SI Chesterfield and District A Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Club website

Bluebell Wood

Support for Bluebell Wood, the new children’s hospice serving the North Midlands and South Yorkshire. A cheque for £3375 was presented to Helen Mower, Appeals Officer, on 24 May 2006 following two years of club fund-raising.

Two club members, Jean Horton and Joy Bramley, regularly give talks about the Hospice to groups and organisations.

Jacob’s Well Medical Appeal

We collect unused, in date medical supplies that can be transported by the Jacob’s Well workers to areas of the world where these can be put to good use.

Derbyshire Young Carers

We take young people who are caring for family members on outings such as ten-pin bowling sessions. In the summer we organise a swimming session and barbecue at Ringwood Hall Hotel. At Christmas the carers enjoy a very special celebratory meal at Ringwood

This is a regular club commitment which gives the young people a much needed break from their responsibilities.

North Derbyshire Women’s Aid

Support for the local refuge is an ongoing and long term commitment. We provide help with funding, starter packs, supplies and equipment, childrens’ activity packs and a Christmas food hamper.

Chernobyl Children’s Lifeline

Each year the club is committed to providing funds to cover the airfare of a child visiting England. One club member is also a carer for a visiting child.

Alzheimer’s Society

The club is supporting the Chesterfield & North Eastern Derbyshire branch of the Alzheimer’s Society which was set up in July 2002. In September 2005 three members ran in the 5K Women’s challenge in Birmingham raising £700.

Our former club president, Linda,  is chairman of the local branch and another member is on the committee.

The club held a store collection to support this charity at Tesco store Chesterfield on 7 December 2006 raising just under £400.

Macmillan Nurses

A “coffee coloured” Bring and Buy was held at the club’s supper meeting on 27 September. Items ranged from white to black and all the shades between. Creativity was the key. A store collection is being held at Morrisons, Staveley on Saturday 17 March 2

Wendy Shalcross and her colleague, Jane, spoke to members about their work. They are based at Ashgate Hospice in Chesterfield and any funds donated will be used locally.

Fair Trade

Last year a club member, Betty Dunn, held a very successful fair trade coffee morning at her home and it is hoped to repeat this in the future.

As Chesterfield becomes a “Fair Trade” town the club hopes to support this enterprise through campaigning activities.

Street Children in Colombia

“Let the Children Live” is a project to support boys and girls living or working in the streets of Colombia. Currently the charity supports about 1000 such children.

The club has invited speakers along to meetings to give insight to members into their work.

Crossroads Caring for Carers

The club regularly supports the local branch. One club member, Midge Thompson, M.B.E. is a trustee of the local branch of Crossroads and other members have benefited from its help.

At a supper meeting in January, Midge gave members a very interesting and succinct summary of the organisation’s history and of its current activities in giving much needed, specialised respite care to carers.

Wish upon a Star

The club held a store collection outside Wilkinson’s store in Chesterfield in November 2006 in support of this charity. The funds will be presented at the club’s A.G.M. in May 2007.

Wish Upon a Star is a small charity whose primary aim is to grant the wishes of children with a life-threatening or terminal illness.
Imagine the look of wonder and amazement on a sick child’s face as they realise one of their most treasured wishes is about to come true.

Talking Newspapers

The project, based at Club Chesterfield on Chester Street, is run entirely by volunteers and records and distributes tapes each week of the Derbyshire Times and magazines to partially sighted people in North East Derbyshire. Royal Mail covers mail costs.

Coordinator Maureen Holmes expanded on the work of the group to members at the January supper meeting. She explained about the difficulties which new technology is bringing to their work and to the people who use the service. Several members had experience of this help and it was agreed to support the group.

Project Punjab

This project is run in partnership with OXFAM and aims to increase girls’ attendance and quality of eduaction in rural, impoverished areas of Punjab Province, Pakistan.

The project was chosen by International President Lynn Dunning and Chesterfield club members supported this at their International Night in December 2006 and is still selling special bookmarks in aid of the appeal which ends on March 31 2007.