Gary Fear with Soroptimist Cresta Garner At their last meeting SI Cannock welcomed the inspirational Gary Fear who since the outbreak of war in Ukraine has made 12 trips to the country to deliver aid to its civilians. Following a fund-raising visit to Ukraine in 2018 where he found the people so friendly and generous, on the outbreak of the war in 2022, estate agent Gary felt he needed to do something to help its people. After raising £6,500, in February 2022, he embarked on his first trip to distribute aid and has continued to raise money to take desperately needed supplies to beleaguered villages, towns and cities across the country. In addition to food, toiletries and household items Gary has sourced much needed medical supplies, generators and power banks; in fact, whatever the people need, he finds a way to get it! To date

Rotary Books4Home founder Beverley Ricketts with SI Cannock’s Books4Home Team At their last meeting SI Cannock celebrated that their donations of pre-loved children’s books to the Rotary Books4Home charity had reached, and passed, 50,000. Beverley Ricketts – Founder of the charity – joined the club to celebrate this achievement. One in five children aged between 5 – 8 do not have a book of their own at home. However, children who do have books at home are six times more likely to read above the level expected for their age. To date, through local schools, Books4Home have supplied over 214,000 books to be given to children to take home, read and swap or keep forever if they want to. They have recently started to take books into local prisons so that inmates can read to their children during visits and during phone calls, giving the

  Lead Team President Carole Holdcroft with speaker Dr Charlene Makita & Soroptimist Adie Hewitt Cannock Soroptimists held their annual International Evening recently- the event when they celebrate the international aspect of Soroptimist International, lighting candles for the members and clubs in all 5 of the Federations: South East Asia Pacific, the Americas, Africa, Europe, and Great Britain and Ireland to honour the work that is done to support women and girls across the world. Members and guests met at the Barns to enjoy a meal in each other’s’ company They were joined by Dr Charlene Makita who gave a presentation called ‘The Flesh that Weeps’ that explored the impact of hair discrimination and workplace grooming policies. Studies show that black women are 3.5 times more likely to be perceived as unprofessional because of their hairstyle and 80% more likely to change their natural hair

l to r: Jacky Gange MBE; Soroptimists Val Jones and Alison Murray   Jacky Gange, MBE was introduced as the speaker at the last Cannock Soroptimist meeting by Soroptimist Alison Murray who chaired the meeting. Jacky was awarded the MBE in the 23/24 King’s New Year Honours List for services to the community in Cannock and her tireless work over 40 years at the Cannock Chase Advice Centre. She told members how the Centre originally was set up by the TUC in the time of the Miners’ strike – when it closed, people missed it and so it opened again but this time to cater for everyone and no longer under the auspices of the TUC. Jacky was keen to point out that she is a member of a team – a team of volunteers, currently managed by volunteers.  She has been involved from the

Two new blue plaques are to be unveiled in Cannock Town Centre – they are ‘alternative Blue Plaques’, otherwise known as ‘Rosie’s Plaques’. But what are Rosie’s Plaques? They began as a guerrilla art project staged by women of The Common Lot in Norwich. They realised that the majority of Blue Plaques in the country recognise men, whilst women, who have also done things for the good of our communities and our country, were largely forgotten. In 2019 just 14% of blue plaques celebrated the achievements of women. Soroptimist clubs of Midland Chase Region decided to get involved and last year Cannock club, made their Rosie’s Plaques. One of them recognises a woman without whom there would be no hospital in Cannock: Ethell Powell. Whilst she received an MBE in recognition of her work and is recognised within the hospital itself, it seemed appropriate to

  Research shows that reading for pleasure can do many things: promote better health and wellbeing, help to build social connections and relationships with others and of course, aid learning. Children’s reading for pleasure is threatened … as many children do not have books of their own; there are many reasons for this. For the last 5 years Cannock Soroptimists have been actively supporting Rotary Books4Home. This is a project run by Rotary Alumni 1210 working throughout Staffordshire, Shropshire and The Black Country. Rotary Books4Home works with schools to gift pre-read books to children. The youngsters choose a book, take it home, read it, enjoy sharing with their family and friends and many for the first time, get to keep a book of their very own forever. From time to time, the Soroptimists run a community campaign in order to boost the stock held by

  Photo attached Soroptimist Caryn Hewitt with Joan and Rosie   Who knew that finding a hedgehog called Spike would lead to 23 years of dedication and a hedgehog charity for Joan Lockley! Joan spoke to members of S.I. Cannock and District recently explaining how her charity ‘West Midlands Hedgehog Rescue’ which started in her back garden, now continues with volunteers from around Staffordshire and the West Midlands helping to continue the amazing work this lady does. Members now know what to do should they find a hedgehog or hoglets out during the day as they are nocturnal. They also know not to give them milk but make sure fresh water is available especially during hot weather. Everyone was thrilled to meet Rosie, Joan’s blind hedgehog who can never be released into the wild unlike the approximately 800 Joan hopes will be released after lots

    Cannock Soroptimists front row l to r: Pat Stanley, Trish Smith, Caryn Hewitt & Tracey Stokes with some of the items for the Buddy Bags; behind them Buddy Bag Foundation Ambassador John Wilson.   Cannock Soroptimists have supported the Buddy Bag Foundation for many years. They were pleased to welcome their Ambassador John Wilson to their July meeting to update them on their work. They help children all over the country who have to leave their homes because it isn’t safe for them to stay. These are emergency, unplanned situations when mothers and children leave home with nothing more than what they are wearing at the time and are taken into Refuge care. Each child is given an age appropriate Buddy bag which contains pyjamas, underwear, toiletries, note book and pens/pencils,  a book and book mark – and the very important teddy bear.

  Lead Team President Carole was very pleased to award long-standing member Jill Gooch with her 40-year certificate of dedication to Soroptimist International of Cannock and District. Jill has been a very active member over the years, especially using her artistic and organisational skills to arrange many of the club’s annual dinners. In her forty years of service, she has been Club President twice as well as minutes secretary. Jill has always embraced and supported the many projects of the club over the years and everyone at the club is looking forward to many more years of friendship and service from our dedicated sister! Photo above: l to r: Jill Gooch receives her certificate from Lead Team president Carole Holdcroft

Cannock Soroptimists recently collected items of clothing for women in need at New Cross Hospital Maternity Unit.  The club set up the campaign which was advertised on Social Media, in the press and of course by word of mouth from all club members.  Some members of the Club had donation boxes outside their homes whilst other members were happy to collect donations if needed. They were simply overwhelmed by the kindness and generosity of local people who not only donated nearly new items which had been requested but also many brand new items as well as cash donations. Tracey Stokes, the Club’s Programme Action Officer, has been liaising with Rebecca Emery who is part of the Specialist Midwifery Team. Rebecca said:  “The specialist midwifery team support women with complex social needs.  The women are referred to the team for a variety of reasons including substance