Another ‘in person’ meeting, this time our regular monthly get together to discuss business and plan our projects.  In aid of the UN International Literacy Day we had read the book ‘Sold’ by journalist and author Patricia McCormick.  She had interviewed survivors of trafficking, young girls in Nepal, who had been sold into Prostitution in India and also those involved in rescuing these young girls who had believed they were to become maids in rich women’s homes. The story that resulted from her research is fiction but very much based on the experiences of those who had been trafficked.  it is believed that 12,000 young women from Nepal are sold into prostitution in India every year. Written in free verse, which enabled such a harrowing story to be told in an effective way, this book really brought home the appalling situation that so many people across

What a difference 18 months makes with the Covid 19 pandemic and lockdowns.  Finally, 9 club members met up on 31st August 2021 for afternoon tea – what better way to celebrate being ‘free’ again. It was just so good to sit and chat in a lovely garden – thank you Jan for hosting the tea – lovely home grown cucumbers for the sandwiches!  For those who were not driving there was Pimms although the weather was not all that sunny, but we can all pretend. We hope to start face to face meetings soon, but may need to find a new meeting venue, so that brings a new challenge for us. But, just being together in person discussing anything and everything was a great reward.  

Following our successful online Gin and Tonic tasting session prior to Christmas we have been thinking about other topics for social meetings.  Of course, we could have decided to do wine tasting but most of us probably do rather a lot of that anyway! Instead we decided on ‘Book It’ This time it was an evening sharing books we have read recently; why we liked them; why we didn’t like them and so on. We named it Book It!  Why not! Well, we certainly covered different genres of writings and obviously authors.  We found that some of us had similar likes and others very different ones.  Surely, that is what it was all about. Some of us were reading books in the latest Top 10; some old favourites; some biographies; some about health and mental health; some new authors recommended by others.  So, it was

Both Ipswich Soroptimists and Ipswich Inner Wheel normally meet for their separate meetings at the Ipswich & Suffolk Club in the evening of the 2nd Wednesday of each month.  In February 2020 (the last time our Club met face to face) we decided to hold a joint meeting, including supper and both organisations had booked interesting speakers. The Gender Equality Quilt was our contribution, with a presentation by Women’s Voices representatives.  This quilt started at the Festival back in October 2018 with many of the attendees producing a tile.  All the embroidered tiles have been lovingly compiled into a major piece that is very expressive about the status of women.  It will be going into The Hold later this year but hopefully will be regularly shown at key events for women. The Inner Wheel speaker was the new CEO of Ipswich Ipswich Housing Action Group

Ipswich Soroptimists joined in the excellent event organised by Women’s Voices and Volunteering Matters on International Women’s Day, 8th March 2020.  With an eclectic mix of poetry, a Footsteps play, singing and dancing, plus Open Mike sessions from ourselves, Extreme Revolution and other amazing organisations we held a raffle of a beautiful quilt made by friends to raise funds for Lighthouse Women’s Aid.  The money will go towards furnishings for their new Therapeutic Room. The winning ticket number was ‘Yellow ticket 551’ which was drawn by a speaker at our Club meeting on 11th March. We hope the winner enjoys using it.

Our Quiz  in April 2020 had to be cancelled due to the Coronavirus pandemic.  We still plan to hold a quiz at Seckford Golf Club with quizmaster Simon Jay but it will have to wait until later this year or 2022 once it is safe to do so.  We’re raising funds for 2 different but connected causes – Lighthouse Women’s Aid, who give such wonderful support to women who have experienced domestic abuse and our own Education Bursary Fund which assists vulnerable women who need to acquire qualifications to enable them to join the world of work and become independent. There will be a meal before the quiz, a raffle with great prizes, an auction of a 3 night stay near Southwold for up to 4 people and Simon Jay, who is renowned for his sense of humour.. WE WILL PUBLICISE THE NEW DATE AS

Members already make syringe driver bags for Ipswich Hospital and we are very grateful for the donation of materials to make them from people who support us. Tracy Hitching, the Palliative and End of Life Coordinator, asked whether we could possibly also make purple bags in a similar design; not for patients this time but for the Butterfly Volunteers. How could we say no! These volunteers provide company and companionship to hospital patients in the last days of their lives. They also reassure and support patient’s loved ones (if they have any). They also work closely with the Palliative Care and Chaplaincy teams. The purple bags will hold notebooks, pens, tissues and whatever else the volunteer thinks would be useful. By wearing the bags the volunteers will stand out easily for both patients, visitors and staff to recognise easily. We have made 15, with varying