The Sunflower Challenge invited members to plant at least one sunflower seed by World Bee Day on 20th May. The pollen and nectar are readily accessible to bees. and bees are vital to both pollinate the food we need to survive and pollinate many of the trees and flowers that provide habitats for wildlife.  

This is a 12 month challenge with the aim of reducing our collective carbon footprint. Members were asked to calculate their carbon footprint and then implement one big change and two or three small changes. Suggestions for big changes included becoming vegetarian, avoiding cruises and flights or using the TreeApp to plant a (free) tree every day. Suggestions for small changes included switching to glass milk bottles, using public transport rather than a car, buying local produce, using rechargeable batteries, covering pans when cooking on the hob, foraging for food. Prizes will be awarded in April 2022 for the members who persuade the most people to join the challenge and for the most innovative idea for tackling climate change!

At a Zoom social meeting Club member Ali showed members and friends how to make Bara Brith. Everyone thoroughly enjoyed the evening and there was plenty of time to chat while the Bara Brith cooked. Comments included Fabulous evening Funny and messy A great fun night – thanks Ali for arranging it Please with my first effort – enjoyed licking my fingers, the bowl, the spoon ….. Ali said “Thanks to everyone for joining the (very late) St David’s Day Bake Along. It was lovely to share my Welsh recipe that I’ve adapted from my Mam’s cook book.. I hope your Bara Brith tastes as good as they looked.”

March was Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month and the speakers at our Club meeting were Siobhan Ferguson and Sylvia Pearl from the Dianne Oxberry Trust. Siobhan and Sylvia contributed the following for our newsletter.- When the much-loved broadcaster Dianne Oxberry died in January 2019, people from across the North West showed an incredible outpouring of love and grief. Overwhelmed by the public response, Dianne’s husband Ian decided to join forces with some of her closest friends and harness the amazing positivity that surfaced following her death to form the Dianne Oxberry Trust – a charity which aims to raise awareness of the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer with local women. In order to improve outcomes for women, it’s vital that more people – especially those in the most at risk categories – know how to spot the symptoms and when to see their doctor. Speed

International Women’s Day was marked around the world on 8th March with events celebrating the achievements of women and calling for greater equality.  The day has been recognised by the United Nations since 1975 although, in some European countries, it was first marked in 1911. The theme for this year was ‘Choose to Challenge’ – members were asked to take photos of themselves with a raised hand to show their commitment  to creating a more inclusive world. This fits well with the Soroptimist mission to transform the lives of women and girls through education. empowerment and enabling opportunities.  The Club was pleased to be able, thanks to specific donations from three members, to donate £120 to Manchester Action on Street Health.

We have had a request from Eliazar Rose at New Hope for knitted woolly beanie hats for the children. We all assume that the temperature in India is always high but apparently from late November to February they have very cold winds, which can cause the children to have chilblains on their ears. This is especially so for the Hill Tribes – the poorest of the poor – who are cared for by New Hope. Maureen Heywood New Hope is a charity based in Orissa, India, that the Club has supported for many years. Initially we sent clean, used tights which were used for leprosy patients to secure dressings. When leprosy became less prevalent we continued to support the charity by funding a hospice for HIV/AIDS children and cataract operations for the elderly. We have sponsored a schoolgirl and continue to send used greetings cards

Members were joined by friends and family to start their Christmas shopping (on Zoom of course) with Antonia’s Handbags. Hats, scarves, purses and umbrellas were available too – and over £150 was raised for our charities

Members donated 30 pairs of pyjamas to Emmeline’s Pantry  – a foodbank with a difference. They will be given at Christmas to some of the women who get support, food and other help from there .

The 16 days between 25th November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and 10th December, Human Rights Day, are known as the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Based Violence – a UNESCO campaign. Violence against women and girls is one of the most widespread, persistent and devastating human rights violations in our world today and is a threat to millions of girls regardless of age, background or level of education, The colour orange symbolises a brighter future, free of violence and is, therefore, used as the colour of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. We started the 16 days with a virtual social meeting and confirmed donations to be made to four of our charities – Manchester Women’s Aid, Manchester Action on Street Health, Women MATTA and Act4Africa.