Saturday 25 June 2016
Members enjoyed a stimulating Regional meeting with reports and updates on forthcoming events including the Regional walk and the Barn Dance.
Lynn Yates and Tricia Coll updated members about PIES (Partners in Education Swaziland), following their recent visit. The building work for the new centre has started. The high rate of HIV and child poverty means the work of PIES is so important to improve the life chances for the children. Ruth Bruce (Programme Action chair) congratulated them on their continued commitment and enthusiasm.
Ruth Bruce highlighted a number of projects and called for 2 new members for the Committee looking at PA forms for awards next year. And for an Ambassador for the Meru Women’s Garden project.
Isabel Huggett from SI Grange spoke re the Grange Club experience with the White Ribbon campaign for the last 3 years. (See White Ribbon Campaign presentation here.) There was an additional suggestion to target sporting venues eg Preston North End football club. Isabel is happy to be contacted if clubs want advice or some spare White Ribbon balloons and posters!
Barbara Watson from SI Blackburn spoke about the Conference they held “The Child in the Web of Poverty” outlining the severe deprivation in Blackburn with 34% children living in poverty. It was sad to reflect that in 1899 Joseph Rowntree found a similar number of children living in poverty in York. Bringing multiple agencies together had sparked off a further multi-faith conference on the same issue. Barbara highlighted the absolute necessity of the foodbank.
A Police inspector and Lancashire Women’s Centre Case worker presented an update on AVERT working with women offenders to reduce reoffending by offering support and advice via the Women’s Centres on a number of personal, health and social issues. The number of women not reoffending was 93% so it was hoped funding would continue in the future for this very successful service which has rolled out over Lancashire and Cumbria.
At lunchtime the new idea of club officers meeting their counterparts from other clubs was most successful with a useful exchange of ideas.
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