SI Wakefield are working with Mary’s Meals a social enterprise based in Scotland that works with organisations to provide children in developing countries with backpacks and items which will enable them to attend school. A pilot was run in July with Stanley Grove school. Jane Walton, SI member and a  governor at the school, visited school and spoke to pupils in Year 6 about the project asking them to consider donating their backpacks and items such as pencils, paper and other stationery items. As a result a number of pupils made donations. This was covered by the Wakefield Express and local schools were encouraged to join the project which will continue until the New Year in order to take advantage of backpacks being donated post Christmas. pencils and notebooks.

SI Wakefield President Marjorie Wilde hosted a coffee morning at her home on the 26th September to raise money for Macmillan Nurses in Wakefield.  Fifty people attended the event buying coffee, cakes, plants and mystery bottles raising £1250 in the process. The event was covered by the Wakefield Express .

Three of our members joined Rotary’s Kids Out event on 11 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.

80 years young! Soroptimist International of Wakefield celebrated the 80th year of its founding  with a gala dinner at Waterton Park Hotel in the evening of Saturday March 8th 2014. President Wendy welcomed special guests from local clubs, and this year’s SI Yorkshire President Margaret Cooke.

Celebrating women! Soroptimists of Wakefield Joined with other organisations in a joint celebration at Wakefield Cathedral to mark International Womens day 2014. The event was well attended by a wide cross section of the local public and was launched by Mayor of Wakefield Cllr Janet Holmes. Programme action campaigns highlighted included Domestic abuse and trafficking.

Soroptimists socialise over a good old fish and chip supper! On June 27th 2013 a group of our members met for a social evening at the Wetherby Whaler, Calder Island, Wakefield. A delicious meal and good company was shared by all.

Supporting Sister Soroptimists in Zimbabwe At the October 2013 Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland Conference in Gateshead. SI Wakefield Member J Alce organised a Dinner at the restaurant at the top of the old Baltic building – 6 and presented President Dorica Chibanda of S I Kwekwe, Zimbabwe with a cheque from soroptimist sisters in S I Wakefield for £100 towards local charitable projects being carried out by our sister club in Zimbabwe.

Soroptimists Walk for Hospices On Sunday 7th April 2013 members of SI Wakefield participated in the 3rd Rotary Navigation 20 mile Sponsored Walk along the banks of the Calder and Hebble canal between Horbury in the East and Sowerby Bridge to raise funds for the four West Yorkshire Hospices which provide excellent service to the public of Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield namely, Overgate Hospice, Kirkwood Hospice, Wakefield Hospice and the Forget Me Not Children’s Hospice. Each Hospice will be receiving an equal share of the total money was raised by the event.