Individuals have raised funds, donated money and made crafts throughout the year Healthcare  £400.00 to Breast Cancer Now Face masks and scrub bags made and donated to healthcare workers £400 to Shakespeare Hospice Education Funds for two UNICEF Schools-in-a-Box £200.00 given to Book Aid from our Book Club members Elimination of Violence 14 Welcome packs donated for women and children for Stratford Women’s Refuge; 5 more in reserve Gift of money put towards refurbishment of the Refuge Economic Empowerment 1,200 washable sanitary towel packs made and sent to the Kori Project in Sierra Leone for ladies to stitch and sell. Also made and sent were zip purses, dresses, baby cardigans, hats, blankets, and soft toys – 374 items in all. Environment Tree planted to mark SI centenary £300.00 donated to Heart of England Forest Recycling for Good Causes continues benefiting Tools with a Mission and

Our 2020 Challenge:  Each club member to raise £20.00 by the end of October.  Over £600 collected so far and more to come.  To benefit our sub-group charities Health (Breast Cancer Now) Education (School in a Box). Also Book Club has sent nearly £200.00 to International Book Aid Environment (Trees for Heart of England Forest). Also Collection of recyclable items raised £47.00 Community Work Garden at Stratford Hospital – regular provision of plants and upkeep continues Women’s Refuge –liaison ongoing and more Welcome packs being put together. Free hand sanitiser organised, teddies knitted and play area for children being made safe. Kori Project, Sierra Leone We continue to contribute to this project for women that aims to raise awareness of the dangers of FGM as well as providing training, tools and equipment for agricultural development. International Day of Peace, 21st September We celebrated with a

Club member Rose works in the NHS and has had to adapt her working practices during the coronavirus epidemic. She comments: “I had no idea that my job was going to become dangerous to my health. I cannot work by phone as I need to take a small blood sample -a thing I cannot do from two meters away as my arms are not long enough! So now I work in mask, gloves, apron and very snazzy pink scrubs. The majority of my patients are elderly and some are shielding so we now do drive through clinics in the Practice car park, home visits and last week I went to see four ladies in a retirement complex sitting in the four corners of their communal lounge.“ When not at work Rose makes bags for NHS scrubs –over 200 so far.

Enduring the March rain, hail and strong winds Judy, Sarah and Peter (on behalf of Rose!) reached their target of cycling a total of 200 miles in aid of Smart Works. Over £900.00 was raised for this charity which has great success in supporting women back into work through interview technique training and the supply of suitable clothes. https://smartworks.org.uk

  We were delighted to be joined by members of our Friendship Link Clubs in the Netherlands, Norway, Italy, South Africa and Wigan UK to mark the 60th year of the Stratford Club.  The weekend began with a Friday  evening barbeque for 40 at a member’s home. On Saturday visitors either took a coach trip to the Cotswolds or took a look at the club practical Programme Action.  Another trip was arranged to the Hospital Garden which the club maintains and for which we have just won a special award by South Warwickshire Volunteers.  Then helping to pack the welcome pack for the local Women’s Refuge, also part of our Practical Action programme.  Lastly 243 washable sanitary towels were made up to go to the Kori Project, Sierra Leone.  Saturday evening we were joined by members from around the region for a dinner prepared by

  We were delighted to win a Special Recognition award at the South Warwickshire Volunteer Awards Ceremony on June 13th.  Our green fingered gardeners have been carrying out round-the-year maintenance – planting, pruning and watering – of the Nicol Ward Garden of Stratford Hospital for the past 14 years, providing pleasure for patients and staff alike. In addition to club funds donations from Stratford Town Trust have enabled the planting of perennial lavenders and roses, supplemented throughout the year with colourful bedding plants and annual seeds.  We were nominated by Dr Cristina Ramos from Rother House Medical Centre who look after the patients during their stay. Chairman of the County Council, Cllr Mrs Nicola Davies presented the trophy to club members Gillian Loader and Rose Hutchinson.    

  It was announced in the May SIGBI news briefing that SIGBI has reached the target of raising £150,000 for the Meru Women’s Garden Project. Amanit Dhillon, from Child.org, says, “The determination, passion and effort of every member to reach £150,000 has inspired all of us here at Child.org. You have worked tirelessly to support the women and girls of Meru and enabled Child.org to empower the local community for the long term.” The full article can be found in the May 2019 edition of SIGBI News Briefing. https://meruwomen.org https://Child.org

  Five club members joined 35 other Soroptimists in a visit to the United Nations Building in Geneva.This is the centre for multilateral diplomacy, human rights, peace and security. After a tour of the building they met the local Soroptimist representative at the UN, Kristin Reynisdottir.  A report by club member Rose Hutchinson is attached.

  Members attending the May meeting acknowledge mental health week by wearing a variety of shades of green as can be seen from our six members who participated in a dementia awareness activity led by Emma Bridgewater, our guest speaker. Those members attending have become Dementia Friends, joining the UK’s biggest ever initiative to change the way people think, act and talk about dementia.  We were introduced to five key messages:  dementia is not a natural part of ageing  dementia is caused by diseases of the brain dementia is not just about losing your memory – it can affect thinking, communicating and doing everyday tasks  it is possible to live well with dementia there’s more to the person than dementia               Please help us to pass the message on visit   http://dementiafriends.org.uk       or email  dementiafriends@alzheimers.org.uk or

Spring flowers provide a riot of colour for the Nicol Ward Garden of the Stratford Hospital. These bring cheer to patients and staff alike. We first undertook round-the-year maintenance of this small haven of peace in 2005. Generous donations from the Stratford Town Trust have enabled planting of perennial lavenders and roses that are supplemented throughout the year with colourful bedding plants and annual seeds. Our gardening team of members meets monthly with the exception of January and February.