The Yorkshire Region conference held on 1 July was attended by two of our members and was hosted by Judith Alce from our Club. The Very Rev Dr Frances Ward led discussions on the Roots, Shoots and Fruits of Soroptimist International. We used the grape vine as an example of the role played by the Roots – the foundation of our Organisation, the Shoots which require nurturing and the Fruits which celebrate the successes we achieve. At our last session we discussed the future of Soroptimism and the direction we would like to take in Yorkshire. The one aspect which was chosen as a Fruit by everyone was that we should all co-operate in a project in our region which would run for several years. A Grant of Friendship delegate, Natalia Kurhaluk (on the far right of the photo) gave a presentation about one of

The Annual General Meeting of Soroptimist International Wakefield Took place on Thursday 27th April with all but two club members in attendance. The meeting included the presentation of President Elect’s Chain. Outgoing president Susie presented Samantha with her President Elects Chain. President Elect Samantha then presented outgoing President Susie with her Past President’s badge and a gift from the club with the club’s grateful thanks for all her hard work and commitment and she stated that it had been a pleasure for the club to have had Susie as that club’s President and that she had given the club a fantastic year. The AGM concluded with a convivial faith supper.

Four of our Club Members were raring to go – for their bacon sandwich – prior to walking 10k in aid of local hospices. The Rotary Navigation Walk takes place along the towpaths of the Hebble, Calder, Huddersfield Narrow and Broad canals.   There is a variety of starting points and distances, the longest being 21k.  Walkers are raising funds for the four hospices of Calderdale, Kirklees and Wakefield, including the Forget Me Not Children’s hospice and each hospice receives an equal share of whatever money is raised by the event.

Members of SI Wakefield were introduced by president Susie to The Mayor and Mayoress of Wakefield and Yorkshire President Jennie Levick as guests of honour, as well as guest speaker Amanda Mackenzie OBE at their charter lunch held at the Hotel St Pierre on the 5th March 2017.

We have just completed our first batch of 25 bags which will be passed to the Christian African Relief Trust and sent to Africa.  The bags, which contain washable sanitary kits, underwear and a cloth for washing, will be donated to women and girls who can’t afford or don’t have access to the sanitary products available to those of us in England.  The kits are reusable and should last three years.  The young women often miss out on education during the ‘time of the month’ as they are regarded as unclean.   This is an on-going project in our Club and everyone is able to join in – from cutting out, sewing or making the tea!

Susie Westwood, President of SI Wakefield presented cheques to Libby Ballance from Kettlethorpe School, recipient of this year’s bursary to support her voluntary placement in Tanzania this summer and Mirban Hussain of Wakefield Alzheimer’s Society who spoke to members about dementia and the side by side project at a meeting on the 23rd February.

Wakefield Soroptimists held an event in Walton to raise funds for the Meru Garden project which is one of the national projects being supported by Soroptimists. Members were given a presentation by Programme Action Co-ordinator Jane Walton which showed how the funding would educate, enable and empower women living in Meru in Africa to grow their own crops. Marjorie Wilde engaged members in a quiz and plant sale. Over £200 was raised.

SI Wakefield member Amanda Potts wore her wedding dress on a fundraising walk to celebrate her weight loss  and raise cash for charity. Amanda wore her dress from 2005 for a 20-minute walk from her office in St Peter’s House, Bradford to City Hall, she has lost three stone since January. You can see a short video on the website of local Bradford newspaper Telegraph and Argus. All Amadnas Soroptimist sisters are extremely proud of her achievements.

S I Wakefield took to the seas on 28 July – more precisely, members and friends cruised on the Calder & Hebble Navigation.   Using two boats we set sail and travelled as far as Cooper Bridge, where we feasted on pie and peas followed by cakes, before returning to Mirfield.  In spite of the rain earlier in the day, the sun shone and we were able to enjoy the peace and tranquillity of the canal. The cruise was booked through Safe Anchor Trust which is a charity based in Mirfield that organises trips for community groups.  The Trust was originally set up by the Yorkshire Probation Service: skippers were probation officers and crews were offenders who operated the locks and acted as stewards. During this trip our members took turns to operate the locks and admire the passing scenery.    

SI Wakefield in partnership with Balne Lane Coffee Club (a coffee club supporting elderly people in the area) knit squares, that are then stiched in baby blankets by SI Wakefield Members and knit baby clothes. These are then send to CART (Christian African Relief Trust) for distribution. Working in partnership with the coffee club members this provides the members an oppurtunity to contribute to global relief. SI  Wakefield also support the coffee club by joining them at meetings and providing some financial support by contributng to purchases of coffee, tea and biscuit.