About our Club
Welcome to the web page of SI Wallasey
Wallasey is located on the north east corner of the Wirral peninsula, bordered by the Irish Sea and the Mersey River estuary. In his book ‘The Wirral Peninsula,’ Norman Ellison (1958) states that the name Wallasey is originally from the Norse word ‘Wealase-ey’, the island of the Welshman or strangers’ (p7).Although Wallasey was never strictly an island as there was some land linking it to the rest of Wirral, it was a fairly isolated settlement for a Celtic tribe.
Wallasey has a chequered history with tales of ship wrecking and smuggling on its shores, often attributed to the settlement of the Noresman (Danes) - the Vikings (Sea Kings) (Ellison 1958), and this even continued up until the early 19th century.
The most well known area of Wallasey is New Brighton. Once a thriving seaside resort, the decline of the late 20th century is now being reversed. A new theatre will rise like ‘a phoenix from the site of the old building’. With efficient trains, busses, the Mersey ferry, Kingsway tunnel to Liverpool and motorway network, Wallasey readily links with the rest of Wirral, Liverpool and the UK.
Club meetings
Although a small club we are very friendly and productive. We enjoy social gatherings and outings, often with other clubs. Our meetings are twice a month at the Hollins Hey Hotel New Brighton: one buisness meeting on the 2nd Tuesday; one dinner and social event with an after dinner speaker on the 4th Tuesday of the month. We welcome both visitors and prospective members at our monthly dinner and speaker events. For further information contact one of the following:
Presidents Helen, Hilary and Lesley (see presidents’ page for brief biographical details and details of their aims for the year)
Membership Officer Jackie on jandk1@waitrose.com
Press Officer Stella on stella.mckm@btinternet.com
Club activities
Although we are a small club our local, national and international activities are diverse. Not every member is involved in everything as Club members engage in activities that they find of interest and that they find they can manage in busy lives. Below is just a sample of some of varied things we are part of - some fun, some service, some fundraising - hopefully helping others in many ways.
Friendship link
Solihull club is our friendship link which is going from strength to strength. We have enjoyed some very pleasant get togethers which have included 4 members staying overnight with a Solihull member to attenda dinner dance, followed by some retail therapy the next day. Six members enjoyed another delightful day visiting Solihull with an enjoyable lunch with Solihull club members, that was followed byafternoon tea with the mayor of Solihull in his chambers.Solihull members have visited Wallasey to enjoy socialising and visiting places of interest.
Pictures 1 & 2 show Club members from Wallasey and Solihull about to take tea with the Mayor of Solihull. Picture 2 shows the group in front of the trophy cabinets full of silver ware; picture 3 is a visit to the local park.
Care of the environment
Recycling
Members are keen collectors for recycling to meet Objective 6, whilst supporting various charities. Items include spectacles, stamps, ink cartridges, wool, mobile phones, tools, shoes and school vouchers. Then of course we have an annual charity shop for a week during May. Here members and their families and friends are able to recycle unwanted items including books, bric-a-brac, and clothes enabling local residents to benefit from very affordable goods. Money made during this week boosts the Club’s Helping Fund enabling donations to be made, for example to the Uganda Learn4LIfe project (see below).
Beach watch
In 2005 the Club adopted a section of beach in New Brighton as part of the scheme organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS). Every 3 months a group of members, led by Barbara, collect litter on the 120metre section of beach, log the type of material and then bag it. Results are notified to the MCS to be collated with results from around the country. Barbara and the team featured on page 8 of the Liverpool Echo newspaper on Monday June 9th 2008. Following this they were featured on national television on the Sunday Politics show. Barbara was additionally featured on Granda Reports on 8th April 2009.
‘Bags of effort’
Two projects related to this topic can be linked to Programme Objectives 1, 2 and 9. We have sold £250 worth of high quality handmade shopping bags made by members of our Friendship Link SI Solihull. The bags were embellished by attractively decorated empty tea bags made by children in South Africa. Funds raised support Solihull’s project, the Sithibile Child and Youth Centre in South Africa in order to improve the young peoples’ social and educational chances. Three members of SI Solihull pictured here on the right below and front left met with Jenny (rear left) and Stella (behind the camera) to pass on the bags for us to sell.
Our second project is local and is on-going. Welcome bags have been handmade and stocked with a soft toy and other items, e.g. torches, colouring books and pencils, for children entering the local Women’s and Children’s Centre with their mothers. The bags give the children something just for them to help ease the stressful situation. Feedback from the Centre staff indicates that these have been greatly appreciated by the children.
Volunteering ‘down on the farm’
Linked to Objective 9, this local service project involves Wirral’s Tam O’Shanter Urban Farm. Run as a charity, this small farm provides free entry to a valuable place where local children can see small farm animals and learn about the wider world. Educational and fun activities and events are put on for the children on a regular basis. Wallasey Soroptimist members support the farm with a rota system to serve in the gift shop that contributes much needed funds to help keep the project going. Below is a picture of Stella (L) and Sue, who was President at the time, behind the counter of the gift shop.
’Bangles, beads and pencils galore’
Objectives 1 and 9 were met when Club member Lotys went to Uganda again. She called in at Mama Jane’s orphanage for victimes of war and HIV/AIDS visited on her previous trip. Lotys returned with a large volume of bangles and necklaces made by the children. Beads are individually made and highly decorated. The jewellery is proving very popular when taken to both Soroptimist meetings and other events. Funds raised, over £100 so far, provide much needed support for the children’s welfare.
During her visit to Uganda Lotys also visited the school where the Wirral based chairty Learn4Life actively promotes the school development. President Sue presented a £200 donation to two members of the charity’s trustees at one of our recent monthly dinners. Club members were delighted to view a film of progress being made with the school’s development, and noted where a previous donation by SI Wallasey has been effectively utilised.
Lotys had not gone out to Uganda empty handed but went loaded with many items donated by Club members, and Lotys’ friends and work colleagues. She took out over 1,000 pencils, as well as other writing materials, numerous items of clothing, and some sweets. All were shared between the children in both places and were much appreciated. Below is a picture of Lotys (R) with children at the orphanage.
‘Wine flowing for water’
A very successful cheese and wine evening was attended at a Club member’s home in support of Water Aid for a water and sanitation project in Bangladesh. The aim of the evening was to raise £75 to meet the challenge by SIGBI’s president to celebrate the 75 years of Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI).