NW England & Isle of Man

For information on the work of the 18 clubs in this Region, see the individual clubs' links below. For information on this Region visit their website

 

Walk the Lancaster Slave Trail

 

As part of the Bicentenary campaign of the abolition of slavery many members of the Region of North West England and Isle of Man walked through the City of Lancaster carrying chains and holding placards aloft explaining about the consequences of modern day slavery. We were also joined by actors who, at certain points along the route, explained about the transatlantic trade and its impact on the port of Lancaster.


The reason was not simply just to remember the part that Lancaster played in the triangular trade but also to address the Slave trade’s legacies and to campaign for an end to contemporary slavery which affects at least 12 million people world wide.

During the transatlantic Slave trade, Britain transported and enslaved an estimated 3 million people from Africa and Lancaster was the fourth largest Slave trading port in the UK. This was the main reason that Lancaster was chosen.

Where we successful in raising awareness?

Yes we were.



All 500 flyers were distributed and a walk that had started with 126 Soroptimists had swelled by the time we reached the old Town Hall. Many of the people who joined us were young and were very interested not only in the concept of modern day slavery but were also in our organisation. As regional PA Officer I was bringing up the rear with members of my club and to our amazement we did not see a single flyer thrown down on the ground. People were reading them and putting them away in pockets and bags.

Our Regional President June Gabbitas was interviewed by BBC Radio Lancashire on the Saturday morning and gave an excellent account of not only what the walk was about but also our organisation here in the North West of England and Isle of Man.

The whole event ended in true Soroptimist style in the Shire Hall Lancaster Castle with tea and cake courtesy of the High Sheriff of Lancashire, Ruth Winterbottom (member of Soroptimist International Lancaster).

Sue Biggs

 

 

The Darwen Shield for Programme Work

Annually the Darwen Shield is presented to the Club in our Region, who in the opinion of the judges, have carried out an excellent project as reported on a programme Focus report Form.

The finalists for 2006-2007 were
SI Windermere, SI Blackburn, SI Burnley and SI Garstang

And the winner was SI Garstang for its novel way of recycling old newspapers. One of their members is a dairy farmer and she needed bedding for her calves. The Club rallied round by collecting old newspapers which they then shredded. This was used as bedding by the calves after which it was spread on the land as manure and dug into the ground. Pictured left is Judith Grocott, President of SI Garstang, receiving the North West Region Programme Action Shield from Regional Programme Action Committee chairman, Sue Biggs.

In the opinion of the judges this was simple and effective project.

Well done the members of SI Garstang.