SI Slough, Windsor & Maidenhead held their Annual General Meeting via Zoom on Wednesday 20th May. 18 members were able to participate in the virtual meeting. Sally Radford was elected as President.
The Annual General Meeting scheduled for Wednesday 15th April has been postponed until 20th May. This will be a virtual meeting using Zoom. Hopefully a majority of the members will be able to participate.
Mandy Barter set up her own charity My Cancer My Choices after surviving cancer in 2015. This operation which is entirely run by volunteers now offers treatments including reflexology and acupuncture at three NHS sites in Berkshire. The aim is to provide complementary therapies which assist in pain and stress during and after chemotherapy and radiotherapy. In a recent survey 97% of clients found that the therapies had helped them cope. Mandy has tremendous enthusiasm and is truly making a great difference to the lives of men and women who have received such devastating diagnoses and often feel that there is nothing that they can do to help themselves. Its a remarkable achievement.
Our International Women’s Day event will take place on Sunday 8th March 2020, 2 p.m. to 5.30 p.m. in the Desborough Suite,Maidenhead Town Hall, St Ives Road, Maidenhead, SL6 1RF Theme: “Helping Us Achieve Our Potential” Speakers include: Dame Vera Baird, Victims Commissioner for England and Wales Katie Wright, Bethany Admans, Hannah Wright, Catie Holden – schoolgirls from the Girls Policy Forum Fiona Mactaggart, Chair of the Fawcett Society Maria Evans, Volunteer on the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead’s Climate Emergency Committee Adults £5, Students £2, (includes light refreshments) To book your place, email: iwd2020md@gmail.com or call 01753 868785
Over 70 participants keenly contested the Quiz on 1st November held for the first time at the Spencer Denny Centre in Windsor. The Vauxhall Vivas amassed a great score of 122 and were duly crowned the winners. The participants all enjoyed a fish and chips supper to aid concentration. Over £400 was raised for Age Concern (Spencer Denny Centre) and £140 for local charities supported by SI Slough Windsor & Maidenhead. Club member Sally Radford set the questions and Michele Bennett compered the evening with great aplomb.
Lynne Townley is a Barrister and is currently a Lecturer on the Bar professional Training Course at City Law School, University of London. She specialises in Criminal Law and has been National Lead Adviser to the Director of Public Prosecutions in a number of areas, including homicide, honour-based violence, forced marriage and FGM. Last year Lynne was elected as Chair of the Association of Women Barristers, which represents and monitors the interests of women at the English Bar.
Members were delighted to welcome Fiona MacTaggart to the supper meeting on 18th September as she was previously the MP for Slough.
Members and guests enjoyed a superb full afternoon tea at the Fund Raiser on 28th August. Sandwiches, scones with clotted cream and strawberry jam were washed down with tea and followed by strawberries and cream with meringues and a selection of cakes with sparkling wine. The sun shone after a shaky start and the raffle proved very successful. In total £450 was raised for local charities.
Members enjoyed a very informative talk about the problems of Period Poverty for girls and women in many parts of India. The combination of ignorance of their own biology combined with poor sanitation and poverty means that girls suffer many problems when their periods start. Many miss considerable days of education and suffer from many unnecessary medical problems. Kathryn told us about the charity which she helped to set up which has found suitable sanitary products for use in countries without clean water. There are two products available (Saafkins and Safepads) which both incorporate bio technology which enables the products to be washed in dirty water yet remain hygienic. The charity not only distributes these products but ensures that girls understand how to use them and how to look after themselves more effectively. The charity claims that £5 will provide this anti-bacterial protection for a
Members have been busy with a variety of events. There was a stall at the Maidenhead Duck Derby on 26th May which raised funds for the girl we are supporting through university in Nepal. A coffee morning was held at Irene’s home which raised money for our speakers. On 15th May a group volunteered to help the British Heart Foundation at the Frogmore House & Garden Open Day. Finally on 29th June there will be a stall selling jewellery at the Rotary Summer Fair in Alexandra Gardens in Windsor.
