President’s Blog – September
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
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
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
The Great North Run – Racing Against Hunger – Maureen’s raises £800 for District Food Bank
Club member Maureen Ingleton raced with 60000 runners and walkers in this years Great North Run Maureen ‘Raced Against Hunger” to raise funds for President Val’s charities. The Trussell Trust Harrogate and District Food Bank supports an increasing number of families as food and energy prices increase. This was Maureen’s 8th Great North Run. She’s already raised thousands of pounds for Club Presidents’ and Soroptimist Charities. Maureen raised over £800 including gift aid in cash and through Just Giving Follow the links below if you want to donate to Maureen fantastic achivement. Maureen wearing her medal and finisher t-shirt #GreatNorthRun, #FoodBanks @HarrogateFoodbank Visit the Club’s Just Giving page or use the QR code below
We Did It – Harrogate is now a Toilet Twinned District
We did it! Harrogate and District is now a Toilet Twinned DistrictToilet Twinned District. The Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate Borough, Cllr Trevor and Mrs Jan Chapman, received the framed certificate from Club President Val Hills and project leader Sue Williams in the Valley Gardens, #valleygardens #harrogate. Members of the Club Project team joined in the celebrations that took place in front of a Japanese Acer donated by the Club’s Friendship Link Hirakata Chuo in Japan.
Summer Evening Music Concert in aid of Dementia Forward
Club members invite you to join them on the 25 June at the Wesley Church, Harrogate for a wonderful summer evening of music. Outstanding musicians from Queen Mary’s School, directed by Sarah Holloway Lloyd, will perform the works of Bach and Beethoven. The event will raise funds for Dementia Forward. Purchase tickets on line at tiny.cc/soroptimistconcert or email sihandd@hotmail.co.uk
Soroptimists Stride Out to support Trussell Trust #RaceAgainstHunger
The first two United Nation’s Sustainable Development Goals are to; 1, Stop Poverty, 2, Zero Hunger. In the UK families are going hungry because they cannot afford food. The Trussell Trust campaigns to stop the need for food banks. It also works to ensure that families don’t go hungry by seeding Food Banks like Harrogate. It has seen the demand increase from 200,000 food parcels ten years ago to over 2 million last year. All of us are facing higher cost of living due to energy and food price increases but if you are already struggling to make end meet more people may have to resort to visiting a Food Bank. The Club registered the Soroptimist Striders as a team who would join others throughout the UK on the 2nd April to RaceAgainstHunger by completing a 5K run/walk The money is raised by individual and
Club launches Toilet Twinning Project on International Women’s Day
SI Harrogate and District celebrated International Women’s Day by launching their Toilet Twinning Project – aiming to become the first District in the country to become twinned. President Val Hills and members welcomed the Chairman of North Yorkshire County Council, Cllr Stuart Martin and his wife April. Also the Mayor and Mayoress of Harrogate Borough, Cllr Trevor and Jan Chapman and the Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Cllr Mike Holt. We are pleased other local Councillors including the nominated Mayor of Harrogate Borough for 2022-23 Cllr. Victoria Oldham and representatives from local schools, community groups and businesses were present. We were delighted to also welcome Lindsay Green, President of Soroptimist International of Yorkshire Internationaal Women’s Day President Val Hills spoke about why International Women’s Day is so important and The 8th March – a day chosen 110 yrs. ago to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political
Resurrected Bites – Better in Bellies than Bins
Left to Right: President Val, Polli, Michelle and Club member Janet Resurrected Bites Hot from her interview with Katherine Jenkin on the BBC’s Song of Praise Michelle Hayes, founder and CEO of Resurrection Bites gave us a fantastic insight into the organisations incredible work. Making sure surplus food ends up in ‘Bellies not Bins”. Starting up It is shocking that 30% of food in the UK ends up going to waste whist some families are struggling to put food on the table. Michelle talked about the two cafes and community grocery stores the charity has set up in Harrogate and Knaresborough since early 2018. She explained how the Covid pandemic had affected their plans. But, how they had quickly adapted. And, between March 2020 and July 2021 they had delivered food and other essential items to the equivalent of 15808 people in the Harrogate area. Michelle