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Chief Inspector Kelly Gardner – Deputy Commander for Milton Keynes Local Policing Area
Celebrating Invisible Women of MK – March

Celebrating Invisible Women of MK – March

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Chief Inspector Kelly Gardner – Deputy Commander for Milton Keynes Local Policing Area Kelly grew up in Milton Keynes and after leaving school trained to become a Registered Paediatric Nurse.  She practiced for 11 years and went on to become a Specialised Paediatric Community Nurse for a Children’s Hospice. Kelly joined Thames Valley Police as a response officer at Milton Keynes in 2004, since then she has performed a variety of roles across the force.   She returned to Milton Keynes in September 2019 as the Deputy LPA Commander. She is also mum to Luke (23), who has just become a primary school teacher and her husband is an Inspector with Bedfordshire Police.  Over the past 16 years, Kelly has gained valuable experience working in:  Response, Partnership and Performance, CID, Protecting Vulnerable People – ViSOR and worked on a number of Headquarter change projects.  Along the way, Kelly has become a Family Liaison Officer

Angie Novel 2021 IWD event
#ChoosetoChallenge on IWD 2021

#ChoosetoChallenge on IWD 2021

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March celebrates International Women’s Day and this year our first Chair of Soroptimist International Milton Keynes Branch, Angie Novell and CEO of MK Snap (Milton Keynes Special Needs Achievement Project) wants us to #ChoosetoChallenge where disabled women are absent from discussions or recognition or side-lined by the language we hear. On #IWD2021 I ask you to remember the contributions & challenges faced by all women; but in particular those women that live with a disability. The unique lived experiences of disabled women are often lost in the discussions we hear, disregarded in the language we use & missing from platforms for recognition. As one disabled friend said to me ‘You try ‘standing up for women’ when you are sitting in a wheelchair!’  We must challenge perceptions. As a disabled woman; I was told at a checkout that I didn’t ‘look deaf’ leading me to explain that some

Sewing NHS Hearts for Hope for our ICU at MKU Hospital

Sewing NHS Hearts for Hope for our ICU at MKU Hospital

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      Milton Keynes Soroptimist Club is acting as the coordinator for the NHS Hearts for Hope activity which is a national group set up to enable stitchers to come together in a supportive way in order to make textile hearts to give to NHS staff who work in Intensive Care Unit (ICU) wards.    It includes all staff from the cleaners and porters to the doctors, consultants, nurses and everybody in between. These Hearts are intended to say thank you, share that we are thinking of them and value their efforts. You can check out the purpose and lots of lovely pictures of hearts on their Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/750652902555175/?ref=share   “NHS Hearts for Hope.” We have established a link and contact person with Milton Keynes University Hospital who will take delivery of the hearts – there are over 100 staff working ICU, so we are looking for

Works For Us – development programme to help women back into work

Works For Us – development programme to help women back into work

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MK Council collaborates with local charity to support women back into work MK Council has partnered with our linked charity, Works For Us, a local charity supporting women into work whose jobs have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. MKC is investing over £26,000 in the Women and Work development programme to help women who have recently lost their job, are at risk of redundancy or are looking to get back into work after a career break. The courses are designed to help participants find roles that suit them, with support available on CV preparation, job applications and interviews.  Works For Us also provides mobile tablets and internet packages for those with limited access to devices and the web. Those interested in applying should visit www.worksforus.org.uk. The Works For Us programme is just one of the projects in the Council’s £2.25m economic recovery plan, with over

Celebrating Invisible MK Women – February

Celebrating Invisible MK Women – February

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Lois Hembedoon Adura Esq, Lawyer Personal testimony of a victim of the paradox of male child syndrome in Africa Mrs Lois Hembadoon Adura Esq, a lawyer by profession. A wife, a mother of two young children, a girl (13) and a boy (6). An advocate for girl child education. A voice for the voiceless vulnerable widows, barren women and elderly women in need. I am the founder of “Save by Grace” Charitable Foundation. I reside in Milton Keynes, UK with my lovely husband Dr Peter Adura, a Medical Doctor with our kids. I worked for Marks & Spencer plc for 10 years before I resigned to pursue a career in the legal profession. Brief background: I am the first child out of four girls. My father went to be with the Lord when I was six years old with three siblings and an illiterate mother. Our

Celebrating women
MK Womens Voices Partnership celebrating International Day of Women

MK Womens Voices Partnership celebrating International Day of Women

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The newly formed Women’s Partnership of Milton Keynes* is inviting you to join them on Sunday 7 March for a lively mini-festival. They are putting on a stimulating and entertaining afternoon where the entire focus will be on championing women’s voices. Their patchwork of FREE online events is a perfect introduction to the globally celebrated International Women’s Day on March 8th. So let’s tell you more by starting on Sunday 7th March with an array of panel discussions  with local artists and activists, films focused on women, topical talks from NHS workers and other professionals, activities from crafts to yoga, podcasts to accompany you on an energising walk, and spaces to simply relax and enjoy yourself.  There is even a special story for children being read by a local author, perfect for a Sunday afternoon. Join them, and why not bring the name of a

Women of the World Annual Festival
Women of the World Festival 1 March – 21 March 2021

Women of the World Festival 1 March – 21 March 2021

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WOW Women of the World Festival – starting Monday 1 March and running to 21 March. Over three weeks this Festival will explore everything from mental health to sex in lockdown, radical childcare to #SayHerName, and being everything from a grandmother to an artist in a pandemic (or both!). This is a year that’s been so tough on women – in August 2020, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres warned that “Without a concerned response, we risk losing a generation or more of gains towards gender equality”. WOW has responded to this with a programme that is the most global, digital, urgent and optimistic WOW yet. We hope you can join us.  Please support. Click here for more details and how to join.  

International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day

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There will be a number of events taking place to celebrate International Women’s Day and celebrate.   Please see below events happening locally and regionally supported by Soroptimists: Regional Meeting/Conference and Celebration of International Women’s Day Sat 13 March 10am to 1pm on Zoom –  We are excited to be marking this special day in the #Soroptimist calendar with two inspirational women leaders – ACC Kerrin Wilson, QPM – Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police and Shrabani Basu author of the “Spy Princess” who will talk to us about Noor Inayat Khan -the first woman radio operator to be infiltrated into occupied France in 1943. See below to read more about these two wonderful women.  All are welcome, there is no charge, simply click here to book your place on Eventbrite www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/women-leaders-international-womens-day-soroptimist-event-tickets-137607268043 If you have any queries please email silondonchilterns@hotmail.com ACC Kerrin Wilson, QPM – Assistant Chief Constable of Lincolnshire Police – Kerrin is one of

16 Feb Branch meeting – Truly inspiring

16 Feb Branch meeting – Truly inspiring

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We held our branch meeting on 16 February and were very privileged to listen to our speaker, Valerie Williamson, Local British Empire Medal recipient for services to our community and a Paralympian Archer winning silver and bronze medals.  She told us about her life, how she was written off at birth and how with the help of wonderful parents, her can do attitude and her motto, which is “There is no such word as can’t” she has made a life for herself and dedicated herself to helping others.  Truly a wonderful person to listen to. To learn more about Valerie, click here which will take you to a film clip on the Living Archive website. We also were lucky to have Helen Byrne our regional representative along to tell us about the upcoming 13 March virtual event celebrating International Women’s Day, with speakers Assistant Chief