Skip links

The tent in the garden
Sleep Out for Homelessness

Sleep Out for Homelessness

in Tags
SLEEP OUT FOR HOMELESSNESS – EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE A HOME Many young people are now homeless. Everyone should have a home. Club member Heather Shipman braved the freezing weather to experience what it is like to be homeless. A tent in her back garden was her only shelter of the night of what was the coldest night of the year so far.  Heather is raising awareness and funds to support the two charities, Carecent and SASH . Carecent is a Breakfast Centre in York for homeless, unemployed and socially excluded people.  SASH's aim is to prevent youth homelessness in North and East Yorkshire. Heather sleeping in the tent Heather thanked all her Soroptimist friends on behalf of herself  and the organisers  who are aware of all the support that has come from Soroptimists.  They have asked that Heather pass on their special thanks to everyone for
Burns Night Fundraiser
Zoom Burns Night raises £240 for Just ‘B’

Zoom Burns Night raises £240 for Just ‘B’

in Tags

January is a dreary month. Raising money for charity when we have to social distance can be a challenge. But this did not deter President Sandra and club members. We had  fun and laughter as we celebrated the life of Robbie Burns and raised £240 for Just ‘B’. Guest Kevin Millar addressed the Haggis in true Scottish style. Our Burns supper was a special treat with the fantastic support of the French Chef at Home’s takeaway. So we tucked into our Haggis, Neeps and Tatties as well as a super shortbread pud. After supper, Soroptomister Jonathan, a regular band member with the Dark Horse Ceilidh Band , played the accordion as we sang (on mute of course) My Love is Like a Red Red Rose. Lesley entertained us as she spoke about the life of Robbie –  and discovered he’d popped down to Yorkshire!! Club members

Evil Covid Fairy
Club Alternative Christmas Zoom Party and Pantomime – Oh yes it is!

Club Alternative Christmas Zoom Party and Pantomime – Oh yes it is!

in Tags

Every Christmas we have a fun Christmas Party with good food and entertainment.  Its’ a grand social event attended by most of our members. This year President Sandra and Chief Elf Liz wondered what we could do, #covid19 loves a party!  Zoom is now the way we meet.  How do we make it happen? Memories of previous parties with games, recitals and performances didn’t seem possible. But, nothing is impossible.  What about a pantomime asked President Sandra? So our ertwhile writer Sue looked through our archives and found Snow White and the Seven Soroptimists. Chief Elf Liz chatted up her neighbour and musician friend Tom. Club members ‘volunteered’ for roles in the panto or to talk about their most memorable Christmas. Our techy member  and Zoom admin Val was asked how it could work. And so began the planning of our 2020 Christmas Party. Pantomime

Saint Michael's Hospice Care for Christmas
Supporting Saint Michaels and ‘Just B’ Christmas Appeal – Care for Christmas

Supporting Saint Michaels and ‘Just B’ Christmas Appeal – Care for Christmas

in Tags

This year, the year of the Covid Pandemic, shops around the UK have closed their doors for much of the year. The impact on the charity shops, one of the main sources of income for many charities, has been significant. Not just on over the counter sales but also with regard to their volunteer workforce –  many of whom are over seventy. ‘Just B’ at Saint Michael’s Hospice is our President Sandra charity for 2020/21 So how do we help? ‘Care for Christmas’ is the our local hospice Saint Michael’s campaign to help raise funds.. Every £1 you raise will help people living with terminal illness and bereavement, this Christmas and beyond. You can donate directly to Saint Michael’s at  this Just Giving page Saint Michael’s Hospice Care for Christmas

Maureen at the end of the Virtual North Run
Virtual Great North Run – Maureen runs for Saint Michael’s Hospice and Just B

Virtual Great North Run – Maureen runs for Saint Michael’s Hospice and Just B

in Tags

The cancellation of the Great North Run didn’t stop Club Member Maureen from running. Mapping a route through the streets of Harrogate she took part in the Virtual Great North Run on the 13th September. Maureen completed the 13.1 miles in record time. Club members waited on the Stray to greet her. All the money raised will go to Club President Sandra Frier’s chosen charity. Saint Michael’s Hospice and Just ‘B’ provide support for those who have life limiting conditions and their loved ones. Just ‘B’ provide an excellent bereavement service. Maureen has completed a number of Great North runs over the years. This is her first virtual one. Perfect weather conditions coupled with the quiet early morning traffic made sure there was no delays. She completed the Half Marathon in 2 hrs and 59 minutes. We are delighted to announce that Maureen has so far

Iris Newbould with SIGB President Sue Williams
Up in the skies and down to earth – Club members attend Yorkshire Conference

Up in the skies and down to earth – Club members attend Yorkshire Conference

in Tags

Club members spent a fantastic day at the Yorkshire Air Museum when we attended the  Soroptimist International of Yorkshire Conference on 29th June. The theme of conference was, ‘From Behind the Scenes to the Front Line’. We were privileged to hear from Iris Newbould, now 94 yrs old and full if vim, and her life as young Land Girl. WW2 like WW1 opened up job opportunities for women. Corporal Katherine Height gave us an insight into what’s life like now for a woman serving in today’s RAF.   The 29th June is Armed Forces Day. and at 12.10 a Hurricane provided a Fly Past tipping it’s wings on the 3rd Approach. So emotional. It reminded us of all the sacrifices Iris’s generation made ‘just doing our job’ to give us a future. Excellent representation from SI Harrogate & District  with 14 members attending and nearly all

Club is delighted to win the Yorkshire Women Volunteer Award

Club is delighted to win the Yorkshire Women Volunteer Award

in Tags

The Club is delighted to win the Yorkshire Women Volunteer Award for its community service project to combat loneliness. For the last 17 yrs.  we have worked with Contact the Elderly.  The Club Service Project, led by Elsie Johnston in Harrogate  and Wetherby and Tricia Chapman in Ripon, involves Club members and other volunteers hosting tea parties once a month usually in their own home. Other members give lifts to pick up the  elderly lonely people referred to us by Contact the Elderly to and from tea parties. The guests tell us how much they look forward to their afternoon treat and often leave with goody bag for a little something extra later.   (Corporate Category) We were delighted to meet up with all the individuals and groups who are involved in making a difference to the lives of others at the Award Ceremony held

Club Celebrates reaching it’s target to raise £3000 for Meru Women’s Garden Project

Club Celebrates reaching it’s target to raise £3000 for Meru Women’s Garden Project

in Tags

Club members Celebrated  reaching our  target and more by raising £3500 for the Meru Women’s Garden Project in Kenya. This is equivalent to providing the resources to establishing twelve gardens.We were delighted to welcome three  prospective members and enjoyed an excellent  supper meeting at the White Hart Hotel on 6th February. The Club’s three year project to support our Federation project included raising funds and awareness in many different ways to support women and their families in Meru Kenya .The ladies in Meru have developed sustainable market gardens producing food for their own families and extra produce to raise family income. The project has also introduced education programmes for girls and boys with the aim of stopping Female Genital Mutilation (FGM), still widely practiced in this part of Kenya though illegal. The picture shows Soroptimist Penny Broadley, Joint President Hilary Waddington, Soroptimist Val Hills and

Shwops Evening Thursday 28th February 7-9.30pm Starbeck Community Library

Shwops Evening Thursday 28th February 7-9.30pm Starbeck Community Library

in Tags

Are you looking to reorganise your wardrobe – have you thought about recycling clothes by swapping them? Harrogate and District Soroptimist are organising a Clothes Swap/Shwop at the Starbeck Community Library, 68A High Street, Harrogate HG2 7LW Tickets cost £8 per person and available on the door or in advance by emailing sihandd@hotmail.co.uk before February 6thplease. All monies raised will go to the Grove Academy Japanese Garden project. Wine and soft drinks will be available , a prize raffle and free nibbles. So how do you Shwop Clothes? Bring up to 5 items of clothing in new or good condition. Plus any accessories you may wish to SHWOP i.e. jewellery, handbags, scarves and shoes. Full details of the Shwop procedure will be explained on arrival. Shwop Poster

Burns Nights Supper – 25 January 2019 at Wetherby Golf Club raises £300 for charity

Burns Nights Supper – 25 January 2019 at Wetherby Golf Club raises £300 for charity

in

Burns Night Supper Joint President Elsie Johnston had pleasure in hosting a supper in recognition of Robbie Burns, on his birthday Friday 25thJanuary.  This was held at Wetherby Golf Club and the evening was a great success with members, family and friends in attendance including Soroptimist International of Yorkshire President Pat Kilbane and members from Garforth Elmet Club. The Presidents were piped in by Dianna Walsh and following the Selkirk Grace by Nicola Harding the haggis, carried by Chef Richard Goodbarn, was piped in and Sue Williams gave the address to the Haggis and the Toast. This was followed by a delicious supper and the programme continued with readings, poems and toasts to the Lassies and to the Laddies. It was a distinctly feminine entertainment with a lady piper. and all but the Toast to the Lassies, read by Club members. There was plenty of