On Saturday, 3rd March, members of SI Chester took part in a celebration of International Women’s Day, held in the Town Hall and hosted by Chester Women’s Aid. Throughout the day there were several presentations by Women’s Groups, including the Black Veil Tribal Dance Group and the Chester Rock Choir.  Emma Rees, Professor of Literature and Gender Equality at Chester University gave a talk and our own member, Jodie Gibson, gave two workshops on ‘Women in Parliament’. During the day we sold jewellery, handbags and purses to raise money for one of our projects, The Purple Community Fund.  We spoke to several women, raising awareness of our work and also collecting more signatures for the Purple Teardrop Campaign.

On Sunday, 25th February, SI Chester members celebrated the 3rd Anniversary of the Chartering of the Club by having lunch on a canal cruise in the heart of Chester. Members from several other clubs in the Region, one club from another Region and Regional President, Hilary, were welcomed by President Susan and Club members. Although cold, the day was sunny and members and visitors were able to leave the boat between courses for a few photographs on the towpath.  

At our February meeting we were delighted to welcome baby Ptolemy Pritchard, with his Mum, and Founder Club President, Victoria.  Tolly was as good as gold whilst club members listened to an interesting presentation by Alison Breardon from  the Chester Sexual Abuse Support Service (CSASS). CSASS supports survivors of abuse through counselling, as well as raising awareness and campaigning to improve the lives of people who have been abused in this way.  Later this year they are planning another of their awareness raising walks to ‘Reclaim the Night’ and it is envisaged that some of our members will join them.

At their most recent meeting members heard a fascinating presentation from Debra Webb, Trustee and passionate supporter of SHARE (Supporting Homeless and Assisting Refugees Everywhere). SHARE is a fairly new charity which has grown rapidly in Cheshire and Flintshire.  Debra explained how she had become involved after witnessing homeless women on the streets of Chester and how she helps by making sandwiches for delivery several nights each week. The SHARE shop in Chester has become more of a Hub than just a shop and homeless people can go there for a warm drink during the daytime.  Debra also explained that they have a ‘Kindness Wall’, where members of the public can leave warm clothes in the evening, often with, for example, a cereal bar or sanitary towels in the pockets. There are many ways in which we might be able to help, from sponsoring volunteers

Ten members of our club attended the recent Federation Conference, held at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff.  It was an action packed weekend, with several of the club members taking an active role.  On the Friday morning President Susan and President Elect, Carole, gave a short presentation in the session related to Violence against Women.  They highlighted our work with the Purple Community Fund  (PCF) and our role at the WOW Festival held in Chester last May.  Other members acted out the ‘Reclaim the Night’ walk held during the WOW weekend and modelled the bags and jewellery which we sell on behalf of the P.C.F.  Following the presentation we presented the CEO from PCF with all of the ring pulls collected by our members and friends during the last year. On the Saturday Past Club President, Victoria, participated in a panel discussion entitled ‘Young

Club members held an extremely successful Quiz Night on Friday, 29th September, raising over £600 which will be divided between two of the projects that we support, Chester Women’s Aid and Classrooms in the Clouds. We are grateful to the Westminster Park Community Association, who allowed us free use of their hall, which was packed to capacity on the night.  We invited teams from other Women’s organisations, such as WI and Women’s Register, as well as from the two organisations that we were supporting. In addition some members of the local Rotary Club attended, as well as our own members and their friends. During a short break for ‘a bring your own supper’ we were able to say a few words about our work and also to give out links to a forthcoming survey of the public’s knowledge of human trafficking and modern day slavery.

Chester members are delighted that local charity, Classrooms in the Clouds, (CITC), has been successful in being granted funds from the Soroptimist International President’s Appeal – Educate to Lead: Nepal. One of our local schools, The Bishops’ Blue Coat School, has expressed an interest in supporting the project and we recently facilitated a visit to the school for Trustee, Sarah Hagen, and Dawa Gelgen Sherpa, the Nepalese Trustee and inspiration for CITC. The visitors were hosted by Head of Science, Dr Lynne Hooper, along with our Club President, Susan Haywood, who teaches at the school.  Lynne is now looking at ways in which the pupils in her department can collaborate with schools in Nepal.

  On the weekend of 20th/21st May the amazing WOW (Women of the World) Festival took place in the new Storyhouse Arts Complex in Chester. Members of SI Chester had a stand in the Marketplace and were able to talk to the public about our many projects, as well as to sell jewellery in support of the Purple Community Fund (formerly known as the Philippines Community Fund).