How fast the Soroptimist months whizz round and now it is time to write to you again. As many of you know Judith has been sadly busy with family illness in the last few weeks so I shan’t hand over newsletter duties until next month. I’m sure everyone joins me in wishing you both well Judith. December is a month steeped in tradition and as in previous years the month began with Soroptimist and festive traditions coming together as several clubs took part in Christmas tree festivals, ‘oranging’ their trees to highlight the days of activism against violence against women. Our Christmas tree festival in Ilkley is brief, just two days and  the church then  emptied of trees to make space for weekend worship. (With the help of a generous ‘man with a van’ we have perfected the art of transporting our tree, complete with

I find it hard to believe that this is my last President’s newsletter. I have thoroughly enjoyed writing them and will take pleasure from reading them in the future as they give a chronological story of my year in office.   On October 3rd, I attended the Regional Event at St Crux Hall in York organised by our Membership Officers Avis Ball and Judith Parsons. This event was arranged to raise the profile of Soroptimism in York with a view chartering a new club in the city in the future. Jane Glendinning created wonderful placards for the event. They described who we are and what we do such as, support women and girls, educate, empower and enable to make a difference. We were blessed with fabulous weather and over two dozen Soroptimists from eleven of our clubs volunteered to serve coffee and cakes (beautifully home

Earlier this year, Soroptimist International of Yorkshire Against Modern Slavery (SIYAMS) submitted a bid for a grant from West Yorkshire Mayor, Tracy Brabin’s Safer Communities Fund. We were delighted to receive a grant of £9550 to facilitate the training of safeguarding leads across West Yorkshire to deliver an immersive educational computer game to young people, Danielle was devised by Gill Kirkman of Bradford University. The game enables young people, in a safe environment, to explore and understand the extensive abusive dating behaviours involved, their impact and where to seek help. It was a pleasure to be invited by Mayor Tracy Brabin, and Deputy Mayor Alison Lowe, to an awards evening at Dewsbury Minster, to receive our grant. See Page 6 on the link for more information https://www.yorkshirereporter.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Yorkshire-Reporter-OCTOBER-2024.pdf

The first ten days of the month were quiet on the Soroptimist front but busy for me personally! I was unable to attend the SIYAMS meeting on the 10th but I was delighted to be able to represent the Region on the 11th at the Awards Ceremony for Round 6 of the Mayor’s Safer Communities Fund.   SIYAMS, at very short notice had put in a bid for a grant to the West Yorkshire Mayor’s Safer Communities Funding to support Gill Kirkman’s project, the school’s game Danielle. Gill Kirkman (who had talked to us during President Ruth’s visit in April) had launched an immersive educational computer game called Danielle. The game enables young people, in a safe environment, to explore and understand the extensive abusive dating behaviours involved, their impact, and where to seek help. Julia Allan from SI Keighley had raised awareness of the

The following four clubs and their projects were put forward at the September Regional Council Meeting for members to vote on. SI Bingley – Provision and support for Refugees and Asylum Seekers They have raised awareness of the needs of Refugees and Asylum seekers and provided volunteers to assist in running the Refugee Storage Centre. They have written letters of support to local councillors and MP’s to support the much needed relocation of the centre to more suitable premises. SI Dewsbury and District – Mirfield Friendship Cafe This is an ongoing project that was started before Covid. The Friendship Cafe provides a space for people to create new friendships and meet up with old friends in a safe and pleasant atmosphere.  There is no charge but there is a donation box, the money is used to replace the milk etc.. and the remainder is put