Skip links

Club members Race to help girls in Nepal

Club members Race to help girls in Nepal

in Tags
Grange Club members helped to organise and  joined in a fun zoom afternoon at Cartmel races raising funds for Empowering Girls in Nepal. The plan had been to have a Regional outing to Cartmel races organised by Regional President Rosemary Hoyle so we organised a very successful Zoom trip to the races on August 23rd. Some participants at Zoom races Over £300 was raised for pour SIGBI project Empowering Girls in Nepal. To find out more see our page A good time was had by all, including the funniest and the fanciest hat competitions, a game of hoss and  gloss, singing "Blaydon Races"  and we watched 3 of the Cartmel  races. The funniest hat  winner was Hilary Blease from SI Lancaster and the fanciest hat winner was Linda Beddows from SI Fylde. If you would like to find out more or join our club do
Club Get Togethers in August

Club Get Togethers in August

in Tags
Members  were keen to see each other again and  enjoyed  meeting in groups of 6 outside at Holker on 5 August , and somehow dodged the rain showers. The afternoon flew by with plenty of chatter and tea . The following week 12 members walked in 2 groups from Cartmel to Holker and back, coping with heat and humidity and enjoying seeing each other again. On 12th August Sheila hosted the first of her pop up  fundraising afternoon teas in aid of the Barrow Women's Centre , particularly Period Poverty and in perfect weather 6 members and Wilma the dog  enjoyed  a relaxing afternoon and delicious scones and cake. At all these events there was lots of socialising but also a chance to discuss projects and exchange ideas. SOME FACTS ABOUT PERIOD POVERTY 1 in 10 girls can't afford to buy menstrual products according to
What are Grange Soroptimists doing to support the Prison Reform Trust’s request for an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill?

What are Grange Soroptimists doing to support the Prison Reform Trust’s request for an amendment to the Domestic Abuse Bill?

in Tags
Grange Soroptimists  support the Prison Reform Trust’s proposals to amend the Domestic Abuse Bill to improve legal protection for victims/survivors who offend due to their experience of domestic abuse.  The Domestic Abuse Bill is currently at the Commmittee stage in Parliament so we have written to them. Official figures show that nearly 60% of women in prison are victims/survivors of domestic abuse and this is likely to be an underestimate.  Many have been driven to offend by their experience of abuse, yet they have no effective defence.  Parliament now has an opportunity to modernise the law through the Domestic Abuse Bill, by introducing legal defences that reflect improved public understanding of domestic abuse. The proposed legislation and surrounding policy framework would encourage earlier disclosure of abuse and access to support. If you would like to find out more or join our club do CONTACT US
Singing for Memory group meet on Zoom!

Singing for Memory group meet on Zoom!

in Tags
The Singing for Memory group met on Zoom for the first time since lockdown and really enjoyed seeing each other again.   We had a great time singing favourite songs and also sang “Somewhere over the Rainbow“ in honour of front line carers. Everyone living with dementia , either sufferers or carers have found  Covid – 19 has made life more difficult and isolating, so it was helpful to get together again. Alzheimer’s Europe have urged organisations to support people living with dementia by phone calls and modern technology to reduce isolation and improve well being. Our volunteers have been phoning clients and also made a Singing for Memory book of photo memories early in lockdown to remind everyone about the usual sessions.  We hope it won’t be too long before we are back together in person and in the meantime will continue to  have weekly
What are Grange Soroptimists doing to help hungry families during Covid-19?

What are Grange Soroptimists doing to help hungry families during Covid-19?

in Tags
Club members in 3 teams  ( working in isolation) are baking traybakes and desserts for families struggling with food poverty during Covid -19 and 80 + portions are being distributed  weekly by Barrow Women's Centre. Barrow is one of the most deprived areas in the county, with one in three children  living in poverty. To help meet the additional needs and concerns of local people, the community has come together to create a coordinated community response to the coronavirus outbreak through  the Cumbria Community Foundation  who are working with many groups including Barrow Women's Centre. Grange  Soroptimists have had a long association with the Women's Centre and are delighted to be able to help  during Covid-19 and enjoy using their baking skills.     Team leader Sheila with  Soroptimist Star bakers and delivery drivers!
What did the club Singing for Memory team do to support their attendees during Covid-19 and Mental Health Awareness Week?

What did the club Singing for Memory team do to support their attendees during Covid-19 and Mental Health Awareness Week?

in Tags
The Covid  lockdown has increased the isolation already experienced by people living with dementia. The Singing for Memory team rapidly produced another photo book of memories for their clients and new song book to go with it. It was very apt that the distribution coincided with  Mental health awareness week with the theme Kindness matters. The book  has given people joy and a way of reconnecting with the regular weekly Singing for Memory sessions. Clients who had not previously received the CD and songsheets distributed in 2017 were also given one each so they could have a singalong at home. The books  were financed by previous generous donations by the public. The photobooks and song sheets Singing leader Janice with photobooks Jean enjoying the book Isabel with photo books
What are Grange Soroptimists doing to support Barrow Women’s Centre during the Corona virus crisis?

What are Grange Soroptimists doing to support Barrow Women’s Centre during the Corona virus crisis?

in Tags

Barrow Women’s Centre which supports vulnerable women and their families are working hard to cope with an unprecedented demand on their services due to an increase in domestic abuse and poverty. After a few weeks of lockdown their supply of socks and toiletries was exhausted so the Grange Soroptimists appealed to their members and the public for socks, toiletries and donations and had a fantastic response.  The Centre was also in need of food for families and  for the teenagers who normally attend the centre for various programmes and were missing regular meals at the centre. One member initially supplied traybakes for 60 people weekly and this has now been divided between a number of members cooking once weekly after the kind donation of a sack of flour. The latest appeal is for Size 10 clothing.

How did Janice’s Challenge 26.1 help Empowering Girls in Nepal?

How did Janice’s Challenge 26.1 help Empowering Girls in Nepal?

in Tags

For 6 days starting on Monday 27th April Club member Janice played 26 tunes on her flute in aid of  the Soroptimist project Empowering Girls in Nepal as her Challenge 26.1.   The project  supports rape survivors, trafficked and vulnerable girls as they rebuild their lives. Having not played a great deal recently Janice built up  playing more tunes each day playing 26 on the final day but clocking up over 102 tunes on the way. On  Saturday 2nd May neighbours and passers by enjoyed a al fresco concert in glorious sunshine. As well as giving joy to many people Janice raised the amazing amount of  £760  in sponsorship. To see the video see 4th May post on  Janice’s Facebook page

Swimathon for ShelterBox March 14th 2020

Swimathon for ShelterBox March 14th 2020

in Tags
Grange Soroptimists  swam in the 2020 Swimathon in Kendal, swimming 102 lengths in 55 minutes and raising £274  for ShelterBox, which provides relief for victims of disasters. Club members have swum in the Swimathon for over 25 years and for ShelterBox since 2009 supplying over 10 ShelterBoxes which have been deployed all over the world including Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Japan. Women and girls tend to be most affected in disaster areas      https://www.shelterbox.org/ The team members enjoyed a delicious meal afterwards at the home of club member Sheila. If you would like to find out more contact Grange Soroptimists CONTACT US