Stockport Club in partnership with Stockport Metropolitan Borough Council obtained funding from the Lottery for a celebration of International Womens Day on Monday March 8th. The theme of the day was “Women Working for Community Cohesion” and women from diverse ethnic groups enjoyed an early evening celebration at Stockport’s Art Gallery. Speakers from Stockport’s twin towns, Beziers and Heilbronn enhanced the event. Regional President Srya also spoke about the position of women in the world.  All the talks engendered a lot of very interesting discussion. Delegates enjoyed the opportunity of half an hours dancing and singing. Students from Stockport College offered hand massage and nail care and this proved very popular. There was also a splendid buffet giving tastes of international cuisine.  

Members enjoy meeting every year during the August break. This year lunch was enjoyed in the rustic setting of the Coffee Tavern at Pott Shrigley with really good food.

We have now seen the end of all our hard work and the beginning of a new phase when the Sanctuary Room at Stockport Police Station was opened by the Head of Greater Manchester Police Peter Fahy. Members of Stockport Soroptimist wanted a really special project for their 70th Year in the Borough last year. They have long worked with Stockport’s Refuge for women victims of domestic abuse, but they were aware of the need for somewhere really comfortable at the Police Station for any one suffering the immediate trauma of abuse. Over the year the club raised £5,000 and in May a cheque for this amount was handed over and the work began to prepare the room that the Stockport Police had dedicated.   Now the room is ready with comfortable sofa and chair, a box stool which contains children’s toys, simple light wood furniture for