S I Sheffield 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.
The projects listed below include some of the local and international issues we research and support in SI Sheffield:
Prior Bank Care Home
History of Prior Bank Care Home - A Summary submitted by Sheila Duncan
In June 1939, Prior Bank Home of Rest in Sheffield was opened to accommodate 20 older women of limited means. The scheme was the brainchild of Soroptimist International of Sheffield, in collaboration with local branches of the National Council of Women and Inner Wheel.It was run by these organisations until 1987 when it was sold to Anchor Homes. The founding organisations continue to provide support via an active Friends group. The location is in Nether Edge, a suburb of Sheffield in an area formerly occupied by grand houses and gardens, subjected to much infilling and new housing thoughout the 20th Century, but one which retains much character. The Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group have some years ago and again recently, published articles on the history of Prior Bank House and Soroptimists may be interested to read a summary of these.
The land on which Prior Bank was built was called Dobbin Croft and was leased in 1615 for 900 years at a ground rent of 2d per annum.In 1971, the site was recorded as part of “Sam Naw’s 2 Closes and his Homestead used as a workhouse for Ecclesall Liberty at Cherry Tree Hill”.
By 1803, part of the land was occupied by George Blonk, one of a family of scissors makers and by 1814 he had erected a large house with extensive grounds.
In 1863, John Cole, one of three brothers who had founded Cole Brothers shop in 1847, bought Prior Bank.
He also bought some surrounding land as he was a keen gardener. Following his death in 1899, Prior Bank was sold with three separate plots of land, thus creating a much reduced estate. The other lots acquired further dwellings and dividing walls. Thomas Henry Firth of the family firm Brightside Engineering bought Prior Bank in 1913 and lived in it until his death in 1925 when the house was again sold and occupied until 1936.
It was in July 1937 that the public appeal was launched for £10,000 by the Sheffield Soroptimists and the other organisations for their care home project. The scheme was strongly supported by the Lord Mayor, Mrs A E longden, a Past President of Soroptimist International of Sheffield. The intended beneficiaries were gentlewomen whose income was just a little beyond that of those who got help from the city and they were expected to contribute according to their means - maybe about £2 per week.
Miss Henrietta Fisher, daughter of Thomas Fisher, a cutlery manufacturer, inherited almost £1 million from an uncle and donated £2,100 in 1938 for the purchase of Prior Bank, which was on the market at the time
and considered to be a suitable house for the project. Many other institutions benefited from Miss Fisher’s legacy.
At the opening by Lady Stephenson in June 1939, there was reference to the need for 500 more subscribers to donate £1 annually to extend the work. Post-War there is reference to all-day markets to help the provision of “this delightful home for aged women of limited means”.
By 1987, improvements in privacy and amenities meant that there was room for only 14 residents and health and safety requirements demanded much upgrading. As part of the sale to Anchor Homes,an extension enabled enhanced provision for 32 residents and men and couples could then be accommodated. Members of the founding organisations maintain interest and help in the provision of facilities.
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Sources: “They lived in Sharrow and Nether Edge”
“Cherry Tree Hill and the Newbould Legacy” - both by Joan Flett of the Local History Group and “Newsletter of Nether edge Neighbourhood Group” Sept and Oct 2007
El Shaddai - Street Child Rescue
El-Shaddai (Hebrew for “Lord of Comfort Provider of All”) is a charitable organisation working with abandoned children and those from economically poor, or broken families in Goa and parts of India
Sally Tetchner a Member of SI Sheffield is currently on a two months visit to Goa.
Sally has sent us some information from Anita Edgar, the Co Founder of El Shaddai, regarding the proposed hospital project.
“The hospital is to take the form of a Cottage Hospital and is to be a happy place”
The land is was bought by Anita several years ago and an Indian business man has provided funding for the building in memory of his late wife.
The hospital will provide special facilities for terminally children, children with HIV and an isolationward for children with infectious diseases, as well as a recovery ward for children who have had major surgery, burns loss of limbs etc.
Sally says that she has become an auntie to four 18 year old volunteers and has been asked to help with producing fund raising proposals and volunteer packs.
She plays on the beach with the children on Saturday and Sunday afternoons and visits the orphanages two or three times each week.
Sally says that the El Shaddai organisation still needs funding to provide a playground, tarmaced roads to the hospital and landscaping to the grounds. (no costings are available, as yet, for these items nor for the furniture and equipment for the wards, mentioned earlier)
Sally has suggested that it would be a “nice idea to have a name linked to Soroptimists on the area we sponsor. ‘Sheffield Soroptimists Yellow Brick Road’ was all I could think of for the tarmacing”
Sally is hoping to send further information and photographs as soon as she is able.