Eight emergency New Start bags were handed over to a member of the Cleveland Police Complex Exploitation Team. The bags will be used for victims of trafficking, modern day slavery or child safeguarding.

Sue Scott chaired the meeting and introduced the speaker Joanne Horner, Managing Director of Lakota Training Group and her partner, Jackie Bedingfield. Lakota help long term unemployed by establishing groups, arts and crafts, friendship groups, group therapy, giving confidence and helping 50% of their clients into work.

Some members had a tour around the garden centre in Stockton run by Shaw Trust, followed by coffee and excellent scones. Shaw Trust is a social enterprise and charity supporting adults with learning disabilities and autism.

Good quality second hand bedding and clothing was delivered to the Purple Rose drop-in centre.

Sue S and Sue M delivering July’s donation to the Trussell Trust food bank at Billingham

Our speaker at July’s meeting was Asiya Dashwood, the Emergency Planning Officer Community Resilience.

  Our member, Julie, has been busy making hygiene bags for the Meserani Project. They have now arrived in Tanzania and have been distributed.

Julie and Sue delivering items to the Stockton and Billingham food bank