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For auld lang syne, and a better future.

For auld lang syne, and a better future.

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Robbie Burns was well and truly celebrated by Grange-Over-Sands Soroptimists and their guests this year. There wasn’t a spare ticket to be had and the 73 revellers present made sure every single tradition was marked with quite a lot of respect and even more humour. The fun really started when our piper, Ewen Cameron led the solemn procession of the haggis into the dining room. He it was who also gave the great chieftain of the pudding race* its address. After that, there was nothing for it but a recitation of  The Selkirk Grace followed by the clatter and chatter as the assembled company fell to, giving full justice to the famous dish, with its accompanying neeps and tatties. A wonder it might have been that diners had room for their creamy Cranachan, that favourite Scottish desert but somehow they managed it. Mike Gibbons, the

Piping in the fun

Piping in the fun

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Grange-over-Sands Soroptimists invite you to enjoy a Burns Night in Cartmel Village Hall. After a glass of wine from the the cash bar and we will all stand as the Ewen Cameron ceremoniously pipes in the haggis. Ewan will then solemnly recite Robert Burns own Address to the Haggis. Only then will we all tuck into our haggis*, neeps and tatties eased down with a complimentary dram of whisky. Dessert is traditional Cranachan ( oats, cream and raspberries)After the food we enjoy the traditional speeches of the evening starting with The Immortal Memory looking at the life of Robert Burns and then move on to the more light-hearted Toast to the Lassies and the Reply on behalf of the Lassies.As ever we will get to the serious business of rolling £1 coins at a whisky bottle and holding a raffle, this year for Beyond FGM‡

Spreading Christmas light and tea and jam and soup and biscuits and…

Spreading Christmas light and tea and jam and soup and biscuits and…

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  From October to December 24 we’re all inundated with ads assuring us that if we buy this or that, a merry Christmas is in the bag. Hard enough when you’re flush. But if you’re broke, had to take refuge from a violent home, have far more love for your kids than money in your purse, the jolly jingles can be torture.  Which is why this year Grange-over-sands Sorops have once again been merrily packing hampers for people who could really do with a treat. 46 boxes of goodies, sized to cater for different family needs were sealed with a bow. The contents, loads of useful basics plus some special seasonal goodies, were provided by Club Members themselves, with money raised from Floral Decoration demonstrations, Cheese and Wine parties, and jam making. The pupils of Kirkbie Kendal School also made outstanding contributions.  46 boxes of

Orange Alert

Orange Alert

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Grange Soroptimists Orange the World again Passersby may have been wondering why there are orange poppies on the library railings or have noticed  the Hoad Lighthouse lit up on November 25th (and it will be again on December 10th). Grange Soroptimists are marking Orange the World and the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence between November 25th and December 10th which is Human Rights Day. Soroptimists work to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide and have a display in the library and an opportunity to pledge a poppy in aid of Women’s Community Matters ( Barrow Women’s Centre) who support women in this area coping with Domestic Abuse and also work with young people to try and prevent it. Please use the QR code or visit their Website. #NoExcuse

Swopping Clothes, Changing Minds

Swopping Clothes, Changing Minds

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A new look can do wonders for your mood, but cripple your credit card and worse, leave threads of destruction in its wake. Fast fashion is one of the horrors of our time, involving child labour, sweated labour, and pollution. Cocktails anyone? According to Oxfam*, by 2050, the industry is on course to produce enough unwanted clothes to stretch almost from Earth to Mars. That’s equivalent to nearly four outfits for every single person on the planet, or 138 billion items.Swapping clothes gives your wardrobe that much needed lift, bypasses waste and can be a lovely social event. That was the thought behind the Grange-over-Sands Soroptimist Clothes Swap on 7th November. While guests enjoyed a glass of fizz, Mags from Evermore Vintage, a preloved and vintage shop in Ulverston showed us how to glam up our looks. Her interactive presentation highlighting the issues around fast
We won, we won! But the fight against domestic violence goes on.

We won, we won! But the fight against domestic violence goes on.

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Grange-over-Sands Soroptimists are delighted to have won the Darwen Award for our Orange Days project last year. Orange Days? These are the 16 November days Soroptimists dedicate to wearing that cheery colour. No, not just to brighten up the start of winter, but to highlight the grim fact that ever more women are subject to domestic violence. Most recently available statiscts calculate that every ten minutes another girl or woman is killed. And though those figures are global, no country is exempt, it’s all just an appalling matter of degree. Last year, our own campaign involved bathing local monuments in glorious orange floodlight at night. We tied ribbons on gates to illustrate every donation we collected. And we were grateful and delighted to feature in the local press. And now we are absolutely thrilled to have our work recognised, The Darwen Award is given by

Speaking truth to power for women… works

Speaking truth to power for women… works

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If you ever feel no-one’s listening, so why speak up, take heart. On 3rd November Soroptimist Lynne Coles wrote to our local MP with a simple request. That is: Change law, policy and practice to protect victims/survivors being criminalised and address racial abuse. A clear, straightforward headline request, followed with a closely reasoned, rather longer explanation. Admittedly in Tim Farron, (whatever our personal politics may be) we are blessed with a fine and active MP who is clearly engaged in and dedicated to addressing the concerns of his constituents. His answer is below. It’s all great but perhaps best of all, that he promises to get back in touch when The Secretary of State answers his request. Thanks Tim. The moral of the story: speak out for women, even if you think you won’t be heard. You might be. And the more of us speaking

When it comes to combining business and pleasure…

When it comes to combining business and pleasure…

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… Grange-Over-Sands Soroptimists are all for it. Specially when it takes the form of a fund raising wine and cheese event. So on 30th October, sixteen guests, a mixture of Club members and their friends feasted with a purpose in mind. A satisfying £175 was raised, which will go towards funding the Christmas Hampers the Club prepares each year alongside Women’s Community Matters in Barrow. With thanks to the two members who hosted the event, and of course in advance to everyone who will be there to help us provide some seasonal fare (basics and some treats) for people in our region who need a little bit of extra support. Like to help out with the hampers? Watch this space or CONTACT US 

Celebrated!

Celebrated!

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The fashions might have been very different, but in 1954 the founding members of Grange-over-Sands Soroptimists were already rolling their sleeves up. It was still hard times in England and abroad, the cold and hungry needed money and blankets, and the women were determined to do their bit. That year donations were sent to Australia for the relief of flood victims, 2 guide dogs were purchased, and gifts delivered to the elderly and lonely in the town.  70 years on, and Grange members have celebrated their Platinum Jubilee, but still no time to put theoir feet up. According to most of the members “that is what it’s all about”, whether it be swimming to supply shelterboxes with emergency supplies in Gaza, gardening to maintain a sensory garden as a peaceful haven in the town, sewing drainage bags for mastectomy patients, or cantering around Cartmel Racecourse

Bags of fun at our Sewing Bee

Bags of fun at our Sewing Bee

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Members met to sew material bags  which will be given to women in local hospitals after a mastectomy. The cloth bags hold the drainage bag  both in hospital and for a few days after discharge from hospital. Patients find them really useful  for walking around whilst still having a drain in situ. Members and friendsreally enjoyed getting together to do something so worthwhile. Ward 7 at Westmorland General Hospital were delighhted to receive 44  bags  and we  will continue to supply more as required. If you are interested in becoming a member or finding out more  please CONTACT US Handing drain bag holders to Ward 7, Westmorland General