February Dinner Meeting Following two business meetings in January and February on zoom, we had a brilliant evening at Hargreaves Cafe.  Our after-dinner speaker was Jeanette Sykes, who along with our Club President Deborah, is a volunteer with Buxton’s Riding for the Disabled.  This is a national Charity which does so much to help disabled children and adults build confidence and have fun with the horses, and Jeanette gave us a fascinating insight into the Buxton branch.  She told us of its history and development, and we learned about its busy timetable, huge popularity and fundraising.   Club members thanked Jeanette for her extremely worthwhile work and entertaining talk.   The “Krisevac Project” – Malawi  Having been made aware of this project by our two members who live in Leek, many Club members are now donating much needed items such as bikes, sewing machines, knitting needles,

March Zoom Meeting We were treated to a slideshow and talk by Elaine and Debbie on their trip to Nepal.  They had joined an organised trip to Everest Base Camp and the description of their outward journey, overnight stays and trek with all the sights and sounds was really fascinating. Their overriding motivation had been to support Breast Cancer research and they had raised the amazing amount of £23.700.  They also managed to visit an education centre which had been supported by a Soroptimist Federation project, and they saw the impressive vocational training that the young women were receiving. Soroptimists were welcomed from other Clubs and everyone thanked Debbie and Elaine for such an enjoyable evening.     Annual General Meeting On 21st May we held the Club’s AGM on zoom and everyone thanked outgoing Joint Presidents Sue and Jo, and welcomed Deborah as our

Buxton Soroptimists have an ongoing Programme Action project for the Period Poverty campaign. President Jo received a donation of products from Lillets recently and passed them on to Club member Elaine for Crossroads Derbyshire to use.  Our photograph shows Elaine handing the items over to Vicky Bunnage, Chief Executive of Crossroads Derbyshire.  Vicky was very pleased to receive them and commented "we had one family with three teenage girls who were struggling financially and the cost of menstrual products each month was crippling!" Elaine, Chair of the Trustees, has written to the donors, Lillets, to thank them.

    Buxton Soroptimists held their September meeting via Zoom, and a great meeting it proved to be. Joint Presidents Sue Barber and Jo Holdway welcomed Jasmit Phull, Region President who gave a fascinating, informative, heart warming and very personal talk about her arranged marriage.  At the end of the talk Jasmit stressed that arranged marriages such as hers are  far removed from forced marriages, which Soroptimists worldwide are fighting against.        

 

The members of Soroptimist International, Buxton & District have been busy during the COVID19 lockdown.  Some have been helping elderly, sick or vulnerable people by doing errands. Many have contributed, sewn and provided aprons, laundry bags and fabric facemasks.   Joint President Jo is modelling one of the aprons and 40 of these have been donated to the local Scrub Hub charity, who will distribute them to local carers. Joint President Sue and her husband have been growing and selling vegetable plants to local people in Tideswell.   So far they have donated £90 to Tideswell First Responders, £30 to Chesterfield Hospital (Calow), £60 to Tideswell Surgery and have £70 to donate to Sheffield’s Royal Hallamshire Hospital shortly. Rules on social distancing have been followed at all times.

  Great news for the Club, President Jo welcomed Anne and Marion as members of SI Buxton