SI Cannock & District held its AGM at The Barns on 23rd April. The meeting marked the end of a busy year with President June Bould at the helm. President June said: “Just a year ago I said although we would be busy with Programme Action, our service work, it’s important to remember we are a voluntary organisation and must enjoy ourselves too. I believe we have achieved both during the year. Improving the lives of women and girls has been at the centre of our programme action projects. We have also had fun and friendship at events held during the year”.
The year had seen some special events: a visit from Lesley Smith as Peggy Knight; an Open Garden weekend at the homes of the President and another Club member, a summer celebration lunch at Mitton Manor and Christmas celebrations at The Barns as well as many very interesting speakers.
During the year club members have continued to support Pathway and Staffordshire Women’s Aid by providing sanitary items; toiletries and Christmas gifts; helped to provide and prepare a Christmas meal at the Soup Kitchen in Mill Street; raised funds for international projects such as Women, Water & Leadership; for the Meru Garden Project and for the organisation’s Emergency Fund, enabling Soroptimists to send funds to any disaster area in the world as soon as needed.
A Beetle Drive was one of the events held to raise funds for President June’s chosen charity, the Phoenix Project, a bereavement service for children and young people offered to all who need it by St Giles Hospice. President June was overwhelmed to learn that £1,300 has been raised for this project – a magnificent sum! The Club has worked to raise the profile of Period Poverty: work undertaken by many groups throughout the country has resulted in the Government announcing that sanitary products will be available free of charge in schools and colleges from September 2019 – excellent news!
The club has also continued its work raising awareness around the issue of healthy relationships. President June said that she particularly wanted to mention the new project ‘Your body Your Rules’: “As President I have been on a journey with this project starting with the training day last July, meeting the ambassadors and staff from five local schools, and during the year attending the workshops. What a honour it was for me as President to attend my first Federation conference and for our Club to be announced winners for the good practice Award for Education for this wonderful project – how proud I am to be a Soroptimist of SI Cannock.” June thanked everyone who had worked to make this project – and all others – such a success.
Photos attached: l to r: June Bould, President SI Cannock & District with incoming President Trish Smith