Soroptimist International Swansea's 85th Annual lunch

My day started with a very pleasant lunch with the Swansea branch of Soroptimist International, the oldest branch in Wales, having been founded in 1933 at the inaugural dinner in the Hotel Metropole in Wind Street.

This was the 85th annual lunch of this organisation, which is part of a much wider internatiional network, carrying out charitable works across the world. Some of their activity in Swansea includes:

• reading to youngsters in St. Helen's Primary School, 90% of whom are from different ethnic backgrounds and where over 20 languages are spoken;
• putting together emergency toilet bags and other essential items for Swansea Women's Refuge; 
• donating items to the East Side Food Bank, including sanitary products to help tackle period poverty;
• making and collecting baby blankets and jumpers for Africa and Romania;
• Making Twiddlemuffs for dementia patients in Awel y Mor care home and for SENSE for deaf and blind children;
• and helping other charities including Swansea Young Single Homeless, Guide Dogs for the Blind and Alzheimers Swansea.

As I said when proposing the toast to the Soroptimists, organisations such as this and the people who give up their spare time and often their money to support good causes and to help those less fortunate than themselves are the glue that keeps our society together.

They intervene where governments and local councils are unable or unwilling to do so, and the lives of those they assist are enhanced because of the work they do.