President Julie has chosen Leaving Care WMDC as one of the projects for Soroptimist International Wakefield and District 2024/25 Julie & Programme Action Convener Amanda met with the Team Leader, Stephanie of the Leaving Care Team to agree on how SI could support young people Leaving Care. The final decision was to provide a “Provisions Bank”.  A list of items from Beans to Tea Bags was developed.  Members were asked to bring items to a meeting on 27/6.  On 28/6  Pasta 8, Noodles 10, Crackers 2, Tins 33,  Tuna15, Peanut Butter 2, Jam 5, Instant Porridge 3, Cereals 3, Pain au chocolate 2, Tea bags 4, Coffee 2, washing up liquid 3, Shower gel 7, Toothpaste 5, Deodorant 2, Washing Liquid 3, Sanitary products 5, Pants Female 5, Male 5, Socks 7, Toilet bags 2, Soup 4, Nutella 1 & finally pasta Sauce 2 were delivered to the Leaving Care

Blankets and Baby Jumpers to My Hospital Charity – Mid Yorkshire Hospital  In June 9 knitted blankets and 25 baby cardigans were delivered to Pinderfields Hospital. These blankets are used in various wards across the complex, including dementia, palliative care and children’s wards. Katie a Play Specialist at the Trust has said that:  “The play team feel the blankets are fantastic for our complex needs children to use as a comforter or soother. The knitted items are used to benefit some of our children undergoing procedures to reinforce a positive experience.”  This is Wakefield and District’s 6th year working in partnership with MyHospitalCharity.  This Project also  supports people who have identified as having mental health issues as knitting is known to be good for health and well-being. 

June 2024 Orange Café This month 5 members of the club visited a local Sainsburys Supermarket Café. We had been given permission to display information about “Orange Café” and Soroptimist International and the “STOP Violence Against Women and Girls cards.  Members spoke to 10 women about the purpose of the café and answered questions regarding Soroptimism.

President Julie has challenged members of Wakefield and District to complete 90 challenges during her presidency to celebrate the club’s 90th year. Members have recorded individual challenges as well as ones for the club. Julie set herself a personal challenge of swimming in open water. Julie has been training since January 2024, and completed the on 8th June when she took part in the Great North Swim in Lake Windermere. This project is multi-faceted as it encourages members to challenge themselves and benefit others as well, in this instance it will raise funds for a young person’s charity, Julie had worked with Gold From the Stone Foundation to raise funds by asking people to sponsor her. This foundation provides Christmas Lunch for young people who have left care, to ensure they have a meal and a gift. Watch out for more challenges throughout the year!

SI Wakefield and District members worked with others from the  Yorkshire Region and Yorkshire Wildlife Trust to collect small plastic items from Scarborough South Shore Beach on 6th June 2024.  We were reminded that small plastic including cigarette butts, these contain toxins and can take15yr to disintegrate. Items collected also included socks, underwear, drink cups and a nail!

On 24th May SI Wakefield and district members held a successful Orange Café at Sainsburys Ings Road to promote the work of soroptimists, raise awareness of the 16 days of activism and raise awareness of Domestic Abuse and the support services available. Leaflets and Cards have provided information about the purpose of Orange Cafés.  To find out more about Orange cafes and what they are all about see the SIGBI blog at  https://thehub.sigbi.org/blog/view/Orange_Cafes__why_are_they_important_5qg

We were honoured to have no less than three SI presidents at our recent AGM. Our new club president Julie Clarke received her chain of office for this year in the presence of Yorkshire president and fellow Wakefield and District club member Sally Westwood, plus we were also honoured by a visit from  national president Ruth Healey! The theme of the evening was orange in support of the UN campaign to end violence against women. Find out more at  https://www.unwomen.org/en/what-we-do/ending-violence-against-women/unite/orange-the-world

Wakefield and District Soroptimists celebrated the 90th anniversary of their founding in 1934 recently. The celebration event was a luncheon hosted at Wakefield Town Hall on Saturday 2nd March 2024.  Soroptimism in Wakefield was celebrated with guests from across the region, Ruth Healey SIGBI president, Susie Westwood Yorkshire president, the Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield and guest speaker and star of Great British Bake Off Karen Wright. Congratulations to Cynthia, Marjorie and Susie who all received recognition certificates for long service to soroptimism.

Soroptimists from Wakefield and district club volunteered together to help with the tree planting effort at Bullcliffe Wood on the 21st February 2024. Soroptimists planted 60 trees between them on the day as part of a much bigger project to plant the White Rose Forest across West and North Yorkshire over the next few years. Anyone can volunteer as part of this winter’s tree planting programme, further information can be found at https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/woodland

Members of Soroptimist International Wakefield and District met at the Spring Cafe, Barnsley Road on Thursday 25th January for an orange afternoon tea to show solidarity against and  raise awareness of domestic violence and its impact on the lives of women and girls.