Once again club members were pleased to have a fundraising event for Bees for Development. The charity has helped some of the world’s poorest people become self-sufficient through beekeeping for over 30 years.  Bees offer a wonderful way to help people in extreme poverty. They do not need to be fed, they find their own food and water. Simple hives can be well made from locally available materials, and bees are freely available from nature. Beekeeping is even possible for people with no land of their own. It offers a feasible livelihood option, with good markets for honey and beeswax.     Bees for Development fights chronic poverty by targeting the most disadvantaged groups: single women, young people, families without land or other assets, and people with disabilities. The charity helps people obtain bees, establish apiaries, and develop profitable beekeeping enterprises.       ‘Bees take

  In May 2023 Cool Heswall made a welcome return to Hill House Gardens. The event was organised by the Joint Rotary Environment Group, Heswall and there were stalls and displays by numerous local organisations who share an interest in the environment and sustainability. The range of stalls showed something for everyone from caring for plants, trees, bees and birds to transport – with a team of cyclists starting and finishing their ride in the gardens. Recycling and up cycling was featured in a display by the Heswall Soroptimists who have been involved in recycling including collecting bottle tops for reinvention as garden furniture and ring pulls to become jewellery.            

SI Heswall has been associated with Hoylake Cottage for a number of years through reading and gardening projects to support the residents. In 2012 a Malus Floribunda was planted in the garden by SI Heswall to mark the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II. More recently volunteers have been pleased to resume gardening and to join the residents and their guests who enjoyed a garden party to celebrate the Coronation of King Charles III .        

Joint Presidents Jill Andrew and Helen Storr have begun their year in office and have chosen a theme of ‘Working together in Fun, Friendship and Service’. During the year, and with club members, they will be supporting two international charities – Bees for Development and Mary’s Meals. A number of speaker meetings are planned with topics varying from ‘The Importance of trees’ to ‘Samaritans helping trafficked women’.           President Jill introduced Iris Batman who is President Elect for 2023-24. Iris has ust completed a year as joint President with Sandra Morris and is looking forward to another presidential year in 204-25 which will be SI Heswall’s 75th year.  

April 22nd marks Earth Day which has been held annually since 1973. Its aim is to focus on the environment and support environmental protection. Events with an environment theme are coordinated globally across nearly 200 countries and this year’s theme is Invest In Our Planet. Members of SI Heswall marked the day with an extra working party at Gayton Park where the club has been involved since the park was selected for a community project. The project began when an orchard and hedgerow were planted last year as part of Wirral Council’s planting program. Regular workshops with the Landscape Manager for Wirral Council and members of the three Rotary clubs in Heswall continue with further scrub clearance, planting and path laying.

International Women’s Day at The Lighthouse Centre Three of our members – Pat, Ronnie and Glenys, were invited to attend the The Lighthouse Centre’s International Women’s Day Event, taking place in the boardroom of Tranmere Rovers Football Club on 8th March 2023. The Lighthouse supports women and children survivors of domestic abuse, and there were about 20 of the Centre’s adult clients there, as well as the staff, and some representatives of Victimcare Merseyside. This is an organisation, set up by Emily Spurrell, the Merseyside Police and Crimes Commissioner,  that advises and assists all victims of crime in our area. The staff were very welcoming and we were provided with tea and Danish pastries to start, there were also other sweet delights on offer, and the Centre’s clients were allowed to take the leftovers home with them. The formal opening of the event was by

  The Lighthouse Centre supports individuals and families who have experienced domestic abuse. It is part of Involve Northwest and runs a drop-in service through the week. In a warm and friendly environment it offers independent advocacy and programmes to support women and children including the Leapfrog Programme. This works with children 5-10 and their mums and supports them to speak freely about their experiences and re-establish their relationship. Members of SI Heswall have recently met staff at the Centre to hear more about their work. Jill, a member of SI Heswall, is seen here delivering a basket of trauma teddies for the Leapfrog Programme.    

                Once again it’s story bag time and members of SI Heswall  have made two story bags for Meadowside School. The books chosen were ‘One snowy night’ and ‘The owl babies’.       A young reader here is enjoying ‘The owl babies’.

This year Birkenhead and Rock Ferry Salvation Army have again joined forces to bring some cheer to people in the local community over the Christmas season. SI Heswall members have collected toys for the Christmas toy appeal and at the speaker meeting recently they had an insight into the extent of the Army’s Christmas projects from two of the staff at Birkenhead. Parcels of food, toys and treats are being packed and will be delivered to 200 families. Birkenhead Salvation Army        

Five of SI Heswall members have recently been presented with long service certificates. In total they have 130 years service and they all have served in numerous roles within Soroptimism.