Severn Counties Foreign  & British Bird Society

The society heard of a family in The Gambia, who with 19 children to support, were having difficulties. The members raised money to install water in their compound thereby alleviating numerous visits to the village tap and allowing cultivation of a small patch of land joining their home by growing bananas.  This gave nutrition to the children and also allowed surplus fruit to be sold raising additional cash.
DHL  kindly transported, on two separate occasions, large boxes of children’s clothes and toys donated by members which were greatly appreciated by the society and the family.
We then set out to raise sufficient money to put a roof on an extension to their home and this we achieved in October 2004.

OTHER DONATIONS MADE TO

Avon Riding for Disabled                         Winterbourne Carnival Charity            37th Kingswood Scout Group
Children in Need                                      World Wildlife Fund                           Macmillan Cancer Support
Disabled Brownies                                   Guide Dogs for the Blind                    Keynsham Seals Disabled Swimming                    
Oncology Centre Southmead Hospital      Spanish Steppes land purchase           Moon Bear Rescue
The Woodland Trust                                to safeguard wildlife.
Tsunami Appeal                                       Headway House-Frenchay Hospital
Sponsorship of Junior                               Winterbourne Methodist Church
member in Athletics                                                                                                                      Back to Top

However this was just a drop in the ocean and we found we could help reach a much larger portion of the population by supporting. GAFSIP -  Gambia & Avon Fire Service in Partnership, which was set up in 1991  by David Hutchings and in conjunction with Avon Fire Authority, who donate redundant fire vehicles and equipment, together with educational and health materials for use in the Gambia.  Severn Counties made a donation of £200 in 2005 to help towards these costs and invited David Hutchings to the Open Meeting on the 15th March 2007 to accept a further cheque for £400. To get a full picture of GAFSIP’s  achievements log on to their web site at www.gafsip.org

The Severn Counties Foreign & British Bird Society has since its conception in 1972 have held their monthly meetings at ‘The Methodist Church Hall, Down Road, Winterbourne Down, Bristol. At the beginning of 2007 the Methodist Church had to raise funds to upgrade the hall to cater for the disabled and Severn Counties, thankful for all the facilities granted to them by the church, gladly contributed to the fund.The building work involved a new entrance hall, installation of a disabled lift and toilet, and upgrading of the meeting hall and was subsequently carried out.
Steve Webb, Member of  Parliament for South Gloucestershire, officially opened the changes on the 14th October 2007.

DONATIONS - 2008

Members were asked at the January A.G.M. to put forward suggestions for donations which were subsequently
discussed by the committee who awarded cheque's of £100 to each of the following.