SOS is one of over 100 local groups campaigning about river pollution. Celine Barry described the actions they are taking.\u00a0 They have applied for a stretch of the Swale in Richmond to be granted Designated Bathing Water Status (DBWS) as a means to force The Environment Agency to monitor water quality.\u00a0 This has been a lengthy process, so for the last 2 years SOS has carried out its own monthly water quality monitoring which it reports to Yorkshire Water as part of campaign to hold the Government and Yorkshire Water to account.\u00a0 They have widespread support from the County Council, our MP, and local businesses and landowners.\u00a0 They use press and media and public meetings to raise awareness and pressure Yorkshire Water and \u2013 in coordination with the national Sewage Campaign Network – lobby for water and sewage services to be returned to not-for-profit public ownership.<\/p>\n
Microbiologist Keith Thomas described the various means by which they monitor water quality.\u00a0 Samples are taken at 7 locations from Wainwith to Brompton on Swale using a variety of test equipment to measure levels of bacteria, chemicals and invertebrates, plus observation of sewage plant overflows after rain. Despite reporting frequent high levels of pollution below the Richmond Sewage plant outfall and at Brompton on Swale below the Skeeby Beck junction, they have so far been unable to force Yorkshire Water to remedy the situation.\u00a0 It is very difficult to prove that sickness is related to river contact, as the cause is unlikely to be reported medically.\u00a0 However, one Richmond student who drank a pint of Swale water for a bet suffered a clostridium infection!<\/p>\n
They are continuing to pursue their application for DBWS, monitoring and lobbying, in the hope that the Government will take notice of this national problem.\u00a0 We wish them well with this important work.<\/p>\n
Recent & Upcoming Activities<\/h3>\n\n- Babs Hunt and Lin Ryan represented the Club at the Mayor\u2019s Civic Dinner<\/li>\n
- Jan Beeton will lay a wreath on our behalf at the War Memorial on Remembrance Day<\/li>\n
- Babs and her husband (and guide dog puppy Iris!) will attend the Civic Service at St Mary\u2019s Church as our representatives.<\/li>\n
- Lin Ryan will attend the annual prize giving at Risedale School on 22nd October where the Soroptimist Cup for Making a Difference will be presented, and new member Lindsay represented us at the Prize Giving at Richmond School.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Programme Action<\/h3>\n
PA Officer Wendy Arrowsmith circulated the Yorkshire Region<\/a> President\u2019s Special Award for PA. This was awarded to us for our Tote Bags for Children in Care Project at last month\u2019s Regional Conference.<\/p>\nWe were pleased to note that the club continue to be trailblazers for PA in the Region, as two other awards related to Sharing Our Skills projects.\u00a0 Regional Conference attendees brought donations for Smartworks, and took packs of Tote Bag fabric to make up. The Northern Region President had not been aware of EVA Women\u2019s Aid, which we and Scarborough & Malton support, and intends to bring it up in her Region.<\/p>\n
Volunteers signed up to assist at our upcoming Coffee Morning taking place on Saturday 8th November at Richmond Town Hall, for which members will be donating items for the tombola, raffle, cake and books & DVD stalls.<\/p>\n
Membership Office Sue Eastham was pleased to see that 3 of our new members have been part of the group planning our Bingo Night fundraiser.\u00a0 A total of 76 tickets have been sold for this event.<\/p>\n
Yorkshire Region<\/h3>\n
Regional President Judith (who is one of our members) thanked the club for its support at the recent RCM at Scotch Corner, and also thanked Chris Bowran for designing her Presidential Logo (which is attracting favourable attention).\u00a0 She is looking forward to the November meeting, which is her first as sole President instead of Joint President. The club wishes Judith well in her Presidential year.<\/p>\n
Judith also encouraged any members who can to take part in the Train Safety Awareness Day being held on 4th December.\u00a0 She would like as many people as possible to meet at York Station at 11:15 where she hopes to have a press and media presence.\u00a0 Members from across the Region will be travelling to meet at this time, before continuing on from York to Scarborough.<\/p>\n
UN Campaign about Violence Against Women<\/h3>\n
We were delighted to hear that last year\u2019s Richmond School students on the Sharing Our Skills project are running their own project around the 16 Days of Activism against Violence Against Women<\/a>. They have obtained permission to publicise this on the TV displays around the school.<\/p>\nThe club held another Orange Caf\u00e9 at the Swimming Pool caf\u00e9 to mark this campaign.\u00a0 Members were encouraged to use the caf\u00e9 generally. It is run by a Ukrainian refugee couple, who are very welcoming.\u00a0 This is particularly important while the pool itself remains closed for repairs.<\/p>\n
Tote Bags for Children going into Care<\/h3>\n
Small team came together at Jenny\u2019s this month to cut out and organise packs of fabric with sewing instructions for making Tote Bags. We pass bags to North Yorkshire Voice,<\/a> who give them to children going into care to carry their personal belongings.\u00a0 \u00a0This was so that packs could be distributed at November\u2019s RCM for other clubs to produce bags for equivalent uses in their areas.\u00a0 More than 30 packs were made up.\u00a0 About a dozen packs were given out at the previous RCM.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n
Bingo Night Fundraiser<\/h1>\nWe held our fundraiser Bingo Night in Richmond Town Hall on 17th October in aid of the Hamblet<\/a>on & Richmond Palliative Care Team<\/a>. A great night<\/span> had by all, with 4 games of Bingo, a raffle and a bar.\u00a0 The 10 raffle prizes included a giant duck toy (christened Richie Dales), which is destined to become the mascot of a local exercise group.\u00a0 The<\/span><\/span> bar offered assorted alcohol and soft drinks, and there were also crisps for sale, kindly donated by Barry & Sue Eastham.\u00a0 We sold 76 tickets for the evening and also received some generous donations towards the event.<\/div>\n
Programme Action<\/h3>\n
PA Officer Wendy Arrowsmith circulated the Yorkshire Region<\/a> President\u2019s Special Award for PA. This was awarded to us for our Tote Bags for Children in Care Project at last month\u2019s Regional Conference.<\/p>\n We were pleased to note that the club continue to be trailblazers for PA in the Region, as two other awards related to Sharing Our Skills projects.\u00a0 Regional Conference attendees brought donations for Smartworks, and took packs of Tote Bag fabric to make up. The Northern Region President had not been aware of EVA Women\u2019s Aid, which we and Scarborough & Malton support, and intends to bring it up in her Region.<\/p>\n Volunteers signed up to assist at our upcoming Coffee Morning taking place on Saturday 8th November at Richmond Town Hall, for which members will be donating items for the tombola, raffle, cake and books & DVD stalls.<\/p>\n Membership Office Sue Eastham was pleased to see that 3 of our new members have been part of the group planning our Bingo Night fundraiser.\u00a0 A total of 76 tickets have been sold for this event.<\/p>\n Regional President Judith (who is one of our members) thanked the club for its support at the recent RCM at Scotch Corner, and also thanked Chris Bowran for designing her Presidential Logo (which is attracting favourable attention).\u00a0 She is looking forward to the November meeting, which is her first as sole President instead of Joint President. The club wishes Judith well in her Presidential year.<\/p>\n Judith also encouraged any members who can to take part in the Train Safety Awareness Day being held on 4th December.\u00a0 She would like as many people as possible to meet at York Station at 11:15 where she hopes to have a press and media presence.\u00a0 Members from across the Region will be travelling to meet at this time, before continuing on from York to Scarborough.<\/p>\n We were delighted to hear that last year\u2019s Richmond School students on the Sharing Our Skills project are running their own project around the 16 Days of Activism against Violence Against Women<\/a>. They have obtained permission to publicise this on the TV displays around the school.<\/p>\n The club held another Orange Caf\u00e9 at the Swimming Pool caf\u00e9 to mark this campaign.\u00a0 Members were encouraged to use the caf\u00e9 generally. It is run by a Ukrainian refugee couple, who are very welcoming.\u00a0 This is particularly important while the pool itself remains closed for repairs.<\/p>\n Small team came together at Jenny\u2019s this month to cut out and organise packs of fabric with sewing instructions for making Tote Bags. We pass bags to North Yorkshire Voice,<\/a> who give them to children going into care to carry their personal belongings.\u00a0 \u00a0This was so that packs could be distributed at November\u2019s RCM for other clubs to produce bags for equivalent uses in their areas.\u00a0 More than 30 packs were made up.\u00a0 About a dozen packs were given out at the previous RCM.<\/p>\n <\/p>\nYorkshire Region<\/h3>\n
UN Campaign about Violence Against Women<\/h3>\n
Tote Bags for Children going into Care<\/h3>\n
Bingo Night Fundraiser<\/h1>\n
![\"Bingo](\"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/richmond-and-dales\/files\/2025\/11\/Bingo-Night-Raffle-300x225.jpeg\")
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