Cannock Soroptimists, as in previous years, have been doing what they can to provide a better Christmas for some of those who may be in some sort of need this year. They provide Christmas gifts for the women and children who will be living in a refuge run by the Pathway Project for women victims of domestic violence over the festive period.  They sent along toys, games, clothing, books, toiletries, jewellery – the recipients of the gifts are always touched that there are people thinking of them at this time. President Carole Holdcroft coordinated the club’s preparation, cooking and serving of a Christmas Dinner for those who use the Soup Kitchen in Mill Street Cannock. They fund a large part of this meal too and again served over 50 meals, complete with all of the Christmas trimmings – this service to members of the community

Throughout the year Cannock Soroptimists have supported the Pathway Project by fundraising and they also provide comfort bags & household items which are appreciated by the women who have left their homes with nothing. This year’s President of S I Cannock Carole Holdcroft chose Pathway as her charity, having been involved with supporting them for 23 years. As Christmas approaches and  the members of Cannock Soroptimists prepare to buy gifts for family & friends, they do all they can to think about others less fortunate to enable them to enjoy Christmas too.  Recently, members of Cannock Soroptimists generously provided Christmas gifts such as clothing, beauty packs, toys & games for women and children who will be spending Christmas in the refuge run by the Pathway Project for women victims of domestic violence. Some members of SI Cannock recently attended the Pathway AGM, (it is the

Cannock Soroptimists were entertained at their meeting on Nov 22nd by Emma Barran-Scott who ran the sweet shop at the Back-to-back houses in Hurst Street, Birmingham for five years. The title of her presentation was “Sweet Heritage”: she told the group all about the history of sweet making in Birmingham and the Black Country, from its beginnings in the Victorian era through to the present day. Along the way we were reminded of almost forgotten sweets such as aniseed balls, sweet tobacco, sherbet and kali crystals in a paper bag. It was a revelation to many of us that some of these sweets are still made locally while others such as Bluebird toffees, remembered with such fondness by members, are no longer made in Birmingham. We also learned that herbal sweets were some of the earliest sweets to be mass produced, probably because the working

One of the local charities supported by Cannock Soroptimists is the Pathway Project which provides aid and support to women victims of domestic violence. Kathy Coe, founder and CEO of Pathway visited the club recently to update members on their work – and to thank them for their continued support. A major focus over coming months will be a closer liaison with police with the aim of preventing sexual exploitation and grooming of young women. She reported that Domestic Violence numbers sadly continue to rise and figures show that two women die in the UK each week as a result of domestic abuse. Pathway works very closely with Women’s Aid which is also supported by Cannock Soroptimists, both organisations providing what is often literally a life line to women who have left a life of abuse.  Some of the women are helped within the community;

Earlier in September SI Cannock members were both entertained and moved by their speaker Barry Picken and his talk entitled “Red Flowers and a Bag of Bones”. Barry told us the story behind how we all came to wear poppies on Armistice Day and members were fascinated to learn that it all started with a woman named Moina Michael at the New York YMCA conference in 1918. Moina campaigned for the poppy to be recognised as a symbol of the end of the Great War and the idea began to spread around all the major countries of the old empire – expect for the UK. Many members at the talk had thought that poppy wearing was a British idea and were surprised to learn that the UK was one of the last countries to adopt the symbol, in 1923. They eventually adopted it thanks to

President Carole did a brilliant interview which was broadcast live on Tuesday 20th Sept from 10.20am – 10.45am. Well done Carole. Photos show: Carole with Presenter, Rob Hughes and Carole at the controls  

803 bras! That was the final number collected by Cannock Soroptimists to help women in Uganda, El Salvador and Mozambique who have escaped from or have been rescued from trafficking.  Cannock Soroptimists are so grateful to all of those who donated their pre-loved bras: many took them along to the Soroptimists stand at St Luke’s Church Fayre, others held their own collections at work or amongst family and delivered them to club members – and many individuals donated, too. The bras had to be delivered to the Purple Teardrop Campaign, run by SI Poole. The cost of sending four very large boxes to Poole could have been prohibitive – but along came EDS Couriers to the rescue! Andy Evans, MD, is well known to two members of the Soroptimist club and when he heard of their project he immediately offered to help.  Darren Wright, his

Soroptimist International of Cannock & District have been involved for the past few years with the collection of tents, chairs and other goods left behind at Weston Park following the annual V Festival. The collection is organised by the local District of Rotary International and takes place on the two days following the V Festival.  This year, as in previous years, so much was left behind by the those who attended the Festival which, if it can be collected, can be used by people at home and overseas.  No matter how many volunteers go along they are never able to collect all of the items left behind. This year 7 Soroptimists from SI Cannock & District and one Soroptimist’s granddaughter went along to help with the grand ‘clear-up’ at Weston Park following another very successful, but slightly muddy, V Festival.  Wearing wellies and other appropriate

Cannock Soroptimists ran a market stall in Cannock Town Centre on Friday 9th September to raise awareness of and funds for their Federation three year project, the Meru Women’s Garden Project. The aim of the project is to educate, enable and empower women in Meru County, Kenya by providing sustainable gardening techniques and tools, enabling women to become pioneers of agricultural sustainability within the community. Girls will also be educated about their rights, empowering them to stand up to damaging cultural practices like female genital mutilation [FGM].  By providing economic opportunities to women and girls, the project will achieve long term change by strengthening entire communities, so improving the lives and opportunities for generations to come. Cannock Soroptimists sold produce from their gardens: apples, damsons, and a variety of plants as well as many craft items they have made.  Members had a very enjoyable morning

It will soon be International Literacy Day and to mark that occasion Cannock Soroptimists invited Beverley Ricketts to their meeting to explain Books4Home, an initiative Beverley has set up with Rotarians in the area.  President Carole Holdcroft introduced Beverley as an amazing and inspirational person, known to her personally and to many other club members for many years. Beverley began by asking members if they had a favourite book from childhood – everyone had!  Most went on to say that they had read and re-read the book, for themselves, to their own children and to their grandchildren, showing that a love of books and reading lasts forever; part of that love comes from actually handling the book, turning its pages and owning it. Beverley gave the astonishing fact that in England only one in 3 girls and only one in every 4 boys actually have