This was the first “regular” meeting attended by our 3 new members, who joined us last month for the outing to Easby Abbey. Babs was able to present them with their badges and formally welcome them.
Richmond Refugee Support
Our speaker was Annette Clarke from Richmond Refugee Support group. This is a voluntary group who provide social support for resettled people from Syria, Afghanistan, Iran and Ukraine. They have arrived in our area by various different routes, though many are linked with the Ministry of Defence. They and their families may have been given a settlement agreement for up to 3 years through work they performed for the MOD. We were very impressed at the range of support the group gives.
The group helps provide a befriending service which provides many things. This includes explaining where local facilities are, taking people to medical appointments or helping support them to complete their driving license. The latter is very important to enable the refugees to have their own independence, get to work, and support other refugees mobility.
The group hosts a monthly meeting at the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Centre for mums and children called “Hokey Cokey”. The do arts & crafts with the children but also some teaching of English – all ending in singing and dancing to the song.
There is also a bike scheme, providing donated bicycles for use by the refugees to get to work or the shops – or just for children to have fun. There is a maintenance day every month providing instruction on the bikes and how to keep them safe.
The Support group also learn a lot about the cultures of the people they are helping. The volunteers say it is great to see multiple cultures joining together. The refugees are encouraged to organise their own events. Invited volunteers are often overwhelmed by the generous hospitality they are given.
From 3rd October they are arranging a walking group where people attending will also be able to help their English language and conversational skills. It is particularly important to provide support and social activities for the Asian women, who are generally much in the shadow of the men in their own cultures.
Business Update
- Two of our members will be representing us at the Mayor’s Civic Dinner and Sunday Service, events to which all local voluntary organisations are invited.
- Plans for our Bingo night in October are progressing. This is in support of our charity this year, Richmond & Hambleton Palliative Care Team.
- A further 3 loans have been made through Lend With Care to female third world entrepreneurs.
- Dates were announced for three Coffee Mornings booked at the Town Hall in 2026. These are an invaluable source of income for our charity work, and an opportunity to publicise Soroptimism.
- There will be an Orange Cafe meeting on 25th at the Swimming Pool Cafe – which is run by Ukrainian refugees. Members are urged to support this enterprise.
SI Yorkshire RCM
Our Club is hosting the Yorkshire Region Conference day at the Holiday Inn Scotch Corner. Eleven club members will be ‘meeting and greeting’ attendees, and guiding them through the vital car park registration procedure. This meeting is the first chaired by our member Judith, who has taken over as Yorkshire President for the year 2025-6. She will be announcing her programme of events.
There will be tables for all the clubs to display their programme action work, and arrangements were made to bring materials to show our work with
- North Yorkshire Voice (tote bags)
- Smartworks (clothing and accessory donations)
- the Women of Richmondshire Exhibition
- clothing supplies for the Richmond Dales Amateur Swimming Club.
These displays provide inspiration to club members across the region, encouraging cross-fertilisation with sharing of ideas. We will also offer fabric, etc for attendees to make more tote bags. Donations will also be collected for Smartworks and EVA Women’s Aid.
Surprise Picnic
Several members surprised our long serving member Sandy with a picnic at Easby Abbey on Sunday 10th August. Sandy lost her husband last year, and this would have been her 55th Wedding Anniversary. Having been married at Easby Church, we planned with her daughter to take Sandy for a stroll around the Church and Abbey – and she was delighted to find us there, ready to picnic together. It was a lovely occasion.