SI Sevenoaks held their annual Charity Quiz night at St Luke’s Hall in Sevenoaks on Saturday 22nd February.  A lively and slightly competitive time was had by all with 10 teams competing including 2 guide dogs!  The sum of £940 was raised for President Margaret Crabtree’s chosen charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind.  Margaret is pictured here, second left, presenting the prizes to the winners.  This was our Sevenoaks Town Mayor, Councillor Libby Ancrum’s team – very well done to them!  Cllr Libby is next to Margaret, each with their smart chains of office!  A big thank you to all the helpers for making the event such a success! Sandie Higgs Programme Officer SI Sevenoaks

SI Sevenoaks were very happy to be able to meet in person for their meeting on Tuesday 11th February and were delighted to welcome 4 guests – hopefully soon to be new members!  We had a most informative talk from Professor Ronald Denney, a noted Forensic Scientist, which was really interesting and engaging.    http://forensics-denney.co.uk/Home.html At the end of the meeting President Margaret made a small presentation to member Kathy, pictured in the striped top, as she is getting married this week!  We wish Kathy all the best! Sandie Higgs Programme Officer SI Sevenoaks

“SI Sevenoaks have been collecting clothing for the Gatwick Detainees for a number of years now.  We have managed to gather a good quantity of items, including several warm jackets and coats, and these were delivered in 5 bags to former member Beverley who will take them to Gatwick.  Beverley said a “big thank you – the items will be put to good use – and can we please continue to collect!”   Our photo shows the clothing ready for packing. Sandie Higgs Programme Officer SI Sevenoaks

Walk and Talk Event On Thursday 6th February there was a Walk and Talk event in Sevenoaks promoting the on-going safety campaign for women and girls. The Soroptomists were invited to join PC Tom Costin, the Community Safety Unit and many community safety officers as well as the British Transport Police and members of the DAVSS charity. All involved were helping to raise awareness to stop violence against women and girls. I had a nice walk and talk with PC Clare in the town. The bitterly cold weather was not dampening our spirits as we met many people who were happy to answer confidential surveys of how safe women and girls feel in their local area. Most people did feel safe in Sevenoaks and other neighbouring areas. Many agreed they would feel safer with more lighting on the streets at night and regular patrols regarding

Teddies get around! Soroptimist International  of Great Britain and Ireland [SIGBI] celebrated 100 years of service in 2021 launching challenges  to members which included knitting 100 Teddy Bears for traumatised children. SI Sevenoaks  club responded with great fervour. Teddies were distributed to Kent and Sussex Police who used the bears as comforters when interviewing traumatised children. Women’s refuges, Refugee organisations and the Alzheimer’s society also welcomed the bears as a comforting aid. For two years they have been donated to the Charles Dickens Primary School, Southwark which serves two housing estates in a deprived area. Teachers had noted  that the last two intakes of children were very behind with their literacy skills due to  covid and lock down. Each child was given their own bear and encouraged to have conversations with them  also playing with them with other children improving literacy skills and self confidence.

“SI Sevenoaks celebrated the 25th of the month with an Orange the World event at Gail’s Café in the centre of Sevenoaks.  It was a busy market day so we were pleased to have so many people around us.  We were able to hand out leaflets and have some discussion with fellow café users to raise awareness of Violence Against Women and Girls and Domestic Abuse.  Nine members and 4 guests, including one past member and 3 hopefully new members are shown in our photo!” Sandie Higgs Programme Officer SI Sevenoaks

SI Sevenoaks held a new members coffee morning at Sandie’s on Saturday 18th January, with a chance for members to bring friends along to meet us.  We also held a tombola with prizes from the post Christmas deluge of gifts!  Two interested ladies came and seven members welcomed them.  The star of the show was Rhubarb, pictured with guest Irene Collins!  Rhubarb is a trainee guide dog puppy and she is gorgeous!  SI Sevenoaks’ President Margaret Crabtree has chosen Guide Dogs as her main charity for the year and we raised £75 for this very worthwhile cause! SI Sevenoaks wish a very Happy and Healthy 2025 to everyone. Sandie Higgs Programme Action Officer

Acknowledging Ask for Angela As part of an ongoing programme of  raising awareness of the current Sixteen Days of Activism for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Girls SI Sevenoaks members  met for  coffee at The Sennockian Pub, Sevenoaks  owned by Wetherspoons to acknowledge and thank the pub chain  for its involvement in the Ask for Angela scheme. The bar staff were fully aware of the scheme and advised they participated in ongoing training.  Our local senior Police contact DI Richard Pringle very kindly referred Kelly Webb, Sevenoaks District Health and Communities Manager to our club.  We were delighted Kelly was able to  join us all at the coffee morning to give an insight into her work in preventing crime with heavy emphasis on domestic abuse and planning strategies for the health, wellbeing and safety of the local community.  Link:- askforangela.co.uk Isobel Groves Past Programme Action

Members of SI Sevenoaks setting off to join their friends from SI Bromley on a Silent March up Bromley High Street on Monday 25th November 2024 – the UN International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women, and the first day of the SIGBI 16 Days of Activism.  Pictured are club members Vicky, Sandie, Jenny, guest Karen, Anne, Penny and Tracey.  We joined forces with SI Bromley outside the Richmal Crompton Wetherspoons at Bromley South and marched up and down the High Street.  It was great that prospective new member Kerry was also able to meet up and march with us!  It was a nice sunny morning and we did attract some attention!  SI Bromley had kindly arranged an Orange Café visit to The Hub, Greener & Cleaner, in The Glades, where we were treated to delicious carrot and coriander soup (keeping the orange

Three members of SI Sevenoaks joined past member Ann Hines to help serve a special cream tea to the Monday Afternooners, a monthly club for disabled adults in the Bromley area.  We have been doing this for more than 10 years and were delighted to discover that it was the Club’s 25th Anniversary!  Ann made a superb iced celebration cake and scones with jam and cream, and Margaret, Kathy and Sandie supplied cakes, savouries and sandwiches which we took along to Bromley UR Church Centre.  We were joined by 20 members, helpers and representatives from Bromley Mencap.  Lots of balloons, party poppers and fizz were provided, plus a challenging quiz!  It was great to see how much the club members enjoyed the event, and we did too! Sandie Higgs, PAO