【Visit to the Cheshire Home “Hanshin-jiritsu-no-ie”】

Date：19 th November (Tuesday)

We accompanied 8 members of the Ladies Group on the annual visit, resumed after Covid, to present the annual charitable donation. We all had an enjoyable and interesting time, talking over tea and cakes and scones made by members and seeing textiles made with cotton spun by residents

※ The Hanshin-jiritsuno-ie is a facility for people with disabilities, established in the spirit of the “Cheshire Homes”, which originated in the UK. It enables residents to lead independent lives as autonomous members of society, supported in their daily lives by the staff of the Home.

Social Action Group – 4th Sakura Herb Project

Date and Time：20th March 2024（Wed）11:00～16:00
Location: ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai), Sasayama

After a two-year gap we engaged in cherry tree planting at ARK in Sasayama. From midday a blizzard forced us to retire prematurely, but ARK staff were subsequently good enough to complete the task. On a later visit we established that trees planted in 2022 had begun to blossom and that others were in promising bud.

Noto Peninsula Earthquake Donation

In order to show some support, however modest, to those affected by the Noto earthquake on 1st January 2024, the Japan British Society of the Kansai made a contribution of 300,000 yen to the Ishikawa Prefectural Relief Fund (Kyoudou Bokin Kai) out of the profits from the Charity Bazaar held in October 2023.

Social Action Group “Visit to ARK～Getting to know Animal Refuge Kansai～”

Date and Time：Saturday 27th May 2023
10：00～17:00
Place：ARK（Animal Refuge Kansai） at Tambasasayama

As the “Sakura and Herb Project”, SAG have been carrying out activities at Sasayama ARK since creating flower beds there. This trip was for people who were interested in ARK’s activities but had never actually been. Not only did we explore the British style animal welfare facilities set up by Ms Oliver more than 30 years ago; we also went for a walk along the extensive dog-run area and the riverside avenue of trees. After this, in a beautiful green environment and breathing delicious fresh air, the visitors (21 of us) regaled ourselves with sandwiches and hand-made scones and altogether refreshed our spirits.

The Cherry Tree and Herb Project:

Date and Time：Saturday 4th April 2022 from 11:00～16:00
Venue：Sasayama ARK（Elizabeth Oliver’s Animal Refuge Kansai facility）

The Social Action Group followed up last year’s event with a second visit to ARK for the “Cherry Tree and Herb” Project. The weather was good and both British and Japanese members of JBSK made their way to ARK’s Sasayama Facility. Together with ARK staff, we achieved a lot; soil was transported by wheelbarrow, spades were wielded, and two cherry tree saplings planted. After working up a good sweat, we were rewarded with food, deserts and drinks which had been contributed　by participants, and shared a pleasant lunch. It is intended to plant cherry trees as a symbol of Japan-British friendship, every year, and in ten years there should be a fine avenue of trees. I trust that we can repeat these meaningful volunteering activities in the future.

Sakura Herb Project associated with
British-style Activities of Animal Protection

10 members of Social Action Group (SAG) went to the facility of the Animal Refuge of Kansai in TambaSasayama City to plant one young cherry tree on Saturday 13th March 2021 at its site under the Covid 19 contagion, as a local contribution in connection with ARK. The project did start in March 2019 as making small herb garden. It opened in July of the same year (please refer to the Past Event; ”Gathering to introduce SAG Herb Garden at Sasayama ARK”). But unfortunately, we stopped our activities for the Covid 19 disaster. In the second spring, we did this project as a volunteer activity by only interested members, making our way through announcements of the state of emergency with every possible preventive measures.
Hopefully Covid 19 pandemic may possibly cease next spring and we wish to organize “ohanami; Japanese cherry blossom viewing” with a large number of people consisting of ARK staff, other SAG members and also invited local people. The one cherry tree, a symbol of friendship between UK and Japan, represents such hearty wishes of us all.

Donation to support the medical teams at the Covid 19 disaster

We understand that the medical teams for the calamity are carrying the very heavy burdens now. As JBSK, we would like to support locally the teams in Osaka and Hyogo as offering even though a little \500,000- as follows:-

Helping Fund for Covid 19 of Osaka Pref.¥300,000
Hyogo Measure Fund for Covid 19¥100,000
Kobe Support Fund for Medical Staff¥100,000

2020 Donation receivers

Donations are main activities of the Ladies’ Group of JBSK. They donate annually to welfare facilities and organizations to support socially frail people, It is their contentment to serve even a little those who are not blessed.

St.Joseph
Kibou-no-ie
Tabiji-no-sato
Support to school in Uganda, Africa
Animal Refuge Kansai
Deai-no-ie
Shugo-no-tenshi-no-shimai-shudokai
Leonard Cheshire Home
Foodbank Kansai
Minna no Dining
Kobe Niko-spoon
Kobe Kodomo Nikoniko Kai
Rokko Scholarship
Community support center Kobe

Greeting the 20th Anniversary of the Visit to the facility for the people with handicap in Uozaki

It has been 20 years since the volunteers of Ladies’ Group of JBSK started the activities in 1999. They have visited regularly so that the people there could spend some happy time through tea ceremonies, gardening, reading English literature, mini-concerts etc. The superintendent wrote a letter of thanks for us after the mini-concert commemorating the occasion.

After the visit to Kamagasaki

Date：Monday 27th January 2020

It was a lightly raining day of 27th January 2020, we, 6 committee members of Ladies’ Group, visited the 4 facilities of donatees in Kamagasaki, which looked better in comparison by constructions of hotels, paving works, but on the other hand, we thought that there seems to be a lot of problems such as ones derived from the advanced aged people and the matters to do with the local administration in rebuilding. We would like to foster the lives of each individual living there from now one as well.

Report on the donation

The activities of donation of Ladies’ Group was commenced by the late Ms. Rosa ITO. Following the object, the charity bazaar by the main society from 2012 donated yearly including the amount made by the ladies’ group to the social welfare facilities and NPOs. This entirely owes firstly to the corporate members and then the sponsors who kindly understand the cause of our charity bazaar and offered many goods to which we would express our heartfelt gratitude. It is a great pleasure for all the members to contribute even a bit to a society and comes up to the wish of the late Rosa. We would continue the activities with one heart in the same way.

【List of recipients 2019】

St. Joseph
Kibou-no-ie
Tabiji-no-sato
Support to school in Uganda, Africa
ARK
Deai-no-ie
Shugo-no-tenshi-no-shimai-shudokai
Cheshire Home, Hanshin-jiritsuno-ie
Foodbank Kansai
Minna no Dining
Kobe Niko-spoon
Kobe Kodomo Nikoniko Kai
Rokko Scholarship

Visit to “Cheshire Home, Hanshin-jiritsuno-ie”

Date：Monday 28th October 2019

As a usual year we、10 Ladies’ Group members, went to deliver the donations. We spent an impressed time, talking over teas and handmade cakes by our members and seeing the woven works with spun thread from cotton at the handcraft class by the accommodated.

※Hanshin-jiritsuno-ie is the facilities for the people with handicap established in accordance with the spirits of the “Cheshire Home” originated in UK

Contribution to the Cheshire Home

Date：Monday 5th November 2018

Nine members of the Ladies Group delivered our contribution to the Cheshire Home, as we do every year. We enjoyed chatting with home residents and staff over cakes that some of us had made. Sadly, one of the residents had died. She has our prayers.

Introduction of a donor & beneficiary:
Uganda Child Support

On this occasion we describe, from the list on our home page, one of the organizations to which we contribute: Uganda Child Support. In 2010, Ms Masako Tachibana, a member of the Ladies Group, founded a school with a view to providing at least some opportunity for Ugandan children to learn, and the JBSK and Ladies Group have been making donations to Ms Tachibana’s project. In cooperation with her friends and supporters, it has been possible to provide water tanks, solar panels, uniforms, t-shirts and the like. In addition, school equipment, blackboards and musical instruments etc have been provided, and the project is reportedly flourishing. We at the Ladies Group are learning a great deal from Ms Tachibana’s project, and hope to continue contributing to society through it.

【　School History　】

June 2010
purchase of c. 9,900 square meters of land at Fort Portal
Feb 2011
foundation of Kyaterkera kindergarten,
with 120 pupils
Feb 2011
foundation of Kyaterkera elementary School,with 150 pupils
Apr 2012
foundation at Kanungu of "Mako’s nursery school" with 150 pupils
Feb 2013
foundation of a second "Mako’s nursery school"
with 250 pupils
Donation of water tank, solar panels, electric piano
Sept 2015
donation of t-shirts and sports equipment Second school building (Kaoru Chann)
2017 donation of t-shirts and sports shoes
Feb 2018
establishment of health centre; tree planting

Visit to 'Kobe Nikospoon'

Date：Friday 6th April 2018
Place : Kobe Nikospoon

On the 6th of April, five members of the Ladies' Group, together with the office staff, paid a visit to 'Kobe Nikospoon', the children's restaurant to which we donate. Kobe Nikospoon, which is at Uozakikitamachi, in Kobe, is actually not solely for children but is also a place where elderly people or children with their mothers can come together and enjoy communicating with each other. Run by volunteers, the restaurant receives financial donations and donations of food which make it possible to provide meals to the children for very reasonable prices and to spend their time in safe, secure circumstances. When we went on the 6th, there were large numbers in spite of rain, people waiting for places, and a most flourishing atmosphere. Some people were attending by themselves, others in groups etc., but there was a happy atmosphere and all were enjoying themselves. We, too, joined in, partook of food prepared by the volunteers and had a thoroughly heart-warming time.

Report on Donations Made

It is 45 years since the late Rosa Itoh started the JBSK Ladies Group bazaar. The takings of this bazaar, together since 2012 with part of those of the Main Society charity bazaar established in that year, are donated annually to a variety of bodies. This year, the donations are to go to the organizations listed below. This has all been made possible by the most generous donations of supporting companies and Corporate Members, and I would like to put on record our deepest gratitude to them. All of us in the group are exceedingly happy if we are able to make even the slightest contribution to society and can contribute to the fulfillment of Rosa’s wishes. We all hope to be able to unite and to carry these endeavours forward.

【　Donation destination list　】

・Ordine Ospidalerio di San Giovanni
・The Japan Lutheran Church “Kibo no Ie”
・Religious Corporation “Tabiji no Sato”
・NPO Noah
・“Shugo no Tenshi”
・ “Deai no Ie”
・Support the Children in Uganda
・ARK (Animal Refuge Kansai)
・“Nanakusa Education”
・Foodbank Kansai
・ “Minna no Dainingu”
・“Kobe Niko Spoon”
・“Kobe Nikoniko Kai”
・Rokko Scholarship Fund
・The Kyushu Asakura Flood Disaster Fund
・The Hanshin “Jiritsu no Ie” (Cheshire Home)

Total of 16 organizations and one disaster fund

JBSK Day 2017

Date：Sunday 15th October 2017
Place : Umeda Hall on the 9th floor of Hankyu Umeda Main Store

Japan British Society of the Kansai held the JBSK Day during the U.K. Fair at Umeda Hankyu Dept Store.in Osaka this year. Soon after the opening of the store, many people gathered at the charity bazaar for there were various donated goods from our corporate members andcorporate sponsors. Then we held the lecture by Ms. Venetia Stanley-Smith, which wasrealized by many pending requests. She explained about her up-to-date gardening style and sang together her original song so that we could appreciate her life style. At the casual party afterwards, all had a nicetime with the sounds of a pipeband lead by a world champion drum major and the British songs by a guitar duo, exchanging cheerfully with the British artisans there who were invited to the Fair.

※ The special thanks to the corporate members and the sponsor companies who kindly donated to the bazaar and the profit from which we would donate and use for social activities.

Cheshire Home Visit

Date：Friday 13th October 2017
Place : Cheshire Home

On 13th October, ten members of the Ladies Group and members of the Office staff, paid a visit to the Cheshire home and delivered our donation. We were able to enjoy chatting with the inmates over scones and tea, to witness music therapy, and altogether spend a heart-warming day. Anybody interested in taking part in volunteer activities of this kind should please contact the JBSK office.

Charity Bazaar by Ladies' Group 2017

Date and time：Saturday 15th April 2017 11:00am - 4:00pm
Place : The Kobe Club

This Charity Bazaar organized by the Ladies Group of Japan British Society of the Kansai is always very popular activities. With various goods from the supporting companies and individuals, there were　many sale booths such as one called in U.K. as “White Elephant”, handmade confectionery and accessories, where the more valueｄ the goods were, the more they rapidly sold. At lunch time, all tried Lady Group’s special curry popular with homemade pickles, so that the bazaar was enjoyable by whole family. In the afternoon, the raffle started for a big range of fantastic prizes and you could even get a luxury travel coupon as the grand prize. The net profit from the bazaar will be utilized as donations to welfare organizations and also to the devastate area by disaster.

JBSK Day 2016

Date：Sunday 16th October 2016
Place : Umeda Hall on the 9th floor of Hankyu Umeda Main Store

Japan British Society of the Kansai held the 4th JBSK day during the U.K. Fair at Umeda Hankyu.in Osaka this year. Soon after the opening of the store, many people gathered at the charity bazaar and we sold out at 13:30. Then we showed the film “Royal night out” based on the episode when the Queen was a princes who became90 years old this year. Then at the casual party, all had a nice exchanging time with the sounds of bagpipe and the Beatle Real Live Band., exchanging cheerfully with the British artisans there who were invited to the Fair.

※The special thanks to the corporate members and the companies who kindly donated to the bazaar the profit from which we would donate and use for social activities.

Autumn Outing with volunteering
at ARK Sanctuary with BBQ
and Sasayama Old Town Visit

Date : Tuesday 18th November 2014
Destination : Sasayama, Hyogo Prefecture

As a new event, we panned an outing including volunteer activities. At the peak of autumn color leaves, we volunteered to plant spring flower bulbs in the ARK Sasayama Sanctuary; animal refugee activities’ new base. The activity with cooperation under the winter sunshine was very meaningful. After the activities, we enjoyed barbeque specially made by ARK for us, and then we proceeded to the Tamba Sasayama old town, which turned out to be extremely grateful in all.

HM the Queen honoured Mr. Shunichi Sugioka, our President, with OBE

Mr. Shunichi Sugioka, President of Japan British Society of the Kansai, Tim Hitchens, CMG, LVO, the British Ambassador to Japan, conducted in the name of HM the Queen an investiture ceremony of OBE to Mr. Shunichi Sugioka, President of Japan British Society of the Kansai, in recognition of his contribution to commercial and cultural relations between the UK and Japan at the British Embassy Tokyo on Thursday 21 November 2013.

Notice

It is announced proudly that JBSK Ladies Group has received the letter of appreciation to the 12 year charity visits from the Director-General of Social Welfare Council of Kobe City.