Torquay & District Soroptimist International have been busy knitting long sleeved and short sleeved ‘fish n chip shop’ baby vests, and hats for children. Over 100 garments are helping to support SI Tiverton who will send to the International Aid Trust, to be distributed to Sierra Leone, India, Ukraine. In many African countries these vests can mean the difference between life and death for newborn babies.  Born to impoverished families, these children, who often suffer from Aids, come home wrapped in just a newspaper to keep them warm.  As temperatures dip during the night, they are at risk of a number of health problems and even death as a result of the cold. The vests are easy to knit and are knitted in one piece using simple patterns, often in one or two evenings, and need to be either a dark or a bright colour

The Torquay & District Soroptimist International were inspired after seeing a post on Facebook to donate food & sponsorship to provide needy families a hamper this Christmas. This year ANODE are hoping to supply 250 Christmas Hampers to families in Torbay containing sufficient food for a Christmas meal together with a few little extras we take for granted over the festive period. Over the past few months members have been collecting food & donations which will help them to reach their goal.  This will be delivered to ANODE, members volunteered to help pack the hampers during the week before Christmas.

I am a human and I have rights! Torquay Soroptimists’ recognised Human Rights Day at their annual Christmas Social Evening.  The 10th December commemorates the anniversary of the day that the United Nations General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration of Human Rights in 1948. Members read two rights to the group and gave us all something to think about.

Several members of Torquay & District Soroptimist International were happy to support the annual Torbay Civic Carol Concert which took place on Tuesday 8 December at the Riviera International Conference Centre. Starting at 7.30pm, with tickets costing only £3 including a programme, and free parking, this event was extremely well attended and was open to everyone. A regular fixture in the Christmas calendar, the concert was a celebration of traditional and modern Christmas carols and other seasonal songs. Proceeds from the bucket collection went to the Chairman’s chosen charities which this year is Torbay Hospital League of Friends and The Rotary Club of Torquay. The League of Friends is hoping to raise £1.6 million to furnish Torbay Hospital’s new Critical Care Unit and the Rotary club is supporting SSAFA, Silver Line and Factory Row. It was a first time event for some, others had attended

My motivation to visit Parke was low. I had no enthusiasm for driving in the wind and rain but I collected four ladies at eleven o’clock and they lifted my mood immediately. The car was full of chat and laughter and the rest of the day was one great pleasure. We had a hearty lunch in the cafe, then Carol Stanton and Judy Fawcett helped us to understand the work of The Heritage Pony Trust. I was shocked to learn that the Dartmoor Pony is on the Endangered List – this is the second most severe conservation status. The DPHT is a registered charity that puts its energy into preserving the indiginous Dartmoor Pony from extinction and into maintaining its presence on Dartmoor. The volunteers’ work is admirable as they make every effort to fulfill the aims of the Trust. I was particularly interested in the

HELPING BABIES AND CHILDREN IN POVERTY IN UGANDA, KENYA & SOUTH AFRICA Newborn babies many of them suffering from Aids, are being called “fish n chips babies” because many are sent home from hospital wrapped in newspaper for warmth. They need our help. In order to assist these tiny babies we are asking you to knit a small jumper/beanie hat which will be sent to Africa to keep little children warm. Average knitters can complete a jumper in an evening; it’s an easy, quick pattern. Instructions Use only double knitting wool. No pastels or white please, as these garments may never be washed. Bright and mixed colours are best, or stripes. Jumper/Vest: double knitting wool 5mm needles (tight knitters) or 4.5mm needles (loose knitters) Cast on 44 stitches 18 Rows in K2, P2 rib Work 30 Rows stocking stitch (1 row plain, 1 row purl)

Members of the Torquay & District Soroptomist International are working with the Friends of South Devon College – a charitable trust that seeks bursaries and grants to support students to complete their studies in spite of financial barriers. They work to ensure that young people from disadvantaged backgrounds do not have lower levels of attainment than their peers that would be likely for them without intervention. A set of criteria was agreed i.e. a young woman resident in Torquay who needs a small a bursary to successfully achieve her study goals and progress to higher education and/or employment. We are pleased to announce that this enabled us to identify a young woman who will benefit from a small bursary this year by funding her enrichment studies through an overseas study trip. We look forward to hearing about the young lady’s study trip and the impact

Torquay & District Soroptomist International held a coffee morning in October with members of the Torquay LIGHT group. This is a small group of local people who have experienced Domestic Abuse who meet regularly to support each other and learn new skills. At the coffee morning we enjoyed delicious homemade cakes and coffee whilst we got to know six members of the group and learnt about the activities that they have planned over the next few months. It is planned that we will have an ongoing relationship with the members, meeting at Rosegarth House and planning some joint activities such as cooking and knitting. We also hope to combine some of our own activities with the ladies such as knitting for the “Fish ‘n’ Chip Babies” born in some of the poorest areas of Africa who are wrapped in newspaper. Pat Teague

Earlier this year the DPHT were visited by Carol Mason, a Member of Soroptimist International based in Liverpool. Carol as a Trustee of a Charitable Trust that has been assisting the Charity with funding, recommended that the DPHT contacted the Torquay & District SI to both inform others of their work, but to seek more volunteers to become involved with them. Clare Stanton suggested that we organise a visit to Parke to see the work of their organisation: to preserve the Dartmoor pony on Dartmoor and to use their Dartmoor ponies as the ‘platform for learning’ for young people with a variety of abilities and disabilities. Members of the Torquay & District Soroptimist International ventured out on a wet & windy Tuesday to the Parke Estate, Bovey Tracey and after a superb lunch at the Home Parke Café, were met by Clare Stanton and Judy Fawcett who

Target Ovarian Cancer Fundraising Manager Amy Cartlidge who is based in London arrived in Torquay where she gave a talk to members and guests during March – the Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month. The new campaign ‘Target One Million Women’ is aiming to save lives by making one million women aware of the symptoms of ovarian cancer, and to raise vital funds to improve the lives of women diagnosed with the disease.  Members were concerned to hear that awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer is still woefully low 3% of women asked could only name one symptom.  Early diagnosis is key to survival, but unless women know to be concerned about their symptoms, and unless GPs know to consider ovarian cancer, lives will continue to be lost. Amy asked people to support the campaign by doing everything they can to raise awareness of the symptoms