Kidderminster Soroptimists Club's fundraising efforts over the past year have swelled the Charity Account by over £2,000 and enabled us to make a number of donations to local, national and international groups. The funds have been raised from a variety of social events, which included a Victorian Tea Party, a Royal Wedding Luncheon Party and two successful lectures given by Dr Mark Baldwin. In January he spoke about the Bletchley Park Codebreakers and the Enigma Machine and then in October his topic was the Women of the Special Operations Executive. Two members were sponsored for their 'Pound the Bounds' walk.

The local groups who have benefitted from the donations include Wyre Forest Leisure, Age UK, The Stroke Association, Rape Crisis in Worcester, Home Start, Kidderminster Night Stop and the Kidderminster Talking Newspaper.

Our support for Birchen Coppice Primary School continues with a donation for the school to purchase a bench for their new playground together with funds to purchase plimsolls for PE classes and wellies for a forest stroll they have started.

The money raised from the Royal Wedding Luncheon Party was sent to Cruse Bereavement Care for Children of Forces' Families, one of the charities chosen by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge. The Club also supported the Soroptimist UK Benevolent Fund, which provides small grants to Soroptimists in need.

Aware of all the natural disasters experienced around the world, the Club has made a donation to the Disaster Emergency Fund for their Ethiopian Drought Appeal.

Our next fundraising event will be when we return to the Bewdley Christmas Lights Festival on 26 November with our 'Girls' Stuff' stall, which was successful last year in raising funds for our support of local charities. We will again be selling handbags, jewellery, hats, scarves and other accessories.

For more information and details regarding the activities and membership of the club, please email on kidderminstersorop@gmail.com or look at our website linbk on http://soroptimist-gbi.org