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Soroptimist’s Stride out to support Trussell Trust Race Against Hunger

Soroptimist’s Stride out to support Trussell Trust Race Against Hunger

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President Val and Club members are once against supporting the Trussell Trust Campaign to #StopUKHunger. Please follow the link above to support us. Why? 1 in 4 Children are living in poverty The Trussell Trust Food Banks handed out over 2.1 million Food Parcels in 2021-22 –  a 52% increase in year on year comparison The choice between eating and heating is real Food banks are now supporting ‘working families’ who are are struggling to put sufficent food on the table. The Trussell Trust’s is able to provide the  statistics that demonstrate what is happening across the UK We need to take ACTION, RAISE AWARENESS and MAKE A DIFFERENCE –  too many women and children’s lives are being affected by poverty right now in the UK        

Visit to Wetherby Food Bank

Visit to Wetherby Food Bank

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So what happens at a Foodbank? President Val with Club members Hilary and Elsie found out when they went to give a cheque for £250 raised from the stall at Wetherby Christmas Market and met  with Trustee and Volunteer  Jim Tinsley and Manager Debbie Marriott. Wetherby District Foodbank covers a large rural area in North Yorkshire as well as parts of North Leeds and Wetherby. The food comes from individual food donations and supermarkets as well as money donations. There is a list of items to choose from to ensure a balanced diet as well as toiletries and pet food. The listed items are in English and Ukrainian. Who is using the Foodbanks? There is an increasing demand for Foodbank parcels with a 48 percentage increase in use over the year in some areas. The Wetherby District Foodbank is now opening on Saturday mornings as
President Blog – November

President Blog – November

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Presidents Report – November/December Where has this year gone? And yet is seems ages ago since we made our first tentative steps back to normality.  Last year we met on the 1st of December and awarded the Charity Shop Christmas Window winners at the Crown Hotel. A week later, I had to make the presentation to the Wetherby Winner’s in the street as restrictions were reintroduced due to the spread of covid. Covid is still a factor but is now part of our everyday lives. I hope all of you who have recently had covid have made a good recovery. Remembrance Sunday 13 November November has been another very busy month.  There is so much going on in the Club. On the 13th of November I represented the Club at the Harrogate Cenotaph to lay a wreath at the Remembrance Service.  It is always a

President’s Blog – December/January 2023

President’s Blog – December/January 2023

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President’s Report – December/January 2023 Happy New Year to all of you! I hope you all  had a Happy and Joyful Christmas? The twelve days of Christmas will be over by the time we meet again. It takes a while before we feel the benefit of the lengthening days.  But - the days are getting longer. A big thank you for the Christmas Cards and to those of you who donated in lieu of Christmas Cards. Jennifer will update me in the next couple of days and I will be writing out to thank those individuals who made donations. The money will help the Food Banks who are under a lot of pressure as the cost of living bites. Charity Shop Winners I was so pleased that so many of you were able to attend for the presentation to the winners of the Harrogate District
President’s Blog – October

President’s Blog – October

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It has been a busy month of events. The nights are drawing in and I’m still getting used to ‘gaining’ an extra hour. I write this the day after my return from a fabulous 4 days at our Federation Conference, Climate for Change in Belfast. More about that later. Since our last meeting I’ve met with the Elves chaired by Chief Elf Liz Stickney; experienced an outside Hygge event organised by Heather Goodall and Di Fleming that raised over £720 for Dementia Forward; walked around Swinsty Reservoir with our Stride Out walking group and celebrated the 89th Anniversary since we were chartered in 1933 at wonderful Goldsborough Hall. attended a very active Toilet Twinning meeting with Sue W and the team at Horticap. met with Maureen and handed over the cash raised for the Food Bank to  Dawn from Harrogate and District Foodbank. Well over
President’s Blog – September

President’s Blog – September

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Welcome to my September/ October Blog, Cost of Living Crisis Thank you to Club Members who’ve donate blankets/throws/ hot water bottles, flasks and hats for the Harrogate District Food Bank. I know this will help make a difference. People are already struggling to get by and though the energy cap will help, some of them will still have to make a choice between heat and eat. 5 Ladies and a bus call Bertha I know that many of us where shocked at the death of HM The Queen on the 8th September. The news had just been released as I travelled with Jennifer to the Knaresborough Library to listen to Sue Williams reading from her newly published book. There was a good Soroptimist turn out and it was an enjoyable evening. We are looking forward to the next instalment. A few of us raised our

Hygge raises £712 for Dementia Forward

Hygge raises £712 for Dementia Forward

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Club member’s Heather and Di’s Hygge Lunch-time Event raised a fantastic £712 for Dementia Forward. The heaven’s may have opened but that didn’t detract from a lovely homemade soup and fresh bread lunch in the garden. Hygge – So what is Hygge (pronounced hoo-guh)? In Denmark Hygge is described as an event that brings courage, comfort and joy. There was certainly plenty of that despite the heaviest rain we’ve had in months. Not only was there delicious soup and cakes but also things to take home. Beautiful handmade bags, oven gloves, tasty scones, delicious crumbles, and chutneys and much more. It was great to meet friends and neighbours to chat. We were certainly protected from the elements and kept warm, dry and snug. Dementia Forward All the money raised will help Dementia Forward provide more support through their helpline for people with, and people caring for

President Blog – Summer

President Blog – Summer

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Welcome back. Meetings start again on 7th September.  I hope everyone has enjoyed summer despite the heat that at times felt overwhelming. The Climate certainly seems to be changing. We may not of met during August but we certainly have been busy. If you are not a member and are interested in finding out more about our Club and organisation  email sihandd@hotmail.co.uk Toilet Twinning in Wetherby                                 On the 25th July and I was delighted to meet the Mayor  of Wetherby with Sue Williams and Heather Shipman to present the toilet twinning certificates that will be displayed in the public toilets at the town hall. We had great press coverage in the local paper too.  A great start to our commitment to see Wetherby become a Toilet Twinned Town. Dementia

President’s Blog – March

President’s Blog – March

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Storm clouds gathered physically and metaphysically at the beginning of March. For the world, as Russia’s attack on Ukraine has led to the biggest migration of people since the Second World War; in the UK, as over a million trees were blown down in the successive storms; and personally, as a bout of Covid meant that I was unable to chair the March business meeting.  Thank you, President Elect Pat, for deputising for me. The world has changed. The last two years have changed the way we live our lives as we return to the ‘new normal’ as the pandemic continues.  The war in Ukraine has woken many of us to how quickly things can change from stability to absolute horror. I know that our Soroptimist sisters, especially in Poland but also other countries too are supporting the millions of refugees, mostly women and children