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Six Months of Activity

Six Months of Activity

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Since our Last Post in October we have not been idle, just busy with our usual ways to help women and girls across the world and throughout Bolton. Supporting ‘our girls in Nepal’ Sponsoring Marie-Louse in Fortalice’s fund raiser Planting 210 bulbs in Moss Bank Park Raising money for Ukraine via the Red Cross Knitting dozens of Trauma Teddies (see the next Post) Contributing rather a lot of gravy granules to Urban Outreach’s Christmas hampers (1,995 hampers) Making up a hamper for Eve’s Space instead of sending ourselves Christmas cards and Secret Santa presents Keeping our commitment to the Tots at the Hope Centre (see next Post) Supporting Water Aid  Celebrating International Women’s Day (see next Post)

Our October Events and after

Our October Events and after

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Sunday 2nd October Sponsored Walk – Supporting Ukraine via the Red Cross Tuesday October 4th 7.30 pm Club Meeting at the Mercure Hotel Wednesday October 19th Charity Supper hosted by Eileen Tuesday October 25th Lunch at the Taverne (check with Jackie) Tuesday November 1st 7.30 pm Club Meeting at the Mercure Hotel Monday November 21 ? Coffee Morning for Charity Tuesday November 29 ? Lunch at the Taverne Tuesday December 6th 7.30 pm Club Meeting at the Mercure Hotel

Our new ‘Young Achiever’

Our new ‘Young Achiever’

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We were delighted to welcome the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester (Mrs Diane Hawkings) to present Helena Flanegan with her trophy as Young Achiever of the Year 2022. Helena scored in all the categories of excellence in sporting achievement, service to her school and service to her family and friends. We wish her well in her future career.

TOTS ON TUESDAY

TOTS ON TUESDAY

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For many years members of S I Bolton have been involved with Tots on Tuesday at Johnson Fold. We have made ‘Story Sacks’ (still very popular), given books and toys, and played games, and made collages, and sung songs and told stories. Maureen has seen several generations of Tots at the Hope Centre and now, through the JOHN LAINGS CHARITABLE TRUST, has secured a grant of £1,000 to make a difference to the facilities for the preschool children who need a variety of toys and games to develop their skills and make learning fun. Rob Pugh of Laing’s was impressed by the commitment to early years education that S I Bolton has enjoyed for at least twenty years.

Focusing on the next generation

Focusing on the next generation

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A legacy of lockdown was the making of numerous ‘Trauma Teddies’, to be given for comfort to children experiencing frightening happenings. Our friend Yasmin Umarji, who is now living in the Seychelles and currently a member of a local Club, says the members there are keen to donate Teddies to the Children’s Ward at the hospital, to the therapists working with local children, and to the three local Children’s Homes. An urgent request for more Teddies has come from school counsellors. Various Bolton members are knitting furiously.

‘She Inspires’

‘She Inspires’

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The ‘She Inspires’ awards have their origins in Bolton and we are proud to have our Past President Carole Swarbrick recognised for her leadership and achievements.  She received  a Lifetime Achievement Award as a Councillor and former Mayoress of Bolton. Her second trophy was for being North West Woman of the Year 2021.  Carole’s involvement in education meant she was Executive Member for Children’s Services for several years; being North West Woman of the Year for 2021 speaks for itself.

Backup in Bolton

Backup in Bolton

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Our first project in the autumn was to create eight boxes of useful and comforting items for young people setting up their first homes alone with the help of the charity ‘Backup’. If you have no family support to help you get started in your new life its a long and lonely road. 

A President for the Times

A President for the Times

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Our new President Glynis Hughes is the owner of two nursing homes in Bolton and so more involved than most of us in the long battle against Covid 19. We all admire the way that  she and her staff have kept their residents safe and well. At our first ‘real’ meeting, past President Carole Swarbrick hands over the Chain after her two years keeping the Club alive with frequent Zooms and friendly emails.

Getting used to life again!

Getting used to life again!

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Since we emerged from isolation last month we have enjoyed two meetings at the Mercure, picking up the threads of Projects in Bolton such as support for ‘Backup’, and considering the entries to our Young Achiever Award. Social events have included a lunch and a visit to Bolton Little Theatre, and coffee mornings will resume shortly. The sixteen clubs in our Region held a lunch yesterday to welcome seventeen new members and to celebrate the best of our Projects, and all are arranging to plant trees to celebrate 100 Years of Soroptimism.  Our own Celebration in November will remember three active and greatly missed members who left us during the dark days of lockdown. By Christmas we hope to be able to resume Speaker Meetings (varying from travels in search of wild life to the work of the Cystic Fibrosis Trust UK). In March we

Meeting after 15 months!

Meeting after 15 months!

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At our first ‘real’ meeting for fifteen months we celebrated a number of things – the pleasure of friends not seen for a long time, the celebration of President Glynis’s ‘takeover’ from President Carole, a new venue for our meetings, a buffet supper and an interesting presentation from a charity which we have supported during the last year Create Bolton. Their website explains what they do but it was a real pleasure to meet them in person.