{"id":4681,"date":"2020-05-29T13:47:53","date_gmt":"2020-05-29T12:47:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/?page_id=4681"},"modified":"2024-07-02T17:56:10","modified_gmt":"2024-07-02T16:56:10","slug":"projects-activities","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/projects-activities\/","title":{"rendered":"Projects\/Activities"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/projects-activities\/educateempowerenable\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5298\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5298 size-full\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/11\/EducateEmpowerEnable.jpg\" alt=\"Soroptimists Educate Empower Enable\" width=\"1024\" height=\"113\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/11\/EducateEmpowerEnable.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/11\/EducateEmpowerEnable-300x33.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Soroptimist International Milton Keynes was chartered in 2015 and in 2021 we reached our 6th Charter year anniversary.\u00a0 In that time, we have carried out a number of projects supporting our local community, aiming to Educate, Empower and Enable.<\/p>\n<p>Between 2015 and 2018 we run:<\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_4761\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-4761\" style=\"width: 150px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/come-and-join-our-friendly-group-in-mk\/aneeta-prem-freedom-charity-270915\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-4761\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4761\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2020\/06\/Aneeta-Prem-Freedom-Charity-270915-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Aneeta Prem Freedom Charity\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-4761\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Anita Prem running awareness training workshops<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li>awareness workshops in schools on Domestic Violence<\/li>\n<li>Forced Marriage workshops to raise awareness in schools and colleges<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3>YMCA MK &#8211; sponsoring a room<\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/projects-activities\/ymca-2020-cheque-presentation-0-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5281\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5281 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/11\/YMCA-2020-cheque-presentation-0-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"YMCA 2020 cheque presentation\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>2019\/20 resulted in the achievement of our most significant and biggest project undertaken to-date.\u00a0 SI:MK raised \u00a32,605 to sponsor a room at the new YMCA facility in Central Milton Keynes and made 30 quilts so that each resident could have their own quilt on their journey back into the community.\u00a0 To read more about how we did this <a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/2021\/01\/23\/quilts-presented-to-ymca\/\">click here<\/a><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]How to follow that?\u00a0 We have all year round projects supporting our linked charities (<strong>scroll down this page to see more<\/strong>) and we try to have a major project on the go to.\u00a0 In 2020 we piloted our \u201cEscape the Trap\u201d project in association with MK Act and outlined below:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong><u>\u2018Escape the Trap\u2019 <\/u><\/strong><strong><u>(Teenage Relationship Abuse Programme)<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4682 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2020\/05\/working-with-young-people-150x145.jpg\" alt=\"Escape the teenage relationship abuse programme working with young people\" width=\"150\" height=\"145\" \/><\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\" style=\"height: 90px\" width=\"525\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"586\"><strong><u>\u201cMK has the highest level of domestic abuse occurrences in the Thames Valley area and deals with 17% of all TVP reports.\u201d<\/u><\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>About Soroptimists International:Milton Keynes (SI:MK)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>SI:MK is the local branch of a global organisation advocating for human rights and gender equality for women and girls and represented at the UN.\u00a0 Soroptimists transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities <a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/\"><strong>https:\/\/sigbi.org\/<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Locally we deliver primarily by supporting four respected charities who work directly with vulnerable young women locally:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Milton Keynes Red Cross working with refugee women and children;<\/li>\n<li>Milton Keynes YMCA working with homeless women;<\/li>\n<li>Works for Us supporting women into work; and<\/li>\n<li>MK ACT supporting victims of domestic violence.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p><strong>About MK ACT<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>MK ACT is an independent charity in Milton Keynes, which has provided a range of high-quality support services to families experiencing domestic abuse and sexual violence in Milton Keynes for over 35 years. Safe emergency accommodation for 22 families is also provided.<\/p>\n<p>It is accredited by the Women\u2019s Aid Federation of England <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mkact.com\"><strong>http:\/\/www.mkact.com<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p><strong><u>\u2018Escape the Trap\u2019 <\/u><\/strong><strong><u>(Teenage Relationship Abuse Programme)<\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>MK ACT will deliver the <strong>\u201cEscape the Trap\u201d <\/strong>projects across Milton Keynes through both secondary and primary schools. As a second phase we are planning to apply for further funding to deliver the courses to young people involved in the YOT as well as Pupil Referral Units in Milton Keynes.<\/p>\n<table class=\" aligncenter\">\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td width=\"567\">\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>\u2018It is important to make children and young people aware of behaviour towards them that is not acceptable and how they can help keep themselves safe. The non-statutory framework for PSHE provides opportunities for children and young people to learn about keeping safe and who to ask for help if their safety is threatened.\u2019\u00a0 <\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: left\"><strong>Safeguarding Children in Education, DfES 2004 (latest paper)<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p><strong>\u00a0<\/strong><strong><u>Work to date <\/u><\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Our plan is to work with MK Act and we have obtained funding of \u00a310,200 to train its staff to develop and carry out a pilot scheme firstly at Ousedale School and then to roll out to further schools once the pilot has been evaluated.<\/p>\n<p>The pilot programme started in January 2020 and involved a group of 12 young women identified by the school.\u00a0 The workshops were delivered by the same two MK Act staff thus building relationships on a weekly basis.\u00a0 They will resume, socially distanced, when the school reopens.<\/p>\n<p>Two other schools have agreed to hold workshops post lockdown and we are now raising the funds for future workshops, although this has taken a bit of a halt due to the cancellation of various fund-raising activities.<\/p>\n<p>And we are now pleased to report that in 2022 Milton Keynes Council are now offering this training to schools.<\/p>\n<p><strong>If you feel strongly about this area of work and can spare us a donation, please contact us via <a href=\"mailto:soroptimistsmk@gmail.com\">soroptimistsmk@gmail.com<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center\"><strong>\u00a0<\/strong>Your support and donations are much appreciated in helping us deliver this project, even more so now in these very difficult times.\u00a0 Coronavirus has seen an increase in domestic abuse and illustrates even more how important it is to provide this help to youngsters.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]But that was not all we were doing in 2020\/21.\u00a0 And the Coronavirus pandemic did not get in our way:[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong><u>Clean Start<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 15.6pt 0cm\">Our newest project is linked to MK Act, the Women\u2019s Refuge.\u00a0 \u00a0They told us that one of the things they need help with is providing cleaning materials for the families when they move out.\u00a0\u00a0\u201cClean Start\u201d is our new project to provide a bucket full of cleaning essentials to each family as they move out.\u00a0 We have found that we can make a bucket up of various cleaning essentials for UNDER \u00a320.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 15.6pt 0cm\">These essentials include \u2013 Bucket, Scrubbing Brush, White\/Blue cloths, Dustpan and Brush, Toilet Brush, Washing up Liquid, Dish Brush, Sponge scourers, Ciff cream, Bleach, Anti-bacterial cleaner, Household gloves and Black bin bags.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/projects-activities\/dunelm-logo\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5480\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-5480\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/05\/Dunelm-logo-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Dunelm sponsoring our Clean Start Buckets in 2022 \" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/05\/Dunelm-logo-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/05\/Dunelm-logo.jpg 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/> \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/come-and-join-our-friendly-group-in-mk\/buckets-for-mk-act\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5149\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5149\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/07\/Buckets-for-MK-Act-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Buckets of cleaning materials given to families, homeless and residents from our charities finally setting up their own homes Act\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/gallery\/bee-and-dunelm-june-2022\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5492\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-5492\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/06\/Bee-and-Dunelm-June-2022-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Dunelm sponsoring our Clean Start Buckets initiave 3 more handed over in June 2022\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Buckets of cleaning materials given to families, homeless and residents from our charities finally setting up their own homes<\/p>\n<p>When a family is ready to leave we present them with a bucket and a certificate wishing them all the best in their new life.<\/p>\n<p>When Kathy Howard of the Welfare Team at The Winter Night Shelter\u00a0 heard about this project she asked if we could also provide buckets for those homeless people her team help back into accommodation and work.\u00a0 Kathy asked us if we could provide these buckets to give to people starting out again, because usually they have nothing to start a new life.<\/p>\n<p>And our other linked charity YMCA will also be provided with these buckets for when their residents finally leave the sanctuary of the YMCA and start out a new.<\/p>\n<p>Really pleased to announce in 2022 we now have a Project Sponsor in Dunelm in Milton Keynes who will be providing us with 3 buckets of cleaning items for our charities.\u00a0 Thank you Dunelm[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong><u>SOS Collections \u00a0<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4683 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2020\/05\/toiletries-3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Toiletries for vulnerable women and girls\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 15.6pt 0cm\">Save our Toiletries (SOS)\u00a0 &#8211; we collect toiletry items for our SOS packs for vulnerable people, especially women and girls.\u00a0 \u00a0You would be shocked to know just how many women and young girls cannot afford the most essential items like Sanitary products.<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm\">We work in partnership with \u201cMK Act &#8211; The Women\u2019s Refuge\u201d, \u201cYMCA MK\u201d, &#8220;The British Red Cross&#8221; and Winter Night Shelter MK.\u00a0 This was one of the first projects we started in 2015 and by the middle of 2021 we had donated over \u00a34,000 in value of toiletries to these charities and this is one of our projects we do all year round.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm\">If you can help us, please donate any\u00a0<strong>new and unused toiletries<\/strong>.\u00a0 Here is a short list below:<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 15.6pt 0cm\">Sanitary Products\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 Soap\u00a0 \u00a0 Shower Gel\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Toothpaste and Toothbrushes<\/p>\n<p style=\"margin: 0cm 0cm 15.6pt 0cm\">Deodorant\u00a0 \u00a0 Combs\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Hand and Body Cream\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0 \u00a0Perfume<\/p>\n<p><strong>Collection venues include \u2013\u00a0 \u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Great Linford Parish Council Offices,<\/p>\n<p>Mead Centre in Newport Pagnell,<\/p>\n<p>MK Snap, 20 Bourton Low, Walnut Tree<\/p>\n<p>Redhouse Surgeries, Bletchley;\u00a0\u00a0Or the items can be collected if you email us at \u00a0<a href=\"mailto:soroptimistsmk@gmail.com\">soroptimistsmk@gmail.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>We are hoping to add new donation collection stations soon.\u00a0 If you know of anywhere that would be happy to take on a SOS donation station please contact us.\u00a0 Thank you.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Many thanks for your help and please keep donating.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong><u>NHS Hearts for Hope<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/come-and-join-our-friendly-group-in-mk\/hearts-batch-1a\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5095\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5095 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/04\/Hearts-batch-1a-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"NHS Hearts for Hope for MKUH\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In April 2021 during the first lockdown Milton Keynes Soroptimist Club acted as a coordinator in Milton Keynes for the NHS Hearts for Hope activity, 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.\u00a0 It includes all staff from the cleaners and porters to the doctors, consultants, nurses and everybody in between.<\/p>\n<p>We put an article on our website, on our Twitter page and asked all our members and friends if they could help us.<\/p>\n<p>158 Hearts for Hope were made by members and friends which we donated to MK University Hospital Intensive Care Unit and MK Cancer Centre in May.<\/p>\n<p><strong>These Hearts were to say thank you for all their hard work, we are thinking of them and value their efforts.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong><u>Cakes for MK Act<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4675 alignleft\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2020\/05\/Cakes-for-MK-Act-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Cup cakes for MK Act Womens Refuge\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Sue Burke, the Director of MK Act contacted one of our members to ask if there was anything we can do to help their residents at the Women\u2019s Refuge. During Covid the residents had to all self isolate.\u00a0 They had 70 \u201cbodies\u201d living in the 28 flats and Sue said the families were finding this very hard and morale was low.<\/p>\n<p>We agreed to provide a little treat each week in the form of some little homemade cakes which will be left at each flat door with the hope that they would have something to look forward to each week and it would help to perk them up.<\/p>\n<p>During the first lockdown back in April 2020, we baked over 1,500 \u201cCakes for MK Act\u201d.\u00a0 Not only our own members have been baking but a number of our friends too and a big thank you to them.<\/p>\n<p>We started up again at the beginning of 2021 and when we concluded in May we had baked over 2,000 cakes at an approx. cost of \u00a31,048.\u00a0 The important part of this project was to look after people\u2019s mental health and let them know they were not forgotten.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Afghan Refugees arrive in MK<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>On the 18 Aug 2021, we heard that the first families airlifted from the terrible situation in Afghanistan were to be housed here in Milton Keynes. We immediately contacted our local Councillors to find out how we could help and were told they would need clothing, toiletries, and toys.\u00a0 \u00a0We reached out to all our friends and what great friends they are.<\/p>\n<p>Within the space of 10 days we were able to collect and drop off 5 full car loads of adults and children&#8217;s clothing, shoes, toiletries and toys which were then distributed to the Afghan families housed here in Milton Keynes<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/come-and-join-our-friendly-group-in-mk\/afghan-car-load-3\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5189\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-thumbnail wp-image-5189\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/09\/Afghan-car-load-3-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Toys and toiletries for Afghan families Aug 2021\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/>\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/come-and-join-our-friendly-group-in-mk\/afgha-car-load-1\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5188\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-5188\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2021\/09\/Afgha-car-load-1-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Chair with first car load for Afghan families Aug 2021\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>We are so proud to be able to give some help to these families and hope they are able to make a new and safe life for themselves here.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong><u>Postcards of Hope Campaign<\/u><\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-thumbnail wp-image-4632 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2020\/04\/postcards-of-hope-150x150.jpg\" alt=\"Postcards of Hope for people with learning difficulties\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Social isolation and loneliness can have a huge impact on mental health during a crisis like Covid-19.\u00a0 Our founder member, Angie Novell, CEO of MK Snap asked us to join a local campaign called Postcards of Hope.\u00a0 Angie asked if we and our friends could help her to keep in touch with over 140 local people with learning disabilities and complex needs that MK Snap charity work with.\u00a0 All we had to do was write a postcard with a message o hope, kindness and encouragement to keep the learners going and to let them know people were thinking of them.<\/p>\n<p>In total over 300 postcards were sent to the learners of which our branch and friends contributed 70 postcards.<\/p>\n<p>It\u2019s the little things that can mean so much and help someone so much.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Ukraine Refugees in MK and in Poland<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/projects-activities\/7-oct-visit-to-ukraine-families-2022\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5575\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5575 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/11\/7-Oct-visit-to-Ukraine-families-2022-300x225.jpg\" alt=\"7 Oct visit to Ukraine families 2022\" width=\"300\" height=\"225\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/11\/7-Oct-visit-to-Ukraine-families-2022-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2022\/11\/7-Oct-visit-to-Ukraine-families-2022.jpg 506w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In October 2022, after appearing on the Friday Charity Chat show with Thia on Stony Radio, we were kindly invited to meet the Ukranian families living here in Milton Keynes.\u00a0 It was a wonderful get together and with the help of our friends we were able to donate 5 sacks of winter clothing for them.<\/p>\n<p>On the 8 October we held our Music Event in Newport which was a great success and raised over \u00a3600.\u00a0 This money was split between Soroptimist International Krakow and their work with Ukraine refugees in Poland and the Ukrainian families living here in Milton Keynes.<\/p>\n<p>The Ukrainian Appeal charity are looking for donations to help provide emergency relief including medical supplies and assistance, provision of clean water, shelter and food and other necessary items.\u00a0 The charity also support internally displaced persons, host communities and refugees in neighbouring countries.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/ukraineappeal.org.uk\/\"><strong>Click here<\/strong><\/a> to view their website and learn more about what the charity is doing to support the Ukraine crisis.<\/p>\n<p>During November with the continued help of family and friends we donated nearly 3 car loads of winter clothes and blankets to the Ukraine Appeal warehouse at 50 Tanners Drive Blakelands.<\/p>\n<p>In February 2023 the Ukraine Appeal Charity became another of our link charities and we are now working with them by fundraising and supporting their projects to help their community. This xmas 2023 as a result of fundraising we were able to purchase 120 childrens toys which we donated at their xmas party.<\/p>\n<p>And we have donated over \u00a31,000 to SI Krakow who are supporting Ukraine refugees both young and old.\u00a0 In January to March 2024 they held a number of workshops for the Ukraine senior citizens to help them, including Polish language classes, handiwork and art classes and on 1 June 2024 on Children&#8217;s day, as a result of talking to the children in the orphange near Krakow and asking what did they want, SI Krakow held a picnic for them.\u00a0 \u00a0Our funds helped to purchase a barbecue grill for this event.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Violence Against Women &#8211; 16 Days of Activism<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/come-and-join-our-friendly-group-in-mk\/16_days_graphic_-sigbi-2022-end-violence-in-all-forms\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5601\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5601 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2023\/01\/16_Days_Graphic_-SIGBI-2022-End-Violence-in-all-forms-300x213.jpg\" alt=\"EndViolence Against all women and girls\" width=\"300\" height=\"213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2023\/01\/16_Days_Graphic_-SIGBI-2022-End-Violence-in-all-forms-300x213.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2023\/01\/16_Days_Graphic_-SIGBI-2022-End-Violence-in-all-forms.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Soroptimists around the world support the need to <strong>End all forms of Violence against Women and Girls<\/strong> and undertake a number of initiatives to raise awareness of this issue and take on projects in their communities.<\/p>\n<p>Rasining awareness includes supporting the Orange the World and 16 Days of Activism initiatives. The\u00a0<strong>Orange the World Campaign<\/strong> started back in 1991, is led by the United Nations (Soroptimist International has a consultavtive voice at the UN on womens issues and VAWG) and is marked every year on the 25 November, which is <strong>International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>It is followed by\u00a0<strong>16 Days of Activism\u00a0<\/strong>and ends on\u00a0<strong>Human Rights Day on 10 December.<\/strong>\u00a0 \u00a0To read more <a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/2022\/08\/05\/orange-the-world-end-violence-against-women\/\">click here<\/a> for our news article.<\/p>\n<p>SI Milton Keynes raises awareness of both the Orange the World and the White Ribbon initiative, this latter focussing on helping Men end violence against women.\u00a0 We do this via our Twitter and Facebook pages.<\/p>\n<p>We also take part in raising awareness during the 16 Days of Activism and in 2022 undertook a number of initiatives in MK.<\/p>\n<p>At our November 2022 meeting our theme was Orange the World 16 Days of Activism with speakers Debbie Brock the High Sherriff of Buckingham taloking about county lines and the Knife Angel and Kelly Gardner Detective Superintendent Domestic Abuse and Stalking talking about her role in TVP.\u00a0 On 25 November International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and White Ribbon Day, SI MK took part in MK City Council SaferMK team event to promote the day and raise awareness with council staff on ending violence against women and girls.\u00a0 And that was just the start.\u00a0 Each day on our Twitter account along with a number of other Soroptimists clubs we raised the issues of the 16 Days of Activism and ending violence against women.<\/p>\n<p>On the Big screen on 10 Dec 2022 at MK Dons home match, during the interval, the screen presented shots of a MK Dons male and woman player promoting White Ribbon, which we had a part in helping to achieve.\u00a0 And at the Ousedale school for a week our school presentation raising awareness on Violence against women, the 16 Days of Activism, Orange the world and White Ribbon campaigns and useful contact details was presented to their school assemblies.<\/p>\n<p>In 2023, we like other Soroptimist clubs, now hold a monthly Orange Cafe at Dobbies in Bletchley on a Tuesday as close to the 25th.\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/club-programme-of-meetings-and-events\/\">Click here<\/a> to see the dates and come along to find out more abuout us and the campaign.\u00a0 This is to raise awareness of the Orange the World campaign and also the White Ribbon campaig.\u00a0 The latter works with Men to educate them to change their attitudes.\u00a0 Milton Keynes City Council is White Ribbon Accredited and each year now we are working wth them on different projects to continue to raise awareness within our communtity.\u00a0 Out 2023 project has been to produce Orange the World posters with useful contact information both locally abd nationally and distribute these to community centres, retail shops to put up.\u00a0 We have also produced bookmarks with useful contact details and are hoping to distribute these amongst schools.[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]<\/p>\n<h4><strong>MK Foodbank MK Can event and MK Can Logo challenge<\/strong><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/2023\/11\/13\/5779\/mk-can-oct-2023-10-2\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5789\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5789 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2023\/11\/MK-Can-Oct-2023-10-300x146.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"146\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2023\/11\/MK-Can-Oct-2023-10-300x146.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2023\/11\/MK-Can-Oct-2023-10.jpg 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>In July 2023 MK Foodbank announced a challenge for the community.\u00a0 Could we break the Guinness World record for the longest continous line of tinned food.\u00a0 The date was set for Monday 16 October, World Food Day and the venue was to be The Rose and Campbell Park.\u00a0 The call went out to all organisations, comunity groups, charities, schools.<\/p>\n<p>Soroptimists in Milton Keynes may be a small club, but we are always keen to help our community and so back in July, when we heard about this atempt we signed up.\u00a0 MK Foodbank, ever since Covid have seen significantly high demand for food parcels.\u00a0 And this is still the case in 2024.<\/p>\n<p>And so we asked all our friends and families would they help us.\u00a0 We had a 25 meter stretch and had to obtain 350400g tinned cans of food.\u00a0 Well not only did we do that we ended up with nearly a 1,000 cans.\u00a0 We gave some to MK Snap and YMCA so that they could take part.\u00a0 It was a great community day, everyone chatting and so glad to be there on the 16 October.\u00a0 All the people there from all businesses, groups, schools and charities had risen to the challenge and the record was broken. \u00a0From being 44,966 the new Guinness World record is now 102, 447.<\/p>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">Well done everyone, and for us Soroptimist Milton Keynes, we feel very humble by the response from our friends and their friends friends who all gave tins.\u00a0 \u00a0A very big thank you from us but also from MK Community.<\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\"><\/div>\n<div dir=\"ltr\">One of the reasons for taking on this record was to raise awareness of the work foodbanks do, the impact of the cost of living crisis and the high demand the Foodbank are dealing with to support people in the MK Community.\u00a0 They estimate they have supported around <strong>1 in 30<\/strong>\u00a0households in Milton Keynes over the last\u00a0<strong>18<\/strong> months (2023 figures).\u00a0 This represents one child in every class, at least <strong>one household in every street<\/strong>\u00a0and possibly at least\u00a0<strong>one in most workplaces.<\/strong>\u00a0And every week about\u00a0<strong>50<\/strong>\u00a0people are contacting us for the very first time. People who have never had to ask for help before.\u00a0 If you are able to continue to help MKFoodbank with donations,\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/mkfoodbank.org.uk\/\">click here to visit the website<\/a>.<\/div>\n<p>This event was supposed to provide at least 6 months of stock for the foodbank, but with demand still increasing it lasted for only 3 months.\u00a0 And so they came up with an idea for Easter.\u00a0 It came in two parts.\u00a0 Organisations and groups were aksed could they make their logo out of food items and if\u00a0 families wanted to take part could they make an Easter image out of food items.<\/p>\n<p>Again our members stepped up for the challenge and we collected just over 90 items of food to make our logo and we shared some more food items with YMCA too.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/gallery\/90-food-cans-mk-can-logo-challenge-2024\/\" rel=\"attachment wp-att-5849\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-5849 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2024\/07\/90-food-cans-MK-Can-Logo-challenge-2024-272x300.jpg\" alt=\"Mach 2024 2nd 90 items challenge taking part in MK Foodbank Easter MK Can chalenge by making our logo out of 90 food items\" width=\"272\" height=\"300\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2024\/07\/90-food-cans-MK-Can-Logo-challenge-2024-272x300.jpg 272w, https:\/\/sigbi.org\/milton-keynes\/files\/2024\/07\/90-food-cans-MK-Can-Logo-challenge-2024.jpg 929w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 272px) 100vw, 272px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>If you can please help MK Foodbank or your local community fridge, community larder, they are providing vital work for our communities.<\/p>\n<p>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator color=&#8221;orange&#8221; border_width=&#8221;5&#8243;][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Last updated 2 July 2024[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]<\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Soroptimist International Milton Keynes was chartered in 2015 and in 2021 we reached our 6th&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":638,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-4681","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v25.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Projects\/Activities | SI Milton Keynes | SIGBI<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"SIGBI : SI Milton Keynes : Projects\/Activities : SI Milton Keynes is part of a worldwide organisation of women, find more information regarding the Projects\/Activities here.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" 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