Orange the World The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women is 25th November and marks the start of 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence, an international campaign initiated in 1991 to challenge violence against women and girls. The campaign has a theme of Orange the World and SI Heswall members wore orange at a recent meeting to mark this. Orange was chosen as the symbol of a brighter future free from violence against women and girls.      

    October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This year members of SI Heswall marked this in two ways. Members wore pink at a recent meeting to promote the awareness of breast cancer. They also collected items for the Foodbank with a pink theme which were delivered together with information on breast cancer for wider distribution. https://breastcancernow.org  

One fine, August afternoon Heswall Soroptimists held a Charity Garden Party at Willaston Grange – by kind permission of Mark and Anita Mitchell. Presidents Iris and Sandra welcomed guests to the beautiful garden for an afternoon of tea and home-made cakes accompanied by music from “The Timeline Duo”. The event was held to raise funds and awareness of the Wirral Fund for Children with Special Needs which is one of the Presidents’ chosen charities for this year. Since 1986 this charity has been supporting children who need specialist equipment by its fundraising activities.    

  SI Heswall members were at the Soroptimists’ stand at the Llangollen Eisteddfod meeting both members of the public and competitors. It was a successful event, celebrating its 75th anniversary this year.  The choir of E.Mikeladze central music school, Georgia, was sponsored by Soroptimists and came third in the Open Choirs class.

Wirral Science In the Sunshine Hosted by Heswall Primary School the ‘Wirral Science In the Sunshine’ event attracted over 60 scientific and eco organisations. SI Heswall members were part of this and followed the theme of Climate in Chaos. Their display featured both the work of Soroptimists and the club’s support for Bees for Development – ‘Bees can help’.  

  It has been a very busy month for Yvonne Ross, a member of SI Heswall & District. Earlier this month Yvonne was nominated for Cheshire Woman of the Year, held at Chester Race Course. She has also attended  a Garden Party at Buckingham Palace  to represent COMPASS counselling service which she has long been part of.  Yvonne was accompanied by a colleague from COMPASS to this special event.    

  Members of SI Heswall celebrated the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee with a special garden party organised by Presidents Iris and Sandra. The occasion was marked with bubbly, a splendid cake and good company.

  Soroptimists across Cheshire, North Wales and Wirral region held a raffle in aid of charities providing mental health support in the region. Three charities were chosen to receive a donation. Wirral Mind, established in 1967 to help people in the local community achieve better mental health. Adferiad Recovery, formed from four charities in Wales which have joined together to provide support for vulnerable people in Wales and their families and carers. Flynn’s Port in the Storm in Ellesmere Port – a mental health crisis café. President Iris of SI Heswall received a cheque from Regional President Yvonne and delivered it to Wirral Mind.      

SI Heswall & District recently held the club’s AGM and change of insignia. Retiring presidents Cynthia Duggan and Jenny Wilson  welcomed new presidents Iris Batman and Sandra Morris. For the forthcoming year Iris and Sandra have chosen two charities which the club will support.     The Wirral Fund for Children with Special Needs (WFCSN) works locally to improve the daily lives of local children.     Bees for Development, a UK charity which helps some of the world’s poorest people become self sufficient through beekeeping.

    At this year’s Charity Dinner members welcomed guests from the three charities which the Club has supported during the past year. Members have held fundraising events in aid of Health Help International hhi.org.uk Parkinson’s www.parkinsons.org.uk and Tomorrow’s Women Wirral www.tomorrowswomen.org.uk Molly and Chrissy from Tomorrow’s Women Wirral gave a talk and presentation on TYW – Tomorrow’s Young Women – a project offering support and guidance to young women aged 14 – 17.