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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

Club launches Toilet Twinning Project on International Women’s Day

Club launches Toilet Twinning Project on International Women’s Day

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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

Resurrected Bites – Better in Bellies than Bins

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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

Wetherby Mayor and Club President plant Memorial Tree for past members

Wetherby Mayor and Club President plant Memorial Tree for past members

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Soroptimists Honour Past Members The rain didn’t deter President Val Hills  and the Mayor of Wetherby, Cllr Neil O’Bryne from planting  a memorial tree by the River Wharfe in Wetherby on the 8th February. The tree, a silver birch, was planted in memory of past members. It  follows the planting of trees in Ripon and Harrogate to celebrate over 100 years of Soroptimist International. President Val and 12 members of the club, including three from Wetherby braved the weather and mud. The Mayor  spoke of the invaluable work done for women and girls by Soroptimists in the district. President Val thanked the Mayor for his kind words and also praised Colin Trayford and Gerald Williams from Leeds City Council Parks and Countryside Department who did the heavy work. President Val said “It is a privilege to be joined by the Mayor today in the planting

President’s Blog -November

President’s Blog -November

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President’s Report –  November 2021 Just ‘B’ Fashion Show November certainly was a busy month. I put on the glad rags provided for me by Saint Michael’s Charity shop and waltzed down the catwalk in our fantastic Fashion Show on the 6th of November.  A very big Congratulations to Immediate Past President Sandra. An amazing £7200 raised for Just ‘B’.  A great team effort with many members actively involved on the day. Excellent leadership and organisational skills from Sandra.  It was a case of third time lucky.  But was worth the wait. And over £11,000 raised for Just ‘B’ in the last 18 month.  A great example of partnership working and helping save the planet. The ‘fast fashion’ industry produces more CO2 than shipping and aviation combined according to and Oxfam report. Food for thought. Meeting up with prospective members Penny has done a fabulous

Resurrected Bites happy to receive surplus Chocolate Oranges

Resurrected Bites happy to receive surplus Chocolate Oranges

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What to do with 18 chocolate oranges? Club member Maureen kindly donated these surplus to requirement oranges after our Fund Raising event  Wetherby Christmas Market.  With  local Food Banks unable to accept them as not boxed President Val contacted Resurrected Bites.  Resurrected Bites mission is to stop good food going to waste. They aim to fill bellies not bins, and to support individuals and families at the same time. So, delighted to accept the chocolate oranges. Food Banks We didn’t forget the Food banks. Busier than ever. We  raised over £500 to support them.  A great team effort at the Wetherby Christmas Market; Member Janet Hutton making delicious Christmas Cakes and Puddings, Sandra Frier selling fabulous Handbags and money in lieu of Christmas cards. We donated £300 to Harrogate and Knaresborough #Trussell Trust Food Bank. The money helped provide 30 Christmas Hampers for vulnerable families. £100 donated