Soroptimist International Bath and District

Six club members braved the rain to plant 15 saplings in Melksham to mark our Soroptimist organisation’s centenary this year. Clubs all around the Federation have been doing this to mark the occasion. Melksham was chosen for our first planting and a site in Bath has been chosen for the autumn. There was a mixture of hazel, crab apple and rowan saplings all provided by the Woodland Trust.

Members have been making trauma teddies for various organisations and the Co-op in Bath were happy to accept them and we’ll be sending more to different branches within the area. They use them to give to children who are grieving and also they give to local children’s care homes.

Take a look and see!

Three members from the club helped out as stewards at the walk on Sunday. It was a little bit chilly but we admired all the walkers who were participating and they all had smiles on their faces. Around £50,000 was raised which is amazing and will help such a worthy charity. It’s the same again in September so book your place!

Members of the club supported a virtual festival organsied by Womenandgirls.org.uk charity which we have supported for quite a while now. The evening included some excellent local musicians and comedians and we were entertained for 4 hours! Well done to Kathryn Crosweller and co organisers for putting on this event to raise some much needed funds for girls in India living with period poverty.

Members from 4 different regional clubs joined us for a tea party to celebrate IWD and it was lovely to have a social event wihtout any business involved. To make it more fun we had a quiz and everybody asked 2 questions related to women which turned up with some very interesting subjects.

SI Bath and District are supporting International Women’s Day as part of the #SoroptimistsCentenary by taking part in #ChooseToChallenge. Clubs from the South West and Channel Islands held their hand up to support #ChooseToChallenge.

President Lizzie sent a homemade card to local MP Jacob Rees-Mogg highlighting the increase of violence against women especially during the pandemic. Mr Rees-Mogg replied with his letter as shown to let us know what the government is doing about it.

Our club celebrated Christmas this year via zoom due to the pandemic and wore hats and had cocktails on hand. We were joined by our sister club from SI Guernsey, a regional club that we have linked up with during the pandemic. It was so nice to chat and socialise instead of discussing club issues. Here’s to a healthier and better 2021!