Southport members took up the challenge to work with Mary’s Meals and last year the club provided backpacks. This year Mary’s Meals were asking supporters to celebrate the importance of porridge on World Porridge Day on 10 October.  Southport Club made contact with a local primary school and arranged to serve porridge to the whole school on that day. The school used assemblies and class work to explain to the children that Mary’s Meals is a global movement that sets up school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest communities, where hunger and poverty prevent children from gaining an education. All the children paid 50 pence for a bowl of porridge with various toppings and a total of £150 was raised and sent to the charity. (All photographs published with kind permission from the school.)

On Sunday 27th April, SI Southport held the Annual Change of Insignia lunch. Outgoing President Sandra Brookfield handed the chain of office to the 2014-2015 President, Jocelyn Glanvill.

On Saturday 12th April members of Soroptimist International of Southport held a ‘Spring into Action Walk’ to publicize and celebrate their support of local, national and international projects. Mayor Maureen Fearn, who is a Soroptimist, started the walk off in Victoria Park by the tree planted to commemorate her previous time as Mayor. After a photo shoot the Soroptimists began to visit other venues they sponsor throughout the town. The first port of call was the Mermaid Fountain on Lord Street where the Soroptimists sponsor the circular flower bed around the fountain. They then proceeded to the Sensory Garden in Hesketh Park. The latter was a joint project between SI Southport and Southport Rotary. Finally they walked to the Botanical garden for a final photo shoot at the floral container they sponsor. En route the Soroptimists handed out leaflets explaining the acts of service they

Fair Trade Fortnight came early to SI Southport this year! Not only did we enjoy one of our wonderful dinners enhanced with the consumption of Fair trade wine but we also enjoyed the company of two Soroptimists who are involved in the Fair Trade Movement. Firstly, we were greeted by Wendy Ross-Barker of SI Widnes with a magnificent array of Fair Trade goods which were on display to be purchased – all money going to the Fair Trade cause. Secondly, we learnt from Ruth Bruce of SI Garstang the steps to becoming a Fair Trade Town and who also demonstrated articles of Fair Trade clothing sold within the area including shorts which displayed the quote  “Life is not fair but my shorts are!” Our club was able to impress our guests as our member Maureen Fearn is the present Mayor of Sefton who, in her civic

Soroptimist International of Southport enjoy an Annual Christmas Dinner and 2013 was no exception. The club’s Social Committee organised a wonderful evening at Hillside Golf Club, Southport. Over sixty people attended the dinner at and a very merry and entertaining evening was had by all!

Last November, whilst on a project to help extend a school in the poor rural village of Salgari in the Terai (lowland) area of Nepal, Gill Ribis from SI Southport Club and her good friend Sandy Cribb took the opportunity whilst in Kathmandu, to visit the recently chartered Soroptimist International club there. They were invited to meet the club members by President Uma Bhandaree and Secretary Deepa Khakurei (pictured with Gill) and were made very welcome.  The members were all really keen to show what they had been doing since the club had been chartered 12 months earlier. Gill said what a fantastic group of enthusiastic young women they were, eager to embrace the aims and objectives of Soroptimism which, in a country that does not have the best reputation for equal opportunities for women, is no easy task.

  The Mayor, Maureen Fearn and her consort, Frank Winrow, recently attended an International Evening hosted by Soroptimist International of Southport. The Chinese theme for the evening was enhanced with decorations, food and even a Tai Chi demonstration. Mayor Maureen, in thanking the club for their hospitality, said “It is a privilege to be part of fund raising for such a worthwhile cause.” All monies raised will provide solar lamps and cookers for women in third world countries.

  A Christmas Coffee Morning was held on Saturday 23rd November 2013 in aid of local charities. Over £800 was raised within two hours with members running events such as a bottle tombola, raffles, Christmas gifts and cakes.  

At the end of October, President Sandra Brookfield and 8 members of the Southport Club – plus some husbands – joined 1,200 Soroptimists from 29 countries at the 79th Federation Conference at the Sage Gateshead. The theme for this year’s conference, which ran from 31 October to 2 November, was: ‘From Vision to Action – Soroptimists Educating to Lead’. The delegates enjoyed a wide range of inspiring presentations, including International President Anne Garvie, Federation President Pat Black and keynote speakers Marie, Lady Stubbs and Baroness Helena Kennedy. The conference also gave an opportunity for members to use their time together to renew friendships and make new ones, working out more ways to make a difference to the lives of women and girls world-wide.  

On Sunday 4th August, a group of Soroptimists with husbands and friends enjoyed a wonderful afternoon at Gawsworth Hall. The concert chosen by President Sandra Brookfield was ‘Let’s Hang On’ featuring the music of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. But this was a Soroptimist visit, so NOT just a concert. With excellent and meticulous planning by Margaret Davies, we all brought components for a wonderful afternoon tea and buffet supper and a sumptuous picnic was enjoyed by all before we danced the night away to some great music from the 60s and 70s.