Northern England

 

 

For information on the 14 clubs in the Region, see their individual links below; for more information on this Region visit their website

 

 

 

 

SUPPORT BAGS FOR WOMEN VICTIMS OF TRAFFICKING

Pictured left is the first bag that was prepared in the Region and placed by SI Tynedale at a 24-hour dropin location where it can be accessed by police and Salvation Army Jarrett Community personnel, following raids to rescue victims of trafficking in Northern England.

The bags, with varying clothing sizes, will be stored ready for pickup, so that victims have something immediately more suitable to change into, plus a few essentials, rather than having to wait for things to be bought. At the September 09 Regional meeting, each club in the Region agreed to dinate a complete bag. 

The items that have been suggested as being useful are :

A soft sports bag/back pack type of bag ( not a rigid suitcase), soap and flannel, toothpaste and toothbrush, shampoo, deodorant, comb and hairbrush, sanitary protection, tissues, face cream, make up, small hand towel, underwear, T-shirt, slippers, socks, leisure suit/track suit, warm sweater, pen and notebook, purse containing £5 in coins, ostage stamps........................... and anything else thought appropriate.

Clubs were reminded to chose appropriate clothing and items that reflect the dignity and privacy that these women deserve. While modern design and bright colours are acceptable,  clothing that might be regarded as too ‘sexy' should be avoided.

 

Regional PAC chairman, Jo Chexal, honoured

The Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany was awarded to the German Honorary Consul for the Counties of Tyne and Wear, Northumberland, Cumbria and County Durham: Mrs Josephine Chexal.

On the evening of May 12, 2009, Jo Chexal was awarded the Cross of Merit (Knight’s Cross) of the Federal Republic of Germany by the Consul General of the German Consulate, Edinburgh, Mr. Wolfgang Moessinger. The award was presented at a dinner held at the Mansion House in Newcastle upon Tyne in front of invited guests including civic dignitaries and representatives of business who have supported the work of the Honorary Consul.

The Order of Merit was instituted by the German government in 1951 and is the only honour awarded in all fields of endeavour and the highest tribute the Federal Republic of Germany can pay to individuals for services to the nation. The Order of Merit may be awarded to Germans as well as foreign nationals for achievements in the political, economic, social or intellectual realm. Mrs. Chexal was presented with the Cross, along with a document signed by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Horst Koehler.

Mrs Chexal, a Tynedale resident, was appointed German Honorary Consul on April 28, 1999, following her proposal by the Head of the Siemens UK group of companies and the Director General of the German British Chamber of Commerce. Her office in the Regent Centre, Gosforth, is shared with the French Honorary Consul and provides services to German nationals and British/other nationals including birth registration, pension, legal and personal identification certifications. She also undertakes representational duties on behalf of the German government, including at the recent celebrations of 50 years of German studies at Newcastle University. In addition, Mrs Chexal contributes to the enhancing of Germany’s standing in the UK and assists the Regional Language Network and Routes to Languages programme which encourages young people to take up the study of the German language to improve their future employability.

Currently working as a consultant, Mrs Chexal held senior positions within the regional development agency, One NorthEast and predecessor organisations over a period of 26 years, in the attraction and retention of international investment into the NorthEast of England. She previously worked in the USA and Switzerland in universities and a multinational pharmaceutical company and speaks German fluently. She is also the Chair of the German British Chamber of Commerce in the NorthEast and Cumbria and is a Trustee of a number of charitable organisations, as well as being the Regional Programme Action Committee Chairman for Soroptimist International Northern England.

According to German archives, there has been a German consular presence in Newcastle, covering the wider region, since 1871 and possibly prior to this during the Prussian era. The German Honorary Consul is a member of the Consular Corps of Newcastle upon Tyne which celebrates its 100 year anniversary this year and has consular representation from across Europe.
Supporters of Breast Cancer Campaign invited to the House of Lords

Cash will help Rwanda victims

Students at a Northumberland High School have been raising money for the survivors of the Rwandan genocide. The youngsters from Hexham’s Queen Elizabeth High School (QEHS) presented a cheque for £700 to Regional Programme Action Committee chairman, Jo Chexal. The money was raised during a fundraising day and ceilidh held by the school’s human rights and fair-trade groups.

The Hexham and Durham clubs are working in co-operation to fundraise in support the Kigali Etoile Club in Rwanda, in their bid to launch a catering training restaurant in the capital, Kigali. Jo Chexal said, “We need to raise a total of £9,000 to establish the Rwanda catering training restaurant and the QEHS contribution helps us make a good start. We also hope there can be other links forged between QEHS and the Rwandan project. Rwandan coffee and tea and recipes have already changed hands to assist with plans for a Rwandan dinner and coffee and cake event”.

The project was necessary after the Rwandan genocide 14 years ago left young people with little opportunity to acquire employment skills. The Tynedale club meets regularly in QEHS’s Charter Conference and Restaurant Centre, a training facility for Tynedale students. When Rwandan Soroptimists suggested that establishing a training restaurant would provide young people with basic catering skills and help them access jobs in the restaurant and tourist trade, Jo took special note.

QEHS staff members John Hill and Andy Brook are also keen to involve the students in this project. John said, “Our students are very excited about the link with Rwanda and it is also the start of an interesting team effort by our human rights group, the fairtrade group and our hotel services students. We are looking forward to finding out what life is like for young people in Kigali and hopefully will be able to play some part in helping them to achieve their ambitions as the country gets back on its feet.”

The Tynedale club first became aware of the needs of the young people in Rwanda following participation by one of their club members, Maggie Allan, in a Peace Marathon established with the help of European Soroptimists.

The link with the Kigali Etoile club followed and the first £700 was passed over to the Rwandan Club in February following a fundraising event last autumn. Kate Fawcett, who runs the Diane Fossey project in Rwanda, comes from Hexham. Her parents took over the money and met the Kigali Etoile Club. They may also contribute some training funds for orphans they assist in the Bisate region who would benefit from the catering training. A recent bequest from the Durham club has boosted the funds, along with the QEHS support and both Durham and Tynedale are planning fundraising meals this year.

Whatever additional funds can be raised before the summer, will be sent with the £1,100 already raised to Rwanda via the European Soroptimists Water Congress in July, attended by both Rwandan Soroptimists and Soroptimists from SIGBI’s Northern England. Teamwork all round.!