Mary welcomed Anna Curson, our speaker at our June meeting, and gave a brief introduction to the Free Legal Advice Group for Domestic Violence. FLAG DV was set up in October 2012, and registered as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO) in October 2013. The organisation was established to fill the gap left by the reduction in Legal Aid services. Anna explained that they currently operate in Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hampshire. The service is open to anyone over 18. The charity arranges free one-to-one legal advice usually by telephone, with a solicitor or legal advisor specialising in Family Law. They have a bank of solicitors/legal advisors who give their time free. She explained the client pathway. When FLAG DV cannot help, they will signpost other appropriate charities. She spoke of her own history, and how she came to work for FLAG DV. She went on to

Starting in 2017, the aim of this project is to provide an independent review across England of how Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts should be improved for victims of abuse, the majority of whom are women. The project has been carried out by Soroptimists across England and involved c4,000 hours of volunteer time in observations and in excess of 1,000 questionnaires were submitted in relation to observations made at over 30 courts. The final report (of four) is now available (July 2023) and the collective reports together come very close to being a comprehensive report on the way in which the Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts are working on a national basis. Soroptimists stand up as advocates for all women, especially for those who have no voice. We have worked as independent observers to give the public confidence in our courts, but we also want to drive

SI Thames Valley were delighted to host the Western Group meeting at Bourne End. with members from High Wycombe,  Newbury, Oxford, Slough Windsor & Maidenhead and Thames Valley clubs. Visit SI London Chilterns Region website for a report of the meeting. https://sigbi.org/london-chilterns/category/news/

Our speaker Ruth Walne played a short video that showed the range of medical procedures that they do and the effect this has on the patients and their families. Mercy Ships have been in operation for 40+ years offering free, life-changing surgeries to people in some of the poorest countries in the world. Most of Ruth’s work as a Plaster Technician, has been in West Africa. The ship arrives in country for about 9-10 months at a time. The types of surgery range from correcting bow-legs and knocked knees due to Ricketts [diet and possibly regionally related] to burns and tumour removal. On the Ruth’s Mercy Ship there were 5 operating theatres and 82 ward beds, where care givers sleep under the bed. There is a CT scanner, X-ray, a fully operational hospital Laboratory and Pharmacy. The ship is crewed by volunteers from over 40

The Ladies from Thames Valley wish all our friends a Peaceful Christmas and New Year  

  RAVIOLI?   No!   It’s bunting and was part of SI Thames Valley’s efforts to ORANGE Bourne End Market.   We were taking part in the United Nations’ Campaign to raise awareness and oppose Gender Based Violence which ran from November 24-December 10 2022 worldwide.   Stall holders willingly wore Orange ribbons too.   Contributions were also raised by the Trefoil Guild of Bourne End and stall holders of St. Paul’s church for the local Wycombe Women’s Aid which works constantly to combat Gender Based Violence and is regularly supported by SI Thames Valley