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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
Charity Shop Window Competition – The Results

Charity Shop Window Competition – The Results

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Harrogate and District Soroptimist were delighted to welcome the award winners of the annual Charity Shop Christmas Window Competition to their meeting at the Crown Hotel on the 7th December.  The Deputy Mayor of Harrogate Borough, Cllr. Robert Windass  and Club President Val Hills, presented the Award Certificates and the Soroptimist Cup to the overall winner. The judging took place in three zones.  Harrogate Town; Ripon with Boroughbridge and Knaresborough with Starbeck and Bilton. This year the judges were joined by Cllr Mark Flood, the deputy Mayor of Knaresborough  and Linda Birkinshaw a local artist from Ripon. This year’s winner of the Soroptimist Cup is Shelter, Harrogate. Zone Winners –  Harrogate Town Gold Award: ​​Shelter, Commercial Street Silver Award: ​​Martin House Hospice Shop, Commercial Street Highly Commended. ​Saint Michael’s Hospice Shop, Cold Bath Road, Cancer Research UK, Oxford Street and Yorkshire Cancer Research, Oxford Street

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

Maureen wearing her finisher t-shirt after competing the great north run
The Great North Run – Racing Against Hunger – Maureen’s raises £800 for District Food Bank

The Great North Run – Racing Against Hunger – Maureen’s raises £800 for District Food Bank

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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 is now a Toilet Twinned District

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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

Summer Evening Music Concert in aid of Dementia Forward

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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

Soroptimists Stride Out to support Trussell Trust #RaceAgainstHunger

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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