For the first speaker of the new year, Club member, Gayna Woodland took President Hilary’s theme of ‘Golden Threads in Women’s Lives’, when she spoke about the threads bringing together the Severn Hospice Charity Shop with the community in Cleobury Mortimer.

Opened in 2010, with Gayna as Manager, the shop has attracted 25 volunteers who provide a warm welcome and friendly service whilst acting as a community focal point. There is a craft club held every Tuesday evening which is making 1,000 points of bunting from recycled fabrics for display in the local shops to welcome the Olympic flame in May. Also at the shop they collect items for shoe boxes going to other countries and are involved with a recent initiative called ‘Compassionate Communities’ as a support group for patients of the Hospice in their homes as well as reaching out to isolated people in the community. One of our new members, Caroline Bartholomew, is a volunteer with Compassionate Communities.

The Cleobury Shop is thriving and has a very high level of Gift Aid donors with 52% compared to an average of around 25%-30%. The stock changes every two weeks and is passed around the other shops run by the Hospice. Gayna remarked ‘I am very fortunate to have such a wonderful team to work with. We like to make it fun and an enjoyable retail experience whilst providing valuable funds for Severn Hospice to continue with its great service to the community.’ For more details about the Severn Hospice go to www.severnhospice.org.uk.

For more details regarding the activities and membership of the Club, please email kidderminstersorop@gmail.com or look at our website link on www.sigbi.org