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UPCOMING EVENT-Flower Demonstration by Joan Bentley October 19th

UPCOMING EVENT-Flower Demonstration by Joan Bentley October 19th

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Join Grange Soroptimists and friends at Cartmel Village Hall  for a fun afternoon, with expert flower arranger  Joan Bentley demonstrating  multiple arrangements, entertaining us and showing us some new skills and tips. Our event opens at 14.00 when you are invited to sit back and watch Joan and then enjoy  an interval with homemade cake and freshly brewed tea and coffee. Tickets at £8  include one piece of cake per person and all proceeds go towards our Christmas hampers for needy families attending Barrow Women’s Centre. The raffle of the arrangements at the end is always a highlight! This will be our ninth Flower demonstration event. Previous events have been a sell out so buy your ticket now to avoid missing out. Tickets are available via Isabel and Chris ( see above) or  on line If yoiu are interested in finding out moreabout usor are
Train training – Grange Over Sands action for safer travel on our networks

Train training – Grange Over Sands action for safer travel on our networks

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Time was when the cry of Oh Mr Porter might have helped a woman or girl in distress on the rail networks. Not any more. A report by British Transport Police (published in Police Professional last year) stated that violent crimes against women had increased by 20% in the foregoing year. The problem persists, and to Grange Over Sands Soroptimists, it was a clear call to action. In recent weeks our members have been present at stations in the region – with due permission from the Network of course – to hand out some pithy, portable advice. Printed on business size cards the message is simple, but vital. And judging by the reception we had, very welcome.    

How did Grange Soroptimists help Victims of Torture?

How did Grange Soroptimists help Victims of Torture?

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The last items for our Freedom from Torture recycling sack Grange Soroptimists once again have collected items like old mobile phones, I Pads, jewellery,  cameras, stamps, old curency and Sat Navs  to send off for recycling to Recycling for Good Causes, raising funds for Freedom from Torture,  a charity supporting victims of torture who have fled to the UK. We added the last few items  to our sack when members met for coffee at the Bay Horse, Canal Foot, Ulverston where we posed for a photo with the beautiful view in the background! We collected a staggering 25 Kg of items which would otherwise have been thrown out. This is our third collection over the last 5 years Anyone interested in finding out more about our club or wanting to join us  please CONTACT US The Freedom from Torture magazine Ready for the courier
Grange-over-Sands Soroptimists Get All Geed Up

Grange-over-Sands Soroptimists Get All Geed Up

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Racegoers at Cartmel on 28 May this year were treated to a rare sighting: the trusty (inflatable) steeds of Grange-over-Sands Soroptimists. Champion the thoroughbred, ridden by Janice Carrick, and pit pony Bloddwyn. ridden by Rebecca Bilkau were accompanied by trainers and supporters Sheila Cheesebrough, Lynne Coles, Isabel Huggett, and Penny Ward. Rumoured to have promised punters not to enter the real race track for a small consideration, the teams raised smiles all round. Plus an over £600 for Barrow Women’s Centre . Some lessons were learned: rattling tins may have been superseded by card readers, for example. Many people these days don’t carry cash, but are happy to swipe at least a fiver in the charity’s direction. All in all though, the Soroptomist Stable had a lovely day at the races and were able to support great and vital work for women facing difficulty.

A great time at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve 17 July

A great time at Leighton Moss RSPB reserve 17 July

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Good weather for ducks! Despite picking an unseasonably wet day, 13 members of our club thoroughly enjoyed a visit to Leighton Moss. One of our members, Kath Smith, who works at the centre, led us enthusiastically around the attractions helping us to identify different species of birds and plant life. She also explained how the RSPB came into existence thanks to a lady called Emily Williamson back in the 1920's. A visit to the on-site cafe for tea and cake provided us with a chance to all dry off before members headed home. Five members decided to make another pit stop at a local wine bar in Arnside for pizza and wine to finish the day off in style.
Lend with Care

Lend with Care

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Lend with care Grange Soroptimists have just lent a total of £997 into the Lend with Care scheme. We have made loans ranging from £150 to £493 to  3 different projects with 27 different female entrepreneurs, 37 family members and created 8 jobs. The loans will help them buy a range of items to support and expand their businesses. The projects range from a grocery store in Paraguay, a group running grocery stores, second hand clothing and market stalls in Zambia allowing them to support many dependent children including orphans and thirdly a pork roasting business in the Philippines who need to buy more pigs! All of the recipients will make repayments, and as these come in it  will allow us to re-use the same money to help more people. It’s a win-win situation, and a circle of support which can keep on running indefinitely!
Grange Soroptimists show commitment to recycling with their new gilets

Grange Soroptimists show commitment to recycling with their new gilets

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Grange Soroptimists in new recycled gilets We are delighted with our new eyecatching gilets complete with Soroptimist International logo which we ordered from local firm Coniston Corporate We ordered recycled 2-layer printable softshell bodywarmer and used the Soroptimist International logo using guidelines from SI.   Any Soroptimist Club wanting to order similar gilets best to E mail Coniston Clothing  at info@cceuk.org  with an enquiry  as Coniston Clothing have the logo available to use for further orders. Its easier than trying to fill in an order form as need to be sure re logo. Be aware that the logo has correct spelling of Soroptmist on the gilets and on the order form  but  the  file name of the logos on the order form is named incorrectly! They dont seem to want to alter the file name. The gilets are made from recycled PET-bottles and certified by
Swimathon for ShelterBox

Swimathon for ShelterBox

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The 2025 Swimathon Soroptimists Team We swam in the Swimathon in Kendal  raising funds for ShelterBox. We  had fun and achieved 168 lengths  swimming in a relay for 55 minutes, raising £935 which with Gift Aid will exceed £1000. This was the most lengths we have ever achieved greatly helped by Sarah swimming  alongside us and doubling our efforts! Afterwards we enjoyed a delicious meal at the home of Club member Sheila. ShelterBox provides vital tools and shelter for families in disaster areas worldwide. Women and children are disproprtionately affected by disasters and we therefore like to support ShelterBox every year. ShelterBox are heavily involved in Gaza and their stocks are very depleted so our donation will help to support families. Club members have swum in the Swimathon  for 39 years and raised funds for ShelterBox sice 2009. If you want to find out more
Soroptimists take the plunge for ShelterBox 15 March

Soroptimists take the plunge for ShelterBox 15 March

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Grange Soroptimist’s team  are taking the plunge and  swimming in the Kendal  Swimathon on March 15th, and once again are raising funds for ShelterBox.  ShelterBox provide family tents and other life sustaining equipment for displaced  victims of disasters or war. Soroptimists work to improve the lives of women and girls worldwide so we are delighted to support ShelterBox as women and children are disproportionately affected by disasters. We have been raising funds for ShelterBox  by swimming  in the Swimathon  every year since 2009 and have raised enough for 18 ShelterBoxes, which currently cost £590. Please help us to continue to help those most in need. Any donation would be most welcome and you can contact us through this Website or donate direct via our Swimathon  for ShelterBox  Just Giving page Images are photographs of the 2 latest Beyond the Box magazines.
Zoom with our Friendship link Club in Prague

Zoom with our Friendship link Club in Prague

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Meeting up with our Soroptimist sisters SI rague On 15th January we had a Zoom meet up with our Soroptimist sisters in Prague ( SI Praha)  We shared ideas and the projects both clubs are working on and there was a great similarity with a lot of work going on helping victims of domestic abuse. It was sobering for SI Grange to realise the anxiety felt by SI Prague members with the situation in Europe.  It was however very cheerful reminisvcing about Alice and Janna's  visit to the UK for our Platinum celebrations!