{"id":5093,"date":"2025-03-02T19:34:52","date_gmt":"2025-03-02T19:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/sevenoaks\/?p=5093"},"modified":"2025-03-02T19:36:50","modified_gmt":"2025-03-02T19:36:50","slug":"my-sevenoaks-community-article-club-member-shirley-a-stitch-of-hope-trauma-bears","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/sevenoaks\/2025\/03\/02\/my-sevenoaks-community-article-club-member-shirley-a-stitch-of-hope-trauma-bears\/","title":{"rendered":"My Sevenoaks Community Article – Club Member Shirley “A Stitch of Hope – Trauma Bears”"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n
Stephanie Harrison very kindly shared with me the article she wrote about our wonderful club member Shirley Brigham and our important Trauma Bear project for the mysevenoakscommunity.com<\/a>\u00a0 website.<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
Well done to Shirley – an amazing\u00a0effort for such a worthwhile cause.<\/div>\n
Penelope Robbins<\/div>\n
Past President & Regional Programme Officer<\/div>\n
SI Sevenoaks<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
<\/div>\n
https:\/\/mysevenoakscommunity.com\/a-stitch-of-hope-teddy-bears-for-traumatised-children\/<\/a><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\"mobile-logo\"<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n
\n

A Stitch Of Hope: Teddy Bears For Traumatised Children<\/h1>\n

We\u2019ve uncovered another unsung hero from Sevenoaks, quietly and selflessly working to bring comfort and joy to those in need. As is so often the case with such remarkable individuals, they shy away from recognition, more focused on the good they can do than any desire for praise or glory\u2026 but we would like to acknowledge their good deeds by sharing with you all!<\/p>\n

At 89 years old, Shirley is a dedicated member of the\u00a0Sevenoaks Soroptimists<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0group and has spent the last four years hand-knitting \u2018trauma teddy bears\u2019 \u2013 small, cuddly companions which are passed on \u2013 locally AND internationally \u2013 to traumatised children.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\"trauma<\/a><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Soroptimist Sevenoaks (SI Sevenoaks)<\/u><\/strong><\/a><\/h2>\n

For those unfamiliar with Soroptimist International, it is a globally recognised non-governmental organisation (NGO) and volunteer movement, founded in 1921, with the Sevenoaks club established in 1938. Its mission is to \u201ctransform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment, and enabling opportunities.\u201d<\/p>\n

The name \u2018Soroptimist\u2019 is derived from Latin, where \u2018soror\u2019 means sister and \u2018optima\u2019 means best, loosely translating to \u201cbest for women.\u201d Soroptimists are actively involved in community service projects, fundraising, and advocacy initiatives that support women\u2019s issues both locally and globally, focusing on education, gender violence, healthcare, and economic independence.<\/p>\n

Locally, the Sevenoaks Soroptimists are supporting charities such as Loaves and Fishes, Hospice in the Weald, and the Sevenoaks Women\u2019s Refuge this year. You can learn more about their ongoing projects\u00a0here<\/u><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n

On a global level, Soroptimist International holds consultative status with the United Nations, giving them a platform to engage in policy discussions around women\u2019s rights and gender equality.<\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

\n

\"sevenoaks<\/a>Sevenoaks Soroptimists. Image credit:\u00a0sigbi.org\/sevenoaks\/<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

 <\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Trauma Bears To Comfort Children<\/u><\/strong><\/h2>\n

There are very few things more morally reprehensible than the abuse and suffering of children.<\/p>\n

Despite this being a universally shared value, child trauma occurs more than you think. The\u00a0NSPCC\u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/a>reported in 2022 that\u00a0half a million\u00a0<\/em>children suffer abuse in the UK every year.\u00a0SAMHSA<\/u><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0reported this year that more than two thirds of children reported at least 1 traumatic event by age 16.<\/p>\n

Kinds of trauma these children might have experienced:<\/p>\n