Slaley WI celebrates its 100th birthday – Margaret Rowell
All attending Slaley WI’s birthday celebrations had a really good night. The Hall was decorated with a spring theme and the beautiful scent of daffodils welcomed our guests of present and past members and the Moorland Group collective, as well as representatives from Northumberland Federation.
After a warm welcome a beautiful cake was cut, and we raised our ‘champagne’ glasses to toast the evening ahead. All remembered our dear friend Mary Metcalf who had been a member for over sixty years and also Jean Elphick. I can imagine them both looking down and planning to start a new ‘WI in the sky’. A small ‘army’ of Whitley Chapel Young Farmers served us, who also entertained us with their plethora of talents. Who would have thought that oven gloves could sing? How many of us have misheard the wrong lyrics to wrong songs? A specially made embroidery was much admired and the table gift of a Slaley WI Heirloom Mix variety of sweet pea seeds cultivated 100 years ago will hopefully be planted in the area to bloom this summer. As the seed packet said, ‘Plant now and watch us both continue to grow and flourish’.
Craster WI Fundraiser
We were thrilled to raise over £1000 in our recent fundraiser. Proceeds will be split betw een two local cancer charities Daft as a Brush and Home Care
Northumberland Hospice.
Jesmond Intro Pack – Diane Walton
In January, all visitors and new members at Jesmond WI were given a yellow bag as an introduction to the WI. Members were asked if they see a yellow bag on the table then make a point of going to intr oduce yourself and say hello and welcome the new visitor/ member. E veryone received a bag either to keep or pass on to a friend or family member to introduce them to the WI to encourage them to come along to a meeting. The bags have proved very
popular I hope the idea may be useful to you all . If you need further information, contact Jesmond WI.
The Coronation Community Fund
£500 grant available On 6 of May 2023, His Majesty, The King will be crowned Charles the Third at Westminster Abbey Northumberland County Council has allocated £50,000 to create a Coronation Community Fund for non profit making community and voluntary groups within Northumberland to apply for grant funding of up to £500. For more information go to the Northumberland County Council website at: https://www.northumberland.gov.uk/About/Projects/Coron ation Community Fund.aspx
Speaker’s Corner
Lauren Patterson: She works for Smile for Life Children’s Charity, and they are very happy to go out to different WIs to talk about the charity (they have already talked at South Gosforth). The charity supports Northeast children and young people with learning difficulties and disabilities. They run Café Bean in Gosforth providing work placements to youngsters and supported by volunteers. Opening a second café at Ouseburn Farm and they would love to talk to local WIs about the charity and young people. T: 0191 284 41166 E: lauren@smileforlife.org.uk
They are currently looking for new volunteers for the second café, which will be based at Ouseburn Farm – if interested contact Lauren.
Emma Brown: She is the education lead at Prickles and Paws Hedgehog Rescue in Cornwall and delivers talks on hedgehogs and how the charity helps them.
They offer a 30–40-minute virtual talk (on Teams or Zoom) which means they can offer this countrywide and saves on costs to the rescue! There is time for Q&A at the end and includes a tour of the rescue, allowing groups to see “behind the scenes”, a unique peek as they are a closed site to members of the public. She talks about the hedgehog, it’s importance and why this much-loved mammal is vulnerable to extinction. Talks in May- September are best as they usually have hoglets on site at that time.
They ask for a donation of at least £30.
M: 07926 576 164 E: talks@pricklesandpaws.org
Emily Malcolm – Head of Client Services at Action Foundation, will provide an overview on the situation for refugees globally, in the UK and also have here in Newcastle.
Emily will also talk about ways you can support asylum seekers and refugees in the Newcastle area, through ways such as fundraising events, donations, volunteering, and though second properties for housing. Action Foundation supports and empowers people seeking asylum, refugees and migrants in the North East to overcome immediate barriers, integrate with the community, and build skills for the future: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wPpPaT8Zelc&t=24s M: 07549 034 694
Donations: This is their Amazon wish list https://www.amazon.co.uk/hz/wishlist/ls/2HW2LYDIUE2KK
They also are happy to receive donations of warm clothing (e.g., coats) and shoes (especially men’s shoes) are very useful. Any toiletries do need to be unused. Emily can collect some of the donations on the night, or they can be dropped off at Castle Gate on a Tuesday or Thursday.
Alan Hiscox: Amendment from March newsletter. Telephone number – 02476 840 500
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