Soroptimist International Bath and District

A few of us were given a conducted tour of the Breast Unit at the RUH and we learnt about the forthcoming plans to improve the unit by expanding it and renovating the existing unit giving it a more efficient and friendly feel.

The future is looking bright especially for breast cancer sufferers and we are glad that we’ve been able to fundraise for the Forever Friends appeal. £600,000 needs to be raised by the public to help fund the appeal. £250,000 to go!

3 members from our club travelled to Kuala Lumpur to attend the International Convention and met up with our friendship links and also made new friends. We spent 3 days listening to inspiring speakers from all over the world but especially from Malaysia.  We were well looked after and enjoyed  2 very fibrant social evenings.

Christina Lamb, War Correspondent from the UK gave a good presentation as well.

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Carol Owens, volunteer from the charity ‘Feel Good, Feel Better’ gave an interesting talk at our meeting telling us how the charity offers make up and image sessions to women who have suffered from cancer and need some advice on how to make themselves feel good again with the help of make up and toiletries.

These are just some of the products that are provided during one of the sessions.

This is such a worthwhile charity and really does make a difference to people’s lives including men as well as younger sufferers.

Our club won the Ellen Brawn award at our regional conference in Brixham on Saturday for our programme action work achieved over the last year. We were stunned and delighted and incredibly proud that our club has been recognised for the work and dedication that we have put in, and that women and girls locally, nationally and internationally have been empowered by our club. Four members attended the conference and received the award from regional Programme Action Officer Di Hill.

We were fortunate to have 2 ladies, Yvette and Mum Sandra from India (Bombay, Chembur club) come and visit us for a few days. We were able to show them the local area and also learn about the Indian culture and the good things that their club achieve.

The club members joined them for a meal at Hall and Woodhouse and we exchanged views and news which made it a very memorable evening.

We also had Halima from Mombasa who dropped in for a meal also and introduced herself and hopefully she will be visiting the club when her work brings her to Bath.

President Jenny presented a Toilet Twinning certificate to Hall and Woodhouse restaurant on Wednesday evening and this framed certificate will be displayed in the ladies toilet upstairs near to where we hold our monthly meetings.

This toilet is twinned with one in Sierra Leone and there’s a photo of it for all to see. We were able to build a toilet with a legacy left to the club by a member and we have 2 more that have been built and will be presented at a later date.

This is such a valuable project and really does make the lives of people in desperate places much more bearable.

We did our annual bucket collection at Prior Park Garden Centre for ‘Save the Children’ today and raised £250 towards the charity that is celebrating 100 years. The sun was shining which brought out the customers with a friendly smile.