Barbara Saunders OBE welcomed everyone to the 68th Annual General Meeting of Soroptimist International St Albans & District.
We were delighted to be able to welcome guests Liz Perry from the SAHWR Refuge and Kate Belinis DL, SI London Chilterns Region President.
Barbara asked us to spend two minutes in silence at the start of the AGM as a moment of reflection to remember past Members Jean Eaton, Christine Farrington and Jean Jolly who had all sadly passed away in the last year.
All Officers Reports including the Accounts and the Financial Report had been distributed to members in advance of the meeting. Club Members should refer to these for full details.
We started with a financial update from our Treasurer Sarah Lichman. When we looked back we realised what a huge amount we had achieved in just one year! We donated a total of almost £5000 to a number of very worthwhile causes. The SAHWR Refuge benefited from over £2500, we increased our investment in Lend with Care by £100. Other beneficiaries were: SI Foundation, Alzheimer’s Society, Red Cross, Willen Hospice, Viewpoint,
Steve Sinnott Foundation, Riding for the Disabled, Herts Domestic Abuse Helpline, Youth Talk, St Albans Community Pantry, Herts Young Homeless, Ver Valley Society and Rape Crisis! We have also paid for a tree and plaque in Jean Eaton’s memory. The tree will be dedicated and the plaque unveiled at the St Albans Civic Rose Garden on Wed 23 Apr.
Update from the SAHWR Refuge
Barbara welcomed Liz Perry, one of the Managers of the Refuge who gave the Meeting an update. The Refuge are contracted through HCC’s single provider – Safer Spaces.
Liz thanked us for our continuing support – the funds, Christmas gifts and the tea & coffee we provide. She said our money goes towards “building families back up”. Liz also reported that the work that our Member Kat Clark is doing with the Refuge and Viewpoint is really helpful for them.
Our Treasurer Sarah was able to present Liz with a cheque for £1200.
Barbara has volunteered to be the liaison with the Refuge (it had been Jean Eaton). All agreed to support Barbara in this role.
Refuge is now called “Safe Accommodation”. Liz and Jane Slatter were trying to remember how long the Club has been supporting them and they agreed that it must be more than 20 years! SAHWR has housing for 20 families across houses and flats. The Community outreach service that they offer covers St Albans, Hertsmere and Dacorum Council areas. Over the 20 years people’s lives have become more complicated. There is more domestic abuse and the abuse is more corrosive, with coercive control and the mental side of abuse. Liz said that the money that we donate goes towards building families back up in 4 months they can start rebuilding people’s lives. Liz described someone known as “The Bubble Man” who comes to the refuge with his therapy dog – he is actually a barrister. He does bubble experiments in the garden with the children. He builds a firepit and they toast marshmallows and make popcorn. Liz says it is really moving to see the kids relax in his company, showing that they are feeling secure and safe. At the moment they have a cohort of 18-21 year olds (Liz asks where are their families???). Liz and the team have been teaching them to how to budget, cook and live in the community. They have arranged work experience for them. The communities are a place to nurture people, managing the complexities of mental health, drug and alcohol abuse, families whose first language isn’t English. Liz describes it as a happy place, they move people on in a better place than they were in when they arrived. They have a new 7 bedroom house and a bungalow locally after they were evicted from 2 properties last year. Liz said that our money can equip the playroom in the house – a really important place and somewhere close to Liz’s heart because she started out working with children in care. It will also pay for a seaside day trip in the summer – they have been going by coach to Walton-on-the-Naze for many years now – an old fashioned sea-side resort where everyone can just enjoy the sand and the sea. They are hoping to be able to take clients to more Health and Wellbeing sessions at the Cassiobury Farm and Fishery site in Watford.
After this there were lots of questions – as always!
Q: Where are people moved on to?
A: Too often it is to hotels, which sets people back after all the nurturing and learning at the refuge, so Liz said they are looking to get a property as a “move on” house.
Q: what has happened for this cohort of young women to seek refuge?
A: Family breakdown, honour-based abuse, they are vulnerable.
Q: Where do referrals come from?
A: Safe accommodation referrals some from local authorities and social services. Community support referrals often come from the Police.
Q: Are you spread more thinly now your services include Dacorum? How is it working?
A: Liz said they are coping. Local authorities pay for 16 bed spaces, the rest is paid for from housing benefits until properly funded. She said they really need more houses for people with complex needs, although she likes the mix with everyone living together. For it to work they set clear boundaries of integrity, treating people with dignity and respect – and she said it is a lot of fun!!
With the cost of loving and financial crisis they have to “look in the box” to make sure that they are doing everything right.
Regional President Kate commented that she was saddened that not much has changed – people have chaotic lives, get in a mess and need help.
Next we heard from Kate Belinis DL President of SI London Chilterns Region.
Kate was able to introduce herself and talk about the amazing 18 months she has had as President – her term ends in October. The themes she chose of Inspirational Women and Impactful Women was to shine a light on our own amazing members. The Region organises 4 mini-conferences a year – a mix of online and face-to-face. They are a great way to see the bigger picture – our Club has the opportunity to be involved when we host the Region meeting in Redbourn on Sat 7 Jun. Our Club is fortunate to have Denise Powell, Helen Byrne and Jane Slatter as Officers of the Region – Treasurer, Membership and Communications respectively.
Membership – The Club has been delighted to be able to welcome three new Members – Councillor Dr Allison Wren, Nonhlanhla Nyathi (Nono) and Sue Rayment.
Communication – Jane reported there had been significant action during the year connected with our best ever “Orange the World” campaign for which we achieved more great media coverage.
Programme Action – the Club had submitted 24 Programme Focus Report Forms (PFRFs), the biggest number yet!
We had separate reports from the Peace Team, the Planet Team, the People Team and about Lend With Care microfinancing – with the drive of these amazing teams no wonder we have achieved so much! Click here to find out how the teams work: https://sigbi.org/st-albans/about-our-club/project-teams/.
Friendship Links – our 5 Friendship Links in the US, Germany, Poland, Japan and the Seychelles are very important for our Club, and help us keep in contact with Soroptimist Clubs in the European, American, and African Federations of Soroptimist International. Last year in April we had a visit from Members and families from SI Muenster – managed by Jean Eaton, so that many of our Members were able to join in – please see the website for more: https://sigbi.org/st-albans/muenster24/.
Cecile Hodoul from Seychelles visited last October. It was her Club’s 30th Anniversary last year and we were able to present Cecile with two books about St Albans and a birthday card to take back with her. Cecile talked to us about some of the challenges in the Seychelles with healthcare and the environment and the Club’s projects in these areas.
The Club’s Officers for 2025/26 are on this page of the website: https://sigbi.org/st-albans-and-district/about-our-club/club-officers/
At the end of the AGM Barbara presented Jane Slatter with a large pink ceramic plant pot, planted with pink flowering plants to thank Jane for everything she does for the Club. Jane was quite taken aback with the lovely surprise.
After the meeting cake/biscuits and refreshments were enjoyed by everyone to celebrate all that the Club had achieved in the last year.
Congratulations to all the Members and supporters of SI St Albans & District – what a brilliant year – here’s to the next one!