Lee Bates from Community Together CIC joined us for our October dinner meeting. He gave a very informative talk about the difference between Immigrants, migrants and refugees and how they have been helping them within Tamworth.
On Saturday 1st September SI Tamworth worked in conjunction with Jennifer Ann Hairdressers and Ankerside Shopping Centre to provide free hair cuts. We are delighted to report that donations were received totalling £166.50, which will be added to the charity funds for allocation to local charities. Our special thanks go to Ankerside for providing us with the venue to carry out this event and to the ladies from Jennifer Ann, Jennifer herself of course and the two stylists Sarah and Debbie for all their hard work in providing 32 haircuts! Thanks also go to the Tamworth Soroptimists who came along to help and chat with people – often having to explain about Soroptimism as well, so an exercise of awareness.
SI Tamworth member, Gill Pallet swam 90 lengths for SIGBI’s 90 year anniversary. Other members also rose to the challenge of ‘90 for 90’ celebration including running 90km, learning a language for 90 days, knitting 90 flowers, sewing 90 bags and collecting 90 pairs of shoes for local charities. Members also collected over 90 food items to donate to Tamworth Foodbank.
Tamworth Soroptimists were proud to help in the creation of the giant Mercian flag made by various community groups for Athelstan 1100. We thank Debbie Missfit Creations and Tamworth Castle for giving us the opportunity of to be part of this wonderful project.
Our local Tamworth Foodbank asked for donations of mostly cereal and cordial. We had a collection at our February business meeting and took the items the following day along with a £10 donation.
Soroptimist International Tamworth members are supporting the United Nations Orange the World – 16 Days of Action to end Violence Against Women. To raise awareness for the campaign this year SI Tamworth’s theme, is the face these women often present to the world whilst hiding a life of fear, pain, shame and despair. It is a worrying statistic that 2961 incidents of Violence and Sexual Assault and 1061 incidents of stalking and sexual harassment were recorded in Tamworth in 2023. In order to draw attention to this issue, members have made orange flowers which have been stitched onto the dress of a mannequin ‘Chloe’ symbolising the two faces of women suffering violence. ‘Chloe’ is on display in Ankerside from 25 November to 10 December, the 16 days of the Orange the World Campaign. If you, or anyone you know can relate to this issue please
At our November dinner meeting we had a very informative talk from Dementia Care UK. They run groups for people with dementia and their carers. For more information visit Dementia Caring
October is Breast Cancer awareness month and people all over the world show their support for everyone affected by breast cancer. SI Tamworth promoted the month by having an tombola stall to raise funds for Breast Cancer UK (https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/ ) and to provide members of the public with leaflets about breast care. The Club would like to thank Ankerside Shopping Centre,Tamworth for allowing us to have a stall and everyone who generously donated on the day. We raised £355.
President Elect Gill and members of SI Tamworth welcomed new members Liz and Michelle. Both said they were delighted to be a part of SI Tamworth and are looking forward to becoming involved with Club events.
Caroline Fotheringham of the Sexual Abuse Rape Advice Centre (SARAC) Charity gave a talk to Soroptimist International Tamworth members after their recent Dinner Meeting at Drayton Manor Hotel. Members were pleased to learn more about the support that the charity provides to adults and young people. SARAC offers specialist confidential support for people, over the age of 11, in Tamworth, Burton, Lichfield, Uttoxeter, Swadlincote and South Derbyshire who are at risk of or have experienced sexual violence and/or rape at any time in their lives. In the period April 2023 to March 2024 the charity has supported 467 adults and 193 children. Sadly, like many charities they are suffering from a reduction in funding, at a time when demand for their support is increasing, and they are actively seeking company sponsors to help them to continue to deliver their vital support. Following the talk SI
