Members of SI Wakefield recently attended a Wakefield College event on the 3rd May aimed at promoting health and wellbeing to students. Our stand included information about the work of Soroptimist International and in particular our support of the Purple Teardrop campaign to raise awareness of trafficking. Our volunteers distributed Loves me/loves me not bookmarks to promote healthy relationships  to empower young people to make decisions to avoid abusive and controlling situations.

Members of SI Wakefield along with members of sister clubs from across Yorkshire came together at a fundraising dinner to mark International Womens Day recently. The event was held on the 17th March at the Cedar Court Hotel Wakefield and raised £8,000 which will be used to support Tasibeh Girls School in Pindi, Pakistan. The school is located in a very poor region of Pakistan and now educates over 100 girls and provides additional practical and financial support for many of their families. The school was set up and is supported by women from across the communities in Rotherham and South Yorkshire led by Khalida Luqman and her family.  Local  author Marina Lewycka was the guest speaker at the dinner. Marina is best known for her novel ‘A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian’, which sold over a million copies in the UK alone. She has donated short

Soroptimist International of Wakefield celebrated the 82nd anniversary of the club’s founding with a luncheon at the Hotel St Pierre, Newmillerdam on Sunday 13th March 2016. We were honoured with a visit from a Soroptimist sister from SI Hallamshire, the grace was given by our honorary long serving member C. Speeden, and several toasts were offered after a delicious meal. Pictured are members of the club with the framed original 1930s charter founding the club.

Soroptimist International Wakefield recently held a workshop to make washable, easy to use, feminine hygiene kits for girls in developing countries. Many girls in these countries have no access to feminine hygiene products which means that every month during menstruation they are forced to stay away from school, they suffer embarrassment, are considered unclean and they miss out on their education. The international initiative Days for Girls has prepared templates and instructions on making the kits; volunteers from many organisations travel overseas to supply kits to school girls, in some cases their mothers and other women in the community and, most importantly, to educate them on their use and how to make them themselves.

The Yorkshire Regional Soroptimist President asked Clubs in the area to support The Prince’s foundation for Children and the Arts and our Club held a fundraising Summer Soirée at member Linda’s home in August.  Linda organised an excellent meal and during the evening we were entertained by musicians with a range of different music – a really enjoyable evening.  The proceeds raised will be used to support local musicians.

S I Wakefield joined forces with S I Dewsbury to take part in the “Wear it Pink Day” in Ossett to support “Breast Cancer NOW”. We delivered Pamphlets and Collection Boxes to the Local Shops and we also had a Cake Stall and Teddy Bear Tombola at the Friday Market. We raised £300 on the day but with the Collection Boxes the Grand Total was £891.42

On Thursday, 23rd July, our members held a Friendship Evening at The Holmfield Arms, Wakefield. A relaxing was to enjoy a pleasant meal and the company of Members and their Guests. We also had the presentation of Long Service Award Certificates. Janet Sykes 50 years, Cynthia Speeden, Maureen Poulson and Eileen Farley 40 years, Marjorie Beardsell 35 years, Mary Lindley 30 years (absent on the Evening) and Anne Wood 25 years. A great way to end the Evening.

Our Yorkshire Regional President held a social day in Richmond and five of our Club enjoyed catching up with Angela and members of Richmond Club who were our hosts for the day.  As well as socialising (and eating cream scones) we were given a tour of the Georgian theatre which was built in 1788 and is the oldest working theatre in its original form in Britain and possibly Europe.   We also went to the Richmondshire Local History Museum which was the brain child of Soroptimists from Richmond.  This was a fascinating treasure trove, including a set from ‘All Creatures Great and Small’ and a Chemist shop fittings.  Both worth a visit!

Pupils of Stanley Grove school hand over backpacks to Wakefield Soroptimist Jane Walton. The backpacks have been collected and filled with essential items to be distributed to children in Africa by charity Mary’s Meals https://www.marysmeals.org.uk/?pl=GB  enabling them to attend school and improve their life chances.

Two of our members joined Rotary’s Kids Out event on 10 June, taking a party of children from Kingsland School Wakefield to Lightwater Valley Theme Park. Rotary Clubs from all over Yorkshire joined forces to give 600 children and their teachers and carers a special day out.