This Christmas there are many young people who will be living on their own for the first time with little support or family around them as they are spending their first Christmas on their own after leaving the care system. To support the council care leavers team who check in and support these vulnerable young people Wakefield District Soroptimists took up a collection of small gifts which will be distributed by youth workers over the Christmas period. To find out more about the vital work of the care leavers team with 16-25 year olds in our district visit their website at https://www.wakefield.gov.uk/children-and-families/local-offer-to-care-leavers

Wakefield District Soroptimists and their ‘Soropti-mister’ husbands and partners enjoyed a Christmas dinner and celebration of festive friendship at the White Horse, Sharlston on  the 12th December. Dinner was followed by festive readings and games and a collection of gifts was  made for young people in our district leaving care this year.

A delegation from Soroptimist International Wakefield and district braved the November cold to join the first Wakefield Reclaim the Night march in solidarity with other groups and individuals on Thursday 27th November. This marks day three of the UN Women 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign (25 November – 10 December)  #NoExcuse. Club members wore orange and participated in banner making workshops and held an information stall prior to the march. Huge thanks to the organisers for enabling a fantastic event.

Soroptimists from Wakefield have been busy knitting tiny baby jackets for the neonatal unit at Leeds to help  keep tiny babies snug. Tiny jackets knitted with love are on their way to support these little miracles and their anxious parents soon.

Soroptimist sisters were honoured to attend this year’s festival of remembrance in Wakefield and lay a wreath to the fallen.

Members visited the South West Yorkshire Partnership Teaching NHS Foundation Trust mental health museum based at Fieldhead Hospital to gain an insight into the historical reasons why women were admitted to the former West Riding asylum later known as Stanley Royd hospital and their subsequent treatment. Interesting that more patients were female and their conditions ranged from asthma to having a baby out of wedlock. Thanks to Jackie and Sally for the talk.  This local museum is well worth a visit and has many interesting artefacts on display.

SI Wakefield and District members enjoyed a literary evening with guest SI Yorkshire President Judith Clarke on Thursday 25th September. Club members shared extracts from their favourite books which covered a wide range of genres. It was a double celebration as the group also was celebrating our Yorkshire Presidents Award for our charity fundraising challenges activity and long time member and past club and Yorkshire president Judith Alce’s birthday.

With the colder weather approaching SI Wakefield and District have taken up a collection of a bumper harvest bundle of items for CAPS Wakefield to help support them this Autumn. We managed to collect a staggering 90 assorted food items.  It included: 20 tins of baked beans, 11 tins of spaghetti, 25 tins of soup, 2 pasta, 16 cans/boxes of chopped tomatoes, 3 cans of tuna, 2 packets of biscuits, 1 box of tea bags, 3 bottles of juice, 5 chocolate drinks powder, 1 ready to eat porridge, 1 tin of potatoes!  

Members of Soroptimist International of Wakefield and District joined with members of Garstang club on Wednesday 21st May for a day of friendship and fun out in the dales at Gargrave, near Skipton. There was Coffee, lunch, lots of chat and sunshine. pictured here are  members enjoying a day out together. Thanks to Garstang club members for being the hosts in their beautiful part of the world!

The annual Charter dinner for Soroptimist International Wakefield and District was held at the White Horse, Sharlston on the 27th March 2025. Members enjoyed a delicious meal and quiz followed by presentations and speeches. Pictured are award recipients and attendees on the night. Thanks to the staff at the White Horse for their super service.