Supporting Samaritans prevent suicide on Samaritans Awareness Day Good mental health is fundamental for thriving in life and it is the essence of who we are and how we experience the world. This is a theme for Soroptimists in GB and Ireland and at our club in Nantwich and District, President Helen has also developed a programme to address a range of mental health issues. Suicide is particularly devastating, and we have The Samaritans as one of the charities we are supporting this year. Their mission is to enable a world where fewer people die by suicide. Around 6,000 people die by suicide every year in the UK, with someone taking their own life every 90 minutes (ONS, 2018; Samaritans, 2018). These deaths are devastating and shatter lives. Suicide is more common in men than women – in the UK, men are three times as

On Saturday 28th members of Nantwich Soroptimists braved appalling weather to support their stall at the local Society Spectacular. We take part in this event to raise awareness of Soroptimism as well as to see if there are any local women who would like to join us. Despite the wind blowing the display boards off the table and repeated downpours that saturated unsuspecting passers by, it was generally felt that the day was a success. The event was organised by Nantwich Town Council who provide free gazebos and tables in the centre of Nantwich’s pedestrianised area for all the societies in Nantwich to show their wares and attract new members. From the local am-dram to tennis, from organisers of the town food festival to the volunteer gardeners who keep the flower beds looking so good, every local society you could possibly want to join were

A group of us went with some friends from Motherwell Women’s Charity to visit the Pankhurst Museum and hear from Manchester Women’s Aid which is also based there. Beforehand we had a lovely lunch at The Whitworth Art Gallery. The museum itself stands incongruously as a victorian house in the middle of the modern buildings of Central Manchester Hospital, and was where Emmeline Pankhurst lived and started the suffragette movement from her parlour there. We learned a lot about the birth of the suffragette movement and Emmeline’s role in this, which was very interesting. It was also very useful to hear about Manchester Women’s Aid, supporting 5 refuges and a range of outreach services for women subject to domestic abuse. we were pleased to hear that they are in contact with, and learning from our local service Cheshire Without Abuse, which is considered a model

Celebrating amazing women who inspire action and transform lives. Our club is 70 years old this year and we wanted to recognise this milestone with other women – celebrating our Soroptimist vision that women and girls can achieve their potential. So, on 1 June 2019 we held a conference at the Hunters Lodge Hotel in Crewe to celebrate how women are making an impact in our communities in so many ways. What a day we had! Over 90 women in the room, including our Regional President for Soroptimists in Cheshire, North Wales and The Wirral, Soroptimists from throughout the UK as well as from Szeged, Hungary and Berne Arcadia in Switzerland. We also welcomed delegates from other women’s organisations throughout South Cheshire, as well as our faithful band of friends who support us at all of our events. What was particularly pleasing was that many

A group of Soroptimists and friends had Sunday lunch at The Clink.  The food was delicious and all prepared from scratch.  The service also was excellent.  We had the concept of The Clink Restaurant explained to us and told of its success in helping to reduce reoffending. It is certainly an outing to be repeated!

Approximately 25 members and their friends gathered on Friday 15th February 2019 for a coffee morning to raise money for Target Ovarian Cancer. We enjoyed good company, delicious cake, beautiful sunshine and a super raffle. We raised £231!!   Thanks to all who came to support this very worthy cause. Thanks to everyone who helped, with the biggest thank you to Carole for hosting the event.

Come to Soroptimists Nantwich and District 70th Anniversary Conference 1st June 2019   Nantwich and District Soroptimists Club is 70 years old this year and we are holding an anniversary conference to bring to life our message that we are women inspiring action and transforming the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities.    We have come some way since the early days when members tended to be the proprietors of local businesses or women involved in local Council work, or schoolteachers and over the years we have had members who were police officers, chemists, pharmacists, a milliner, a farmer, hairdresser, in addition to representatives from many aspects of teaching, health care and the business world. In fact, we are a very diverse group of women from all walks and stages of life. We will hear more about our members,