Our Friendship Links Syringe Driver Bags – May 2018 saw the Club primed for action in its 80th year with a Club Sew-A-Thon resulting in over 40 bags that enable patients to carry and move around with syringe driver of medication e.g., pain relief, that are attached to them via a cannula. The Sew-A-Thon work has continued into 2019 with bags made available to patients in St Ann’s Hospice, Stockort and Macclesfield via the District Nurses.          

Pleased to have a presence at Wyevale Garden Centre in Stockport on a busy pre-Easter weekend.  Promoting the Club, our work and benefits of membership has been enhanced with the addition of new display stands, posters and Club leaflets, as well photos and reports on our action based activities.

In addition to supporting the local foodbanks with items for users to eat, a need was identified for personal hygiene products. Pictured here is Myra Woodcock in delivery mode supplying items sourced by the Club. Pleased to say that Myra is also holding the Club’s new publicity and promotional poster!

SI Stockport & District were delighted to present Katy from Stockport Signpost for Young Carers with a cheque for £500 from Immediate Past President Ingrid, this being the last of the Club’s donations from Ingrid’s year 2016/17.  Katy gave a short talk on her work at Signpost Young Carers and in particular the Outward Bound Project that the donation will support.  Such projects give often isolated young carers a place to talk, make friends and be active outside of their carer roles and responsibilities.

SI  Stockport & District  were delighted to welcome Federation President Sue Biggs to the launch of our 80th Anniversary celebrations held at Hazel Grove Bowling Club on January 30th. Sue spoke about attending the United Nations in both Geneva and New York and how SI local domestic abuse work contributed to UN reporting.  In addition Sue talked about how important being a Soroptimist was to her personally. SI Stockport and District President Eleanor Reakes with Federation President Sue Biggs, the Mayor of Stockport Councillor Linda Holt and SI Stockport and District President Elect Sue Gledhill The Club was joined by Sorops. from across the North West including those from SE Lancs and our Friendship Link Club Buxton.  As part of the launch we aim to recruit 80 individuals by the year end who will support the Club and learn more about our projects locally, nationally

Pamela Brown, seen here seated with son Robin, celebrated her 90th birthday this January.  Over 50 people joined Pamela at her home for the party.  As well as longstanding membership of SI Stockport & District (joined 1988 and now an honorary member) and holding many roles within the Club, Pamela was Regional Press and Publicity Officer from 1994-2012 and on the Federation Conference Committee with responsibility for Press and Publicity 1994-96.  A good time was had by all, with thanks to Pamela for her hospitality.  Pamela continues to use her journalistic and creative skills in designing the Menu/Programme for the Club’s Annual Charter Meal and allow her lovely garden to host the annual Plant Sale.

Five members of Stockport & District Soroptimists have been working on a project at the Wellspring – a centre for for homeless and disadvantaged people in Stockport.  Over the last 12 months we have been involved with the Women’s Group teaching and developing knitting and craft based skills.  The Women’s Group meets one afternoon a week and our aims areprimarily to encourage, equip and enable the women to achieve short-term goals yet learn new life long skills. To this end one of the highlights of the year has been to take part in a tabletop sale at the local Community centre, where the women show-cased their knitted cushions and Christmas decorations.  

President Ingrid with youngest Soroptimister