To help combat the universal tsunami of plastic, Crosby’s Soroptimists urge everyone to ‘shop wisely’ on the high street. At the regional meeting on International Women’s Day (IWD) the club took part in a whistle-stop showcase of recent project work. Crosby’s focus was their recycling initiative. Members have been finding out much more about the recycling process and taking action to maximise their personal recycling efforts. Crosby Soroptimist Sue Rogers presented the club’s update. An experienced scientist with a career in the consumer goods industry Sue is well placed to guide everyone through the ‘minefield’ of plastics available. For the future health of our planet, therefore, ‘shop wisely’ means looking at the symbol on plastic goods. (Easy on the high street – a challenge online!) PET (1) indicates the most common recyclable plastic. Our Sefton Council brown bins accept: “Plastic bottles (including all plastic drinks

Soroptimists in Crosby celebrated a milestone achievement in one of their community projects .... over 100 patchwork hand-crafted blankets completed. Since autumn 2020, some members have been knitting and crocheting squares. Others have sewn them together and edged the resulting blankets. All have been sent to Knit for Peace, for distribution. Knit for Peace is a charity through which knitted goods (clothing and blankets) are donated to people in need. Everything goes where it’s needed, whether hospitals, women’s refuges, refugee drop-in centres, prisons, community groups or hospices. The charity also runs various campaigns to encourage knitting around the UK; it gifts knitting supplies to marginalised people; and it supports schools teaching children how to knit. The roots of Knit for Peace are in bringing together hostile communities (such as in Rwanda) through crafting. As the charity has grown, so has the evidence that knitting and

Crosby Soroptimists’ latest fundraiser challenged teams to devise the perfect murder. Four famous detectives were on hand to set the crime scene, give details of modern-day forensics, and then to conduct the investigation. Columbo, Vera, Taggart and Sister Boniface took turn to ‘interview’ the ringleaders, scrutinise their methods and decide how foolproof were their dastardly plans. Many and varied were the schemes. Some famous personalities might come to sticky ends – whether through an exploding shotgun on a grouse moor or a fishing trip ‘accident’. One philandering victim would ‘trip’ down cellar stairs – but might the murderer get caught on CCTV? Another’s drunken stupor would, the team claimed, be a cover for a deadly dose of helium. Or how about the plot to do away with the person who habitually ignored the piles of dog-poo left by his precious pooch? Would Hightown’s receding tide

Crosby Soroptimists celebrated Burns’ Night with a convivial supper. “Some hae meat and canna eat, And some wad eat that want it, But we hae meat and we can eat, And sae the Lord be thankit.” Haggis, tatties and neeps, cranachan, shortbread and a wee dram… members and partners celebrated in style. A quiz on Scotland-born personalities kept everyone guessing and a Scottish-themed hamper was the tempting raffle prize. Plus, Burns’ Night is a good excuse to roll out the Soroptimist International tartan! Sandy Taylor, chair of the fundraising team said: “This really was a communal effort. However, particular thanks are due to Maggie and Peter who opened up their house for our supper, and to John who addressed the haggis with due ceremony. “The evening raised £778.02, all of which will be put to good use through SI Crosby’s donations to charitable causes.”

Crosby Soroptimists once again joined Santa and his reindeer float to raise money for local charities. With collecting tins at the ready the Soroptimists greeted shoppers in the foyer at Waitrose, Formby. No cash? No problem. There was a handheld card-reader for cashless payments. Techno-Santa indeed. Thanks to generous shoppers the Soroptimists collected over £500 on the day. A grand sum!

A new cookery book has been launched – the result of collaboration between two Soroptimist Clubs in Italy and Crosby. SI Jesi devised the project and asked SI Crosby members for a selection of recipes that could be included. The two clubs are 'friendship links'. Proceeds from the sale of the book are to support a dedicated safe room that the Italian Soroptimists have opened in the local Carabinieri (Police station) HQ. Known as ‘A Room for You’ it is for women who have been victims of violence or abuse. It provides them with a suitable environment in which to report to the police. The Italian members have been collaborating locally with a professional institute of hotel hospitality, L'Istituto Professionale di Stato per L'Enogastonomia e L'Ospitalità Alberghiera. The students adopted this cook book as a project, planning to make and serve some of the recipes. The

Crosby’s Soroptimists have bought another toilet and are 'flushed' with success ! Club members presented a commemorative plaque to Matt, the manager of StoryHouse Café in Crosby at their monthly Orange Café session. The new ‘twin’ for StoryHouse is in the small village of Yalo, near the town of Bouna in north-eastern Ivory Coast. Toilet twinning is one of the club’s long-term projects. Good sanitation is essential for personal, public and environmental health. The provision of safe toilets is one of the targets of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals – ‘Ensure access to clean water and sanitation for all’. The Crosby event coincided with Day 1 of ‘16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence’. This campaign, co-ordinated by UNWomen, starts on 25th November (International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women) and ends on 10th December (Human Rights Day). It highlights that violence

It can take just 5 minutes for someone to bleed to death. A rapid response ambulance often takes 7 minutes to arrive at the scene. Crosby’s Soroptimists welcomed Mr Nikhil Misra, Consultant Trauma Surgeon at Aintree Hospital and founder of the charity Knifesavers, as guest speaker. Mr Misra gave a comprehensive overview of knife crime, which encompasses all bladed or pointed articles. He also explained the mechanism of bleeding, life-saving techniques available and the work of his charity. In partnership with medical staff, Knifesavers have developed Bleed Control Kits which contain the necessary items to use in an emergency. Kits (and wall-mounted cabinets) are being provided throughout Merseyside. Crosby Soroptimists have funded a cabinet, ready for installation at the Learning Centre at Lunt Meadows Nature Reserve. Through education in the basics of bleed control, the charity is reaching hundreds of people – in schools, at

President Sharon and members of Soroptimist International Crosby attended the Remembrance Service at Five-Lamps memorial in Waterloo. This is always a poignant occasion as the poppy wreaths pile up at the foot of the memorial. The statue is of ‘winged victory’, holding a laurel wreath and palm branch, and standing on a globe. It was unveiled in 1921 as the memorial for Waterloo and Seaforth.

Ten Soroptimists from Crosby attended the Federation Conference in Edinburgh. This, the 90th annual conference of Soroptimist International (Great Britain & Ireland), was held in the elegant surroundings of the Assembly Rooms - chandeliers and all. The conference programme packed in sessions encompassing information, updates and challenges – all under the banner of ‘Educate – Empower – Enable’. Key speaker on the theme of empowerment was Floella Benjamin – Baroness Benjamin of Beckenham. In a stunning hour-long presentation she spoke about coming to UK at the age of 8, about discrimination and bullying because of the colour of her skin, and of her struggles to get to where she is today. Respected as a champion of children, Baroness Floella encourages girls to be resilient, to speak out and to be true to themselves. There was a standing ovation for this consummate performance, delivered with such passion.