Charity section:Layout 1
10/19/17
MENDIP TIMES
3:10 PM
Page 54
Inner Wheel meeting is pants!
Freemasons back charity
Jessie May nurse Helen Williams with Sophie
Club president Jackie Emm (left) with Julie Harris
MEMBERS of Midsomer Norton and Radstock Inner Wheel were asked to bring along some unusual items to a recent meeting – underwear. The garments were donated to a charity called Ugandaid which works with girls in the Masese township who are too poor to buy knickers. Julie Harris spoke to the meeting about her work in the township to provide underwear and sanitary wear. The Knickers to Uganda project has donated more than 2,000 pairs and now the community has its own sanitary wear production line. She told the meeting: "We go to enable, not to impose. She was thanked by Linda Tanner and given a donation towards the project plus lots of knickers that members had collected. The club is now looking forward to a visit from district chairman Lynn Evans and to its 60th anniversary charter night at the Swan Hotel in Wells on Saturday, October 28th. New members are always welcome.
Support group expands
WECIL's Disabled Persons' Peer Support Service in North Somerset is growing and becoming more established throughout the area. Anyone with any type of disability or long-term condition over the age of 18 is welcome at their friendly, welcoming and supportive groups, either on their own or with carer/support worker. Activities include wheelchair yoga at Backwell Parish Hall, Nailsea craft group, photo-montage sessions at FAHLC Westonsuper-Mare and pub meet-up groups at The Glassmaker in Nailsea monthly, with similar groups soon in the Weston/Worle area. A spokesman said: “If you know someone who would like to come along to anyone of our drop-in peer support groups or attend any of our events please do spread the word to them or feel free to pass on our newsletter.” Details: www.wecil.co.uk or email peersupport@wecil.co.uk
PAGE 54 • MENDIP TIMES • NOVEMBER 2017
LOCAL charity Jessie May is celebrating after receiving a £15,000 Community Award from the Freemasons following a public vote. The charity appealed to friends, supporters and service users to vote online and help them win a slice of the £3million up for grabs as part of Freemasonry’s 300th anniversary celebrations. The charity, which provides care within the home for terminally ill children in Bristol, Bath, North Somerset, South Gloucestershire and Wiltshire, needs around £1.4million every year to provide vital support for families. Julian Withers, head of fundraising at Jessie May, said: “Every year our costs are going up as we take on different regional areas and expand our services to the children, their parents and siblings, so a substantial grant like this is great news.” Details: www.jessiemay.org.uk
Hospice seeks volunteers
ST. MARGARET’S Somerset Hospice will be welcoming Glastonbury and Street residents over coffee and cakes on Thursday November 2nd, 10.30, at the Morland Room, Red Brick Building, Morland Road BA6 9FT, at 10.30am. Local community fundraiser, Victoria Poole, and volunteer co-ordinator, Susan Bickle, will be there to welcome them and let residents know about the work that the hospice carries out in Somerset. Residents will also hear first-hand from a guest speaker who has direct experience of the hospice and the service it provides to patients, their families and friends. Susan, who recently joined the hospice fundraising team, said: “Without our army of dedicated volunteers St. Margaret’s Hospice could not survive – volunteers are embedded in every area of the hospice, from reception staff to gardening, and everything in between, including animals such as ponies and dogs – we even have a hospice cat. “However we do need more volunteers – If people can offer their time – even as little as an hour a month – I will have a volunteer role that will suit them. We are also hoping that people may volunteer to set up a fundraising group in the Glastonbury and Street area with our help.” Details: www.somerset-hospice.org.uk