#Soroptimistsvolunteer To celebrate National volunteering week, we have asked the Soroptimists of Winchester and District to tell us more about the range of projects they support on a volunteer basis.
SI Winchester and District Members, Kay Linnell and Barbara Jeremiah: Providing accountancy, tax and compliance services to a wide range of good causes.
Winchester members Barbara and Kay provide vital accountancy, tax and compliance services to a range of community associations providing sports and allotment facilities, schools and charities for a fraction of the normal fees. Two of which are featured below:
Help Hoima Help Hoima is a Hampshire based charity which works closely with local people to support improvements in health, education and agriculture in Hoima district, Uganda.
ROCHUN – Pay it forward The charity supports the purchase of education materials, libraries, schools and community centres to support underprivileged students struggling to access basic education. Under the project, parents do not spend their income in buying new books: hence decreasing their financial burden and aim to partner with corporates specifically giving funds for education.
SI Winchester and District Member, Julie Blackwell: Volunteering at the DDStory, Southsea
Julie: My role at the D-Day projects includes dealing with the public, school groups, offering tours around the museum, discussing exhibits, giving talks to outside groups, promoting the facility at outside events like Victorious or Freshers Week at the University and managing the retail stock. I work there one day a week. It’s very rewarding being a part of recent history, with all the implications of WW11 as there are still veterans coming in to recount their stories. In particular John Jenkins who at 99 appeared with the Queen at DDay75 in Portsmouth, sadly he died shortly after hi 100th birthday in November. He was a great fixture at the museum, talking to children and regaling them with his stories.
SI Winchester and District Member, Rosemary Baker, her partner Cynthia and their dog Brodie volunteer through ‘Pets As Therapy’ (PAT).
Rosie: Brodie is a relaxed, obedient dog who absolutely loves people and can’t get enough strokes. Up until lock down, Cynthia and Brodie have been working at Southampton General, particularly in cardiac and neuro ICU and also at Lymington Hospice. So, my new volunteer role is to be their driver – this means they can be dropped off and picked up from the front entrance and not get wet etc. The project entirely relies on its wonderful volunteer dogs and their owners.
SI Winchester and District Member, Myra Clare: Volunteering for Parkinson’s UK, Winchester Branch
Myra: When I retired, I became very involved with the Winchester branch of Parkinson’s UK and after serving on the committee for many years I was elected Chairman and in 2012, after 23 years of service I was awarded the British Empire Medal in the Queen’ birthday honours. The Winchester branch has a regular programme of afternoon meetings where speakers are invited to talk, either on Parkinson’s related topics or topics of general interest. Members benefit from the services of a physio-therapist and a speech-therapist.
SI Winchester and District Member, Jenifer Titcombe: Volunteering for Tools for Self-Reliance, Netley Marsh.
Jenifer: I volunteer at Tools for Self-Reliance at Netley Marsh. They send refurbished tradesmen (& women)’s tools to partner NGOs in six African countries, along with funding. The NGOs provide training in use of the tools as well as book-keeping, health awareness, literacy & numeracy. Tools are donated by the public, collected by volunteers if necessary & refurbished by volunteers. I refurbish hand sewing machines.
