Today a few of us met at Joint  President Christine’s house to pack the Christmas bags for the ladies who attend this Centre in Byker. The Centre is jointly run by Newcastle Gateshead CCG and Newcastle City Council. The Centre exists to ensure people who are experiencing homelessness, or are not registered with a GP, can have access to primary healthcare and support services.   The Joseph Cowen Health Centre provides a drop-in facility where visitors are able to access a variety of health and wellbeing services. The Centre offers a twice weekly GP service, a weekly Sexual Health Clinic which is run by Newcroft Centre staff, a harm reduction support service that includes Newcastle Treatment and Recovery (NTaR) advice and support, drop-in sessions twice weekly, and a needle exchange service five days a week. The centre also offers a safe space for

On Tuesday, October 11th, several of our members went up to the West End Women’s and Girls’ Centre Farm in rural Northumerland to carry out some jobs which included checking on the trees which we planted earlier in the year. I am happy to report that all are flourishing; as can be seen from the photograph. An additional task they performed, was to adddedication plaques to some of the trees, including one to our late member, Dorothy, who was a dedicated Soroptimist. She is greatly missed by all members. Joint President Christine was delighted to induct a new member, Helen, at the farm. She is a very welcome addition to our Soroptimist community.

Today, as part of our Programme Action work on Climate Change and in remembrance of one our late members (Dorothy), we were finally able to plant our trees at the West End Women’s and Girls’ Centre Farm in rural Northumberland.. The trees were a mixture of Rowans and Hazels. Lesley, a friend of one of our members planted a Silver Birch in memory of her mother. It was amazing to see how much progress has been made since December. Also to see the good use the Centre has made of the grant from the Churchill Fellowship obtained by our member, Christine Lumsdon. @soroptimists @wewagc @misslynnes @soroptimistgbi #askmewhyiamasoroptimist Edited · 1 m