We host the local Re-engage groups to tea in the summer, and we don’t forget them at Christmas either.  The club donates money to provide some goodies in a festive bag for each member of the group.  This year there are 12 recipients. The goodie bags have now been packed and are were distributed today.  The contents of each bag, as shown in the picture, are a pot of jam, hand cream, biscuits, sweets and a wedge of homemade Christmas cake, with a card from all of us. We wish all the recipients a merry Christmas.

In association with sister Soroptimists from Winchester, we will be lighting up the Spinnaker Tower in orange on Monday 28 November to create awareness of the campaign to end Domestic Violence against Women and Girls (VAWG). Soroptimist International ‘Orange the World’ campaign runs from 25 November, which is International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women.  That date was originally White Ribbon Day, when men and boys declared that they would never commit, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women.  From that date, there follows 16 days of Activism, which ends on 10 December, UN Human Rights Day. Dame Vera Baird, former Victims’ Commissioner with whom we have worked closely on Domestic Abuse courts said, “Great that the wonderful Soroptimists support this campaign and raise awareness of domestic abuse against women and girls.  With education for boys and girls and a wider

SI San Fernando asked for contributions to their 60th anniversary this month.  They were compiling a quilt, made up of Peace Patches from other clubs.  Most managed to hand these over in person at the Belfast conference.  Unfortunately the Solent East club did not have delegates there.  So, we have posted our Peace Patch direct to the Caribbean, and hope it has made it there in time for the SI San Fernando celebrations. Our club contribution was made by Alison, who designed and stitched a beautiful patch.  It features our club logo and a white dove in the centre, with a background of our local landscape colours of land, beach, sea and sky. When all the patches are combined together, the finished quilt will be displayed at the SI Convention 2023 in Dublin.  We look forward to seeing the whole picture, and meeting some of

The club may not have a business meeting over the summer, but we do get together at Carolyne’s for our annual BBQ! There was plenty of gorgeous food on offer, and we sat in her garden in the summer sunshine.  Actually, most of us wore hats for protection, but it was lovely to be able to sit outside.

        In July the club has traditionally gone out somewhere rather than invite a speaker to our meeting.  This year the chosen venue was Warsash, on the shores of the Hamble. The walk along the shore, past the Pink Ferry (across to Hamble-le-Rice), was very pleasant on a warm summer evening. Then 16 club members and spouses convened at the Rising Sun for supper.

The Fareham Vannes Twinning Association hold regular events to celebrate the ongoing connection between the towns.  In May Fareham hosted a weekend of events, including a dinner held at Avenue 141 in Fareham College.  It was a French-themed event, billed as a Soiree Francaise! The picture shows the table made up of members and guests of the Soroptimist club.  

When the “Walk 100 miles in April” challenge was launched, club member Jacky knew that she would be taking part with her dog, Amber. It was all in support of the Children on the Edge charity. Jacky says: “Children on the Edge is probably my favourite charity. They work in a really empowering way with marginalised children; the UK office is local to me in Chichester. They grew out of Anita Roddick’s (The Body Shop founder) early work with Romanian orphans and are still supported, hugely, by The Body Shop, and by local chocolate producers Montezuma.“ She and Amber thoroughly enjoyed their walks, met their target of 100 miles with a day to spare, and were delighted with the support from family & friends.  All this means that they have currently raised over £700, including £130 from fellow Soroptimists.  Donations are still welcome!

Last weekend one of our members went to an exhibition by Meon Valley Quilters in Wickham.  She was surprised to find a quilt made by another of our club members as the display at the entrance to the show!  The whole exhibition showed off the creativity of the quilters, and was amazing and very colourful. Alison, the quilter, explained that the design is called the Dashing Dutchman.  It was the 2021 online design from “The Crafty Nomad”, who sent the block pattern and a series of videos to follow each month, to learn new techniques and tips. Alison said: “I enjoyed the fabric paper piecing – which gave accurate results and the monthly zoom sessions where we were able to ask questions and then see each other’s work.”  She said her granddaughter chose the background fabric, and the finished project was quilted for her by

Members of the Soroptimist International Solent East club supported the NSPCC Walk for Children 2021. Five club members gathered at the Cams Mill pub on Sunday 19 December, and walked at least 5km round Fareham creek, to raise sponsorship money.  The initial target was to raise £100, but the final total of donations and gift aid was about £470. Well done ladies!The NSPCC’s Walk for Children is designed to raise money to help protect children from abuse. For children facing abuse, the winter nights are dark, long and lonely.  For those children, every night feels like the longest. So, close to the longest night of the year, on 21 December, the walkers were out to raise money. How NSPCC use the donations:– £4 could pay for a trained volunteer counsellor to answer a child’s call for help to Childline;– £27 could pay for a Childline

The club supports Re-engage, usually entertaining the local groups to tea in the summer.  Visitors come from Southampton as well as the Gosport and Fareham group.  When it comes to Christmas we arrange for gifts to be delivered to all those who come to our teas. The picture shows club members Rosemary and Alison with the decorated bags full of Christmas goodies, ready to be distributed.