and for 2024 -2025 was The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association<\/strong><\/p>\n https:\/\/www.guidedogs.org.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n Past President the late Pauline Payne chosen charities to support for 2023\/4 were International Charity CAMFED and local charity Arts without Boundaries:-<\/b><\/p>\n Camfed International<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n This year SI Sevenoaks is supporting Camfed International\u00a0 www.camfed.org<\/a> a UK-based charity whose aims are closely aligned with those of the Soroptimists: to educate girls, empower women and enable them to step up as leaders in their communities. Since 1993 Camfed has educated over 2.6 million of the most disadvantaged girls in sub-Saharan Africa (Ghana, Malawi, Tanzania, Zambia and Zimbabwe). Like the Soroptimists, Camfed believes in the power of women\u2019s networking. Its post-school pan- African Alumnae network CAMA is now 120,000 strong and growing rapidly. The young women in CAMA are entering professions, setting up businesses, achieving positions of leadership \u2013 and they are giving back, each helping on average two other girls to go to school. SI Sevenoaks believes that working in partnership with CAMA to educate and empower girls is the most effective way to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals in Africa.<\/p>\n Arts Without Boundaries<\/strong><\/p>\n “Vision is for a world where disabled people participate fully in society and are recognised for their talents and diversity. Building on the inclusive model of the award-winning Band Without Boundaries we will continue to work collaboratively with disabled people, the community, public services and the arts sector to break down barriers to participation, promote equality and increase opportunities for disabled people to engage with the arts. By delivering projects and performances AwB will develop positive perceptions about disability & strengthen communities’\u00a0 Website https:\/\/artswithoutboundaries.org.uk\/<\/a> \u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n Past President Pat Downing MBE<\/strong> chosen charities for 2022 were International Charity CAMFED and local charity Hospice in the Weald.<\/p>\n Hospice in the Weald<\/strong><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Hospice\u00a0in the\u00a0Weald\u00a0provides\u00a0care\u00a0for individuals with a terminal illness and those important to them, in West Kent and Northern East Sussex.\u00a0Care\u00a0is free of charge and is provided across five services – the in-patient unit, the Cottage\u00a0Hospice,\u00a0Hospice\u00a0Outreach Service,\u00a0Hospice\u00a0Day Service and Counselling and Support Services. The range of services offers a choice of\u00a0care\u00a0that fits in with the individual and their family, with the in-patient unit and the Cottage\u00a0Hospice\u00a0providing in-patient\u00a0care. Alongside this\u00a0care\u00a0can be provided at home, in local\u00a0care\u00a0homes and also through outreach to local\u00a0hospices. They are also in the process of developing and launching a service for children and young people, caring for children in their own homes. Services are available 24 hours a day providing physical, medical and emotional support to individuals and their families.\u00a0Care\u00a0is not only provided at the end-of-life and\u00a0care\u00a0is provided tailored to each person as an individual, to help them make decisions that are right for them and their loved ones. Find out more at their\u00a0website<\/a>.<\/p>\n Past President<\/strong> Penelope Robbins’ chosen charities to support for 2019 -2021<\/strong> were International Charity CAMFED and local Sevenoaks charity Arts without Boundaries. We held various fundraising events throughout the years in support of these important and vital charities.\u00a0 The support for these two charities by SI Sevenoaks was carried on by President the late Pauline Payne in 2023\/4.<\/p>\n SI SEVENOAKS CLUB PROJECTS<\/b><\/p>\n SI Sevenoaks Garden Project 2018 to date<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n Supporting Sevenoaks Town Council in South and South East England In Bloom competition and RHS Community Awards Competition \u00a0\u00a0[ formerly Britain In Bloom]<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n UN sustainability development goals:\u00a0\u00a0 Goal 3 good health and wellbeing.\u00a0 Goal four quality education.\u00a0 Goal 11 sustainable cities and communities.\u00a0 Goal 13 climate action. Goal17. partnerships to achieve \u00a0the goal.<\/p>\n In May 2018 club member Isobel saw a note on a Sevenoaks Vine Park gate seeking support from gardening volunteers for Sevenoaks Town Council\u2019s entries in the In Bloom competitions. Eight club members responded with enthusiasm.\u00a0 These members, whose total age is 586 years, remain totally committed to the gardening and willing to continue as long as they can. The town council is delighted with this response.<\/p>\n Open Spaces manager Nicholas Cave suggested the restoration of the sensory bed. This bed is now a real feature of the garden flowing with sensory plants. Its accompanying patio area faithfully weeded creating an area of real calm and reflection. These efforts helped Sevenoaks town achieve a gold medal.\u00a0 Flushed with success, redesigning and restoring the herb garden incorporating a dynamic \u2018S\u2019 path in Cotswold stone was completed. It became another real feature. In 2019 and 2020 gold medals were again awarded to Sevenoaks. This success helped by members making doves of peace for the garden in commemoration of VE and VJ days. Obtaining gold medals for three years triggered Sevenoaks entry into RHS Community Awards competition in the towns\u2019 category. This competition is currently judged virtually.<\/p>\n 2021 saw great activity preparing for two competitions.\u00a0 Gardening members increased their hours to enable a third area to be adopted already planted with rhododendrons and azaleas donated by a local garden centre. It needed TLC!\u00a0 Huge help was given by the town gardeners so in true partnership, \u00a0the Reuthes \u00a0garden is now restored to former glory.<\/p>\n Judging took place in July with the club\u2019s Programme Action officer speaking to the judge raising the Soroptimist profile stressing the benefits of open spaces for all sections of the community promoting inclusivity needed for sustainable cities and communities. Families educating their children on edible plants and the natural world, dementia and mental health sufferers, office workers de stressing in their lunch hours are the beneficiaries, to name a few.\u00a0 The feedback from the footfall has been incredible. Lots of questions asked about Soroptimism and so many compliments and thanks as the beauty of the garden has been a life line for so many.<\/p>\n Imagine the club\u2019s excitement when Sevenoaks Town in 2021 not only was awarded a gold medal for the Vine garden but judged as the winner in the Park category for the whole of SSE England In Bloom competition. SSE England covers six counties.<\/p>\n Service to the community, Soroptimism at its best!<\/p>\n Past President Penelope Robbins and President Pat Downing dedicated a tree on behalf of the club in the Sevenoaks Vine garden for the Planting Trees for a Brilliant Future project on 21 October 2021.<\/p>\n The club continues to be actively involved in town gardening winning yet another gold medal in 2022 ensuring automatic entry in the national Britain In Bloom competition. Eight club members worked flat out in 2023 in the run up to competition judging in August with the result that Sevenoaks town was awarded a silver gilt medal. As well as doing the usual gardening at the Vine two members restored a flower bed at the station and worked closely with station staff to restore planters on the platforms. Soroptimists lobbied the Town Council asking for an approach to be made to South Eastern Rail company asking for an \u00a0upgrading of the station . The station has now received a complete re painting for the town to enjoy.<\/p>\n We now look forward to gardening in 2024\/25<\/p>\n Isobel Groves, Programme Action Officer, SI Sevenoaks<\/p>\n The Vine Sensory Garden Sevenoaks Video<\/strong><\/p>\n Through our Past President Penelope Robbins we were delighted that we were working with West Kent College on the Design Volunteer Project for many years. During that period Degree student Rachel made this wonderful stop motion video of the Vine Sensory Garden Sevenoaks showing the gardening work that we have undertaken in collaboration with Sevenoaks Town Council Open Spaces. Please find the link below<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"\/sevenoaks\/files\/2019\/05\/Camfed-Logo-HORZ_4C-300x57.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/sevenoaks\/files\/2023\/04\/pastedImagebase64015870.png\")
<\/a><\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/sevenoaks\/files\/2021\/09\/Logo-150x150.png\"){kind=logo}
<\/a><\/p>\n