Angela Howe, Stella Barnes, and Jane Barnes joined with pupils from the Byron Primary Rights Respecting Steering Group on 19 July. The occasion was a celebration of Medway being given the status of becoming a Toilet Twinned Town.
In January, Hayley Heyes, spoke about a Social Change project Byron School had recently started to support the families who were experiencing challenges coping with the cost-of-living crisis.
Medway and Maidstone Soroptimists were not put off by the Yellow Weather warnings on 15 July the SIGBI Day of Action.
Three members from SI Medway and Maidstone with some of the children from Byron Primary School in Gillingham took part in a Coin Challenge in aid of Mary’s Meals on 28 June. The children in each class were asked to collect small change in their Mary’s Meals Money box/ Feeding Mugs. Members also donated their small change and the large white double bed sheet the image was drawn on. This related to the work the Byron children are focusing on this term relating to Article 28 of the UN Rights of the Child about: – ‘Each child should have the right to an education no matter what, regardless of race, gender or disability or whether they are in detention or a refugee.’ During the afternoon each class sent out 3 or 4 representatives with their mug of coins to start filling in the world map
The Soroptimists and a Parent Representative ran the UNICEF Book Sale at the School Fayre on 4 July.
Sue retired seven years ago from her job as a specialist nurse working with first time teenage parents in Medway. On 3 June, Sue was awarded a Certificate of Continued Service by Holding On Letting Go (HOLG). This was to recognise Sue’s incredible 15 years of service as a volunteer to children and families they support. Sue is one of their longest-serving volunteers. About 16 years ago, HOLG was the club president’s charity, and they came in to give a talk. HOLG is a Kent-based charity that helps children to cope with the death of someone close to them. As a children’s nurse, Sue thought the work that they did was really important, so she wanted to get involved as a volunteer. After receiving on-going training, Sue has supported children at schools on a one-to-one basis over a six-week period, helped out at the neonatal death
Soroptimists donated their high-quality unwanted items and Annette Davies took 6 bags of women’s clothing along to the Community Sharewear office at Fort Luton on 15 May.
Molly Oldham joined SI Maidstone as a club transfer in September 2005, following a move from Leeds to Maidstone.
Members welcomed Regional President Lynne to our AGM Dinner held at the Holiday Inn Rochester on 13 April.
