SI South Shields and District Projects
Each Soroptimist International club identifies the needs of its community, then establishes specific projects to address these needs. All our projects relate to one or more of the six Programme Focus Areas: Economic and Social Development, Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights and the Status of Women, and International Goodwill and Understanding.
More information is available in the Our Work pages, where you can read more about the current Programme Focus aims and the Quadrennial Project, supported by all clubs in the Federation.
The projects listed below include some of the local and international issues we research and support in SI South Shields and District:
Our Projects
During 2006 we adopted a policy of seeking small manageable projects, mainly of a fundraising nature, in keeping with the size of the club and the links that its members have within Soroptimism and other organisations.
HUMAN RIGHTS/STATUS OF WOMEN
REACH - A presentation was given by Kirsten Richardson, a GP who is on the list of female doctors who examine victims of rape at the crisis centre in Newcastle. Two of our members had experience of helping at the centre when it was first opened and it was interesting to see what progress had been made since then – such things as dedicated women police officers to handle the cases and see them through to conclusion and a simple practice of entering through a different door when returning for counselling to help reduce a victim’s perceived association with their first visit to the centre for examination.
This was a most informative presentation and we intend finding out what support we can offer, either financial or practical as an ongoing project.
ENVIRONMENT
RECYCLING - As our local Council are not yet able to provide facilities for recycling carrier bags so members save their used bags and bring them once a month to our meeting. A nominated member then takes them to the local supermarket where recycling bins are provided.
Over the year we have held various fundraising activities to enable us to support deserving causes, namely:
HEALTH
STROKE UNIT, SOUTH TYNESIDE HOSPITAL - a donation of £400 to buy a much-needed vital piece of equipment
CANCER CARE, MACMILLAN NURSES - a donation of £130 to their funds to provide patients with all manner of things to meet their needs during their care
BREAST CANCER RESEARCH - We organised a “Pink Night” to raise funds for Breast Cancer Research. We all wore something pink, took part in a “pink” quiz, ate “pink” fairy cakes and drank “pink” wine. The proceeds from the night were donated to Cancer research.
ONGOING - we collect used stamps for Cancer Research and purchase their Christmas cards.
ENVIRONMENT
WATER AID - in support of World Water Day we staged an event at our local Town Hall selling water and wine to invited guests to raise funds for Water Aid. A presentation was given by Barry Leighton, an employee of Northumbria Water,who had just returned from a two week fact finding visit to India sponsored by Water Aid.
He talked at length about the difference that Water Aid makes to the lives of the villages where wells are provided by the charity, illustrating his talk with many images of both “before” and “after” stories.
A representative from Water Aid also attended and answered questions from the audience. A fascinating evening which really raised awareness of the plight of many people in India!
A grand total of £150 was raised and donated to Water Aid.
ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL DEVELOMENT/EDUCATION
WEAR SURMA CLINIC - We are funding the training of a midwife to work at the Wear-Surma Project (a project of our sister club Sunderland which funds a Medical Centre in Bangladesh) by a donation of £300 per year for 3 years.
LOCAL PROJECTS
HOSPITALITY AND HOPE - One of our members is the driving force behind a local charity which provides food for the local homeless. A three course meal plus a “goody bag” of sandwiches to take away is provided 3 times per week at local church halls. Sad to say there is a regular attendance of between 25 & 30 people (men and women). People who attend are treated as guests with tables set out ready for them with drinks and plates of bread and hot food is cooked and brought to them at their tables by volunteers. Indeed, their Christmas dinner was equal to any restaurant (and better than many). Our club supports this worthy cause by donations of foodstuffs and three of our members, help out on a regular basis to prepare and serve the food.
V FACTOR TALENT CONTEST - three of our members presided as judges in this Council of Voluntary Service (CVS) competition to raise awareness of volunteering across South Tyneside and to highlight the work of many voluntary organisations across the borough, including Women’s Health in South Tyneside.
MAKING A DIFFERENCE – A member, who, through her work with Social Services, was involved in seeking funding to adapt the home of an ex police officer, to increase the quality of life for his 13 year old son who suffers with a congenital condition. Having had little success internally she approached a sister soroptimist who is a member of the Police Benevolent Fund Committee. Their efforts succeeded in the award of not only £8,000 but also the offer of further donations of equipment in the future.
AND FOR THE COMING YEAR
A survey of members was recently carried out; the conclusion being that 81% of those surveyed believed we could sustain a stand alone project, preferably locally based, ranging from the environment to supporting women and children.
With this in mind our Joint Presidents, Susan and Marilyn have chosen Chernobyl Continuity as the charity on which we will be concentrating our fundraising efforts during their term of office. Chernobyl Continuity is a registered charity that offers respite holidays to Belarusian teenagers still living with the after effects of the 1986 nuclear disaster. We are discussing ways with charity officials on how we can locally support their efforts.