Grange-over-Sands is situated in the North West of England where a wide river estuary meets the Irish Sea, where rural meets tourism and where old industry hopes to meet new. The challenges and benefits of living here are all reflected in the local Soroptimist Branch.
We currently have 40 members and are welcoming new Grang-over-Sands Soroptimist members all the time. Forward facing in our interests, we are also proud of our long history of service for local and international causes. Founded in by local business and professional women in 1954, our first president summed up what we were about then, and what we’re about now. Service, she said, is needed more than large gifts of money for charity… We must try to be workers more than givers.
Back then, we were proud to support Leprosy sufferers world wide, and still do. We provided holidays for exhausted factory workers from the Mill Towns. We also started a long and enduring tradition of assembling Christmas Hampers and Stockings to people whose festive season looked anything but merry.
Seventy plus years on, our spirit hasn’t changed, though how we express it has varied in step with the times. Our Christmas Hampers now go to women and children in the local refuge, along with year round support. We are local pioneers for womens’ safety when travelling, and printed advice for those in abusive relationships. We promote vital projects which vitally underline the need for feminine hygiene products. And we continue to tend the sensory garden we created for the visually impaired many years ago.
The secret of our success down the years might be matching work with play. As well as trying to change our little bit of the world for the better, we have a rich social life. Special screenings of films in gorgeous almost-secret cinemas in the fells, feasts of PiesPudding&Peas, tapas, and good old cake are not unusual. In short, we create friendships with each other. After all, when work needs to be done, or you need a shoulder to lean on or a glass to chink with, real reality can’t be beaten.
The club meets at 7.30 pm on the first Tuesday in the month in Cartmel Village Hall. These meetings are for the running of the club, where whole club activities and projects are planned. Additionally members meet in smaller Programme Action Groups; these are focused on one area of Soroptimism and enable more focused and in depth projects to be realised. You can find out more about this on the Club News section and under specific headings. The different groups are Health and Food security, Environment and Economic Empowerment , Violence and Conflict Resolution the latter shortened to EEVCR for obvious reasons.
There is also a good fun packed programme of social events when husbands, partners and friends sometimes join us; these are occasions when the message of Soroptimism to improve the lives of women and girls is realised in a more light hearted way.
We have general social get togethers open to members and those interested in coming along to meet Soroptimists and find out what we do. The next events are:
| Date | Area | Venue | |||
|
Ulverston | St Mary’s Hospice cafe Ulverston | |||
|
Grange-over-Sands | Uplands Hotel, Grange-over-Sands | |||
| Tuesday, 17 February 7pm | Kendal | Comida Tapas, Kendal | |||
| Thursday, 19 March 2pm | Ulverston | Bay Horse Hotel, Ulverston | |||
See Diary dates for calendar of meetings and other social events.
The club also has a walking group and two Reading Groups ( members read and meet to review an eclectic range of good literature, at the same time finding out more about each other).
If you are interested in becoming a member or just want further information please ring Mary Ann on 015395 32265 or CONTACT US . We’d love to hear from you.
Any Soroptimists visiting the area and wanting to attend a Club meeting are most welcome. Please CONTACT US or ring Mary Ann on 015395 32265
Do see our Club News and What WE DO sections to get an idea of our activities.
