Once again our efforts as a team have been rewarded with another £1000 grant from the Newcastle Building Society and the Community Foundation.  This will enable us to put together 12 more bags bringing the total to 92. We aim for 100 asap!! We were also delighted to meet Michael Patterson, part of the team who decides which grant applications are successful and he chose SI Tynemouth, Whitley Bay & District.  Popping around to present our club with a gift box.                 

Soroptimists around the world have surpassed themselves in using TWITTER to raise awareness of the gender imbalance of violence against women…… but it doesn’t stop there.  According to UK government figures from 2012, assault and domestic murders spike 25 percent over the Christmas period.     

 20 PAIRS OF PJ’S, WRAPPED, LABELLED AND SOON TO BE DELIVERED TO HARBOUR REFUGE, THANK YOU WBHS SOROPS!

One of the best Christmas celebrations – nearly every member made it, we welcomed new linked member Jo, our four younger guests: Kate, Kate,Jasmine and Alex from WBHS Sorops along with recognition of long service to our club, Wilma = 50 years and Margaret Alderson = 40 years.  Thanks to newbies Louise S and Karen H for sharing this special occasion with Wilma & Margaret. How generous are our members and supporters with over 121 wrapped gifts for Harbour, sacks full of toys too.  As is our custom instead of Secret Santa each member hangs a bag of £1 coins on our tree and this year £140 will be used to buy sanitary protection for The Red Box Project and our raffle money goes to the hard working staff of The Sandpiper, our meeting venue as they look after us throughout the year. MERRY CHRISTMAS

Soroptimists from all over the UK were encouraged to add their images to The People’s Picture – the Face of Suffrage on display on the concourse at Birmingham New Street Station from November 15th to the 14th December, the day women voted for the first time. Many Soroptimist pictures were included in the montage. Congratulations to everyone who was included. The effect is absolutely amazing. Member Louise’s daughter Jane, who lives in Birmingham, spent time to find our picture followed by Louise who paid a surprise visit to see the completed picture and her daughter. . For more information www.thepeoplespicture.com/thefaceofsuffrage To view the whole image https://goo.gl/ziCzTk

President Judy’s annual Christmas Shopping Bonanza raises £707 and we’re hoping for more after our Christmas meal on December 10th.  All monies raised goes into our charity pot – totted up at the end of the presidential year to be given to our nominated charities -Tyneside MIND & Manzini Youth Project. HUGE THANKS to friends, neighbours, family and of course members for their continued AWESOME efforts.  

  This annual walk attracts more people every year – it’s a sociable, healthy way of starting the UN 16 days of Activism to raise awareness of the how many women, and men suffer from domestic violence.  Thank you to the North of Tyne Domestic Awareness Week and to Lesley Pyle – this is the 10th anniversary of this walk.

Liked the pace of the meeting, despite the internet crashing and the PA system not working it was a worthwhile day – and thoroughly entertained by SI Newcastle dramatic interpretation of their court observations but read the report – it’s a serious subject – we should all be more informed.   Read the full report by following the link below. https://www.gov.uk/government/publictions

Looking forward to working with Year 12 and more ideas from Year 13’s, – they’re going to make great Soroptimists and work to make the world a better place for women and girls. First task to write a lable for the bags made for the women at Harbour Refuge. Such thoughtful young women. Thank-you.  

Regional President Shirley Hallam’s fun wine tasting and quiz raises £55, with a little help form Aldi – oooh we all love a bargain!!!