What a year it has been! So many members have suffered personal and family illnesses, bereavements and other catastrophes. Then, ultimately our lives were all changed by the Coronavirus pandemic. This meant we were all self-distancing and some self-isolating. All meetings and even cups of coffee with another member had to be cancelled. We are all living by remote control as we come to the end of this year. Some of our members will have been financially impacted by the closure of small business and reductions in staff numbers almost everywhere. Yet, we are all still here and planning for another year. Our AGM was conducted virtually. We got there!
Our membership numbers have remained stable. We would like more!
On the positive side, we have had a full programme of speakers, several of them quite inspirational. We have benefitted from our Friendship Links, especially, with SI Harrogate and District, which is the most active of those links. Members of other clubs, such as Darlington, Stockton and Richmond have supported our activities. We had a very relaxing fish and chip supper whilst watching the amazing DVD Hidden Figures.
We have also had an excellent programme of service to local communities and to projects further afield.
- We raised £1000 for the December International President’s Appeal, Women, Water and Leadership.
- We continue to support the cancer patient transport charity Daft as a Brush. Sadly, the bluebells that we planted in Albert Park did not show their heads for our commemorative event.
- We have also supported the Rosie May Foundation’s project to provide pink tuk tuks for safer transport for women in Sri Lanka, plus job opportunities for the women who drive them. Our main fundraising event was a very successful, very well attended, afternoon tea in Hutton Rudby. It was hard work, especially for Geraldine Nuttall who prepared most of the food, but very enjoyable.
- We continue to unite our efforts with others to raise awareness of modern day slavery, and one of our members has become a trainer on the subject.
- We completed some local work with groups of women in Middlesbrough with multiple problems – very enlightening.
- Christmas gift boxes for homeless people in Middlesbrough were put together by some members. We also produced 6 comfort bags of essential toiletries for 3 men and 3 women in Hartlepool who have been victims of trafficking,
- Some of our members helped in the Fair Trade shop in Middlesbrough at Christmas, and we continue to support fair trade activities.
- We finished off the year by collecting Easter eggs for children, families and young people who have suffered trauma who are supported by the Bungalow Project in Middlesbrough.
Very importantly, we finished the year with a healthy financial balance.
Next year is our 75th year and we expect to celebrate it in style in October. We do not know when we will be able to re-convene, but we are planning ahead for a very positive year.