Four club members attended the  A21 ‘Walk for Freedom’ event on Saturday 15th October in support of Anti-Slavery Day. Over 80 people walked in single file, in silence, around the city centre, to raise awareness of human trafficking. Engagement with members of the public plus vibrant visual posters attracted attention and spread the message of awareness that we can be inadvertently part of the human trafficking problem through ignorance. Do you know if your local nail salon uses trafficked workers? Do you use a car wash that uses trafficked workers? Does your favourite local takeaway use trafficked workers?  We have to ask these questions!!

President Dorcas hosted a charity lunch in September at Aigburth Cricket Club , in aid of her charity Amadudu. The lunch was attended by over 80 guests, including Lord Mayor Cllr. Christine Banks, pictured centre. On the right is Kerry Nugent who gave an excellent talk on the work of Amadudu who support families from ethnic minorities when they need refuge. Everyone enjoyed the meal and a  generous raffle added to the funds raised. Pictured are some of the guests who really enjoyed the afternoon!

Immediate Past President Dorothy recently presented a cheque for £1000 for her nominated charity, Sickle Cell Anaemia. The money was raised during Dorothy’s presidential year through coffee mornings, collection in Tesco’s and donations. Pictured is IPP Dorothy, right, handing over the money at a club meeting in September. The support group help families with children diagnosed with sickle cell anaemia to receive early intervention to minimise the effects, to fund research and to help adults who often face prejudice and misunderstaning in the workplace. The support group were absolutely delighted to accept a generous donation from the club and we wish them all the best with their much needed work!

A very successful coffee morning at the Bridge Chapel, Allerton in June raised over £500 for the presidents charity, Amadudu women’s refuge. Featured was the very popular bread stall.A raffle, bric-a-brac, pre-loved bags, cake stall and the ever popular bottle tombola stall all helped to raise a magnificent amount! Well done and a big thanks to all who donated and supported the event!  

Sixteen club members accepted Regional President Margaret’s challenge to ‘Walk a Memorable Mile’, whilst raising awareness of our work as Soroptimists. We walked from the Everyman Theatre to the Playhouse Theatre, where our first President, Maud Carpenter was manager for many years. We carried pictures of famous Liverpool women who had also ‘walked a mile’ for others and whose work is close to the heart of Soroptimists. We later enjoyed a cup of coffee together and it turned out to be an enjoyable chance to socialise together too!

Thanks to Tesco’s on Allerton Road and club member Ann Mercer, we were invited to fundraise for our Presidents charity, Amadudu, a refuge particularly for women from black and ethnic communities. Customers generously gave over £200 in a few hours. We also used the occasion to advertise our work as Soroptimists and generated a lot of interest!

Reach Out! This was the theme of Regional President Margaret’s conference this year in Southport. Attended by over a hundred and thirty members from clubs across South Lancashire, North West England and the Isle of Man, delegates were uplifted by talks which ranged on a variety of topics.Hannah Flint (Stop the Traffik) encouraged Soroptimists to continue educating the public about modern day slavery. Patricia Gatherum, Federation Ambassador for the Meru Garden Project, spoke entertainingly about her recent visit to the project in Kenya and the difference it is making to the lives of women there.Concluding the afternoon’s programme, Sue Williams (Federation President Elect) spoke about her visit to Nepal, and the work being carried out by the members of SI Kathmandu. In addition, she flagged up her ongoing interest in mental health support, and the importance of looking after ourselves as well as others. The afternoon finished

Present Dorcas Akeju OBE was given a warm welcome by fifty members and guests at her installation as the 92nd club president in April. Pictured is the immediate Past President, Dorothy Zack-Williams who installed Dorcas as president. We wish Dorcas a very happy and successful year! Many thanks and best wishes to Dorothy for her wonderful year too.

In February, SI Liverpool celebrated its 91st anniversary of being chartered as a club. The lunch was held at Woolton Golf Club and over 70 guests attended, including Lord Mayor Malcolm Kennedy and his wife, Regional President Margaret Davies and presidents and guests of our daughter clubs. The afternoon celebrations were rounded off by excellent singing from Sarah Chidlow.