The DIVA Walk is part of  North of Tyne Domestic Abuse Awareness Week – from 25 Nov 2018 Did you know? 25% of women are affected by domestic violence during their adult lifetimes 16% of men are affected by domestic violence during their adult lifetimes 58% of abused women miss at least three days of work a month 33% of all domestic violence homicides happened on workplace grounds 56% of abused women arrive late for work at least five times 5% of men in England and Wales experienced DV in the last year alone 7% of women in England and Wales experienced DV in the last year alone £2 Billion is the annually cost of DV and Abuse to businesses    

John Bower gave an interesting introduction to mindfulness, suggesting the works of Jon Kabatt-Zinn as a useful starting point.  As a lay Buddhist John will accompany members to the monastery at Harnham in the spring after the monk’s winter retreat. https://ratanagiri.org.uk/

These young women never cease to impress me: their confidence, their commitment to women’s issues, giving up their time to helping women & children in our region – yes – ALL OF THIS and tackling 4 -5 A’levels, UCAS applications and all of the stresses of 21st c life. A HUGE THANK YOU from our club!  With money left over they will buy PJ’s for the children at Christmas time – what a lovely idea!!    

On the last evening of Conference we celebrate past Regional Presidents and welcome the new!  Well done Linda Johnson on a fantastic year and good luck to Shirley Hallam as the new Regional President of Northern England.                 

           

I think we should congratulate our club – YES!! Let’s celebrate our success! Presentation of the last 10 bags to make 80.  DCI Claire Wheatley and her team at Northumbria Police could not continue to support the increasing number of victims without our contributions.  Huge thanks again to private donations, Greggs Foundation and more recently Newcastle Building Society for a grant of £3000 allowing us to put together 40 bags.

SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District have a reputation - thanks to Anne, each year we have a knitted brooch - starting off with POPPIES in MALTA - WHITE RIBBONS in CARDIFF & now ORANGE FLUFFY FLOWERS to Orange the World for Liverpool. The ACC is a modern purpose-built Conference centre with ample space for the Exhibition and coffee area. Terry Waite, CBE, who became known when he was held a hostage in the Lebanon for five years. These days he is president of the charity Y Care International, the YMCA’s international development and relief agency. Sally Kettle is an ocean rower and the first woman to row the Atlantic Ocean twice from East to West. International President, Mariet Verhoef-Cohen Mariet, from the Federation of Europe, took up her post in July 2017.. Recognised as an expert on the topic of water and how it

A statue of a suffragette famously trampled to death by the king’s horse has been unveiled in her home town. Emily Wilding Davison, from Morpeth, was killed when she stepped into the race track at the Epsom Derby in 1913. Northumberland County Council commissioned the statue which was unveiled in the town’s Carlisle Park. It was made by Durham sculpture Ray Lonsdale and its unveiling marks the 100th anniversary of the first women getting the right to vote in the UK. The statue shows Ms Davison while on hunger strike in prison throwing her food on the ground, knowing she would be force fed.

Regional President Linda  welcomes ‘BLOOD BIKES’ to the Regional Meeting inside the Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner Northumbria Blood Bikes is a registered charity established by local volunteers to deliver essential blood and urgent medical supplies, out of hours, between hospitals and other healthcare sites in North East England. Northumbria Blood Bikes’ funding comes entirely from charitable donations, and the service is provided solely by volunteers, giving their own free time to help others. In critical situations, blood or other medical items need to be delivered urgently in order to save a patient’s life. Blood bikes, with their distinctive livery, emergency lights, and narrow profile, can quickly get through busy traffic to reach their destination. Work to establish the group started in September 2012, and the team of dedicated volunteers, with live operations commencing in February 2014.  By the end of that year they were supporting hospitals across the