, but not as you know it which was very amusing and engaging.

May

Our coffee morning this month was at one of our favourite places the cafe at St David’s hospice in Malpas, where we presented them with a cheque.  Over the years we have been very supportive and donated thousands of pounds from different fund raising activities.

April 

0n 24 April we had our AGM where we were also pleased to induct our latest member, Pam.   After the formal meeting we were pleased to welcome Sam and Rachel from New Pathways SARC (sexual assault referral centre as our speakers who talked to us about their work and the people they support.

We have been giving teddies to them since 2018 and presented them with some more.

March 

At our March meeting Juliet and Pam talked about their work with Caring Canines and the benefit the dogs bring to children in nurseries through to the elderly in care homes.  Juliet and Pam were also accompanied by Kate the dog.

St David’s Hospice Care has for many years been our ongoing charity and since 1990 we have donated nearly £22,000 since then and in March  Sallie donated 20 comfort bears to them.

On 5 March S.I. Cwmbran held a very successful Charity St David’s lunch at Greenmeadow Golf Club.
We were pleased to be joined by the High Sheriff of Gwent Mr. Malgwyn Davies and his wife Margaret.
Our other guest was Helen Pearce who has knitted Character Teddies for us to sell in aid of St David’s Hospice Care. We were delighted to present Helen with a certificate from St David’s thanking her for over £800 being raised from the sale of her knitted teddies.

We celebrated St. David’s Day at the Grange University Hospital Walled Garden.  We enjoyed a Coffee morning with Welsh cakes and Bara Brith while raising money for the Walled Garden. Thank you to Jane Nehaul for the welcome and keeping us warm and cosy in the greenhouse.

To celebrate St David’s Day we also  sent Welsh Character teddies to the Prince and Princess of Wales for their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to mark their first St. David’s Day in their new roles. We explained club had donated over 1600 Comfort teddies since starting our project.
February
Carol Taplin, Chaplain at the Grange University Hospital, Cwmbran was our speaker at our annual Programme Action meeting. Carol explained her very varied role as Chaplain including about the projects that SI Cwmbran are involved with. We were able to donate a number of knitted baby sets, shawls, teddies, twiddle muffs also grief hearts and mini teddies to go into memory boxes.