Brainstorming Session

At our first meeting after Christmas we had a brainstorming session. Members came up with lots of great ideas for future sessions so we can start planning the next few terms.

Christmas Table Arrangements

This week we did a Christmas floristry workshop, we learned how to create a festive candle arrangement.

We used local foliage leftover from our wreath workshop the previous week. We arranged the spruce, holly and conifer around a candle and then wired dried orange slices, cinnamon sticks and pine cones to decorate the centre piece.

Everyone created a fabulous table arrangement to take home with them.

Christmas Tree Festival

In December we exhibited a tree at St George's
Christmas Tree Festival. The theme for our tree was was inspirational women. Our members chose women throughout history right up to the present day.

Some people chose local women who have made a huge difference to our community, some chose scientists whose discoveries saved many lives. We chose women from activists to athletes, it was difficult to only choose a few women each.

Our members made the decorations during a craft session the previous week. We were pleased with our tree, it was a sparkly celebration of incredible inspirational women.

This is all the inspirational women featured on our tree. Rosa Parks, Mary Anning, Gwen Moffatt, Amelia Earhart, Frida Kahlo, Marie Curie, Valentina Tereshkova, Virginia Wolf, Lady Gidiva, Golda Meir, Irena Sendler, Malala Yousafzai, Emmeline Pankhurst, Angela Carter, Maya Angelou, Jeanette winterson, Janet Allen, Joyce Marlow, Megan Markle, Jameela Jamil, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Rachel Atherton, Greta Thunberg, Oprah Winfrey, Cathy Freeman, Anna Freud, Florence Nightingale, Rosalind Franklin, Brit Marling, Margaret Astwood.

Co-op Local Cause

We would like to say a huge thank you to Co-op staff and customers who have supported us through the Co-op membership scheme. We were selected to be one of the local causes this year. We have received a cheque for an incredible £5975. 87. It will make such a difference to the group and we are very grateful.

Fused Glass Workshop

This week we did a creative workshop with Kay from Simply Glass.

We learnt how to make wonderful fused glass Christmas tree decorations. It's a perfect mindful activity which the whole group enjoyed.

We can't wait to see how the decorations turn out once they've been in the kiln.

Our New Venue Chalkers

We are very pleased to announce we are moving to a bigger venue. From 7th November we will be holding our Thursday meetings at Chalkers Pool & Snooker Club.
Due to unprecedented growth of the group this year, we have had to temporarily close to new members. Our current venue is at capacity for safety and comfort.
Chalkers has just undergone a major refurbishment, we will be making their lovely function room our new home. There is plenty of space for  new members and for our activities. Creche will still be provided at First Steps Nursery which is a short 3 minute walk away.

Pay It Forward

During the dam incident in Whaley Bridge, several roads and bridges above the River Goyt in New Mills were closed as a safety precaution in case the dam collapsed.  The road blocks were manned 24 hours a day by Police and road workers who had been drafted in from all over Derbyshire, some on their days off.  They worked 12 hours shifts outside in the hot weather and were not able to leave their posts to get food or drinks. Bele Bakery organised a suspended food and drink scheme that members of the public paid into for the people working at the road blocks. Women’s group collected sandwiches and drinks twice a day from Bele Bakery and delivered them in teams to 6 locations around New Mills where police and road workers were posted.

Some of the public also helped us deliver when we were short of group members to cover all the road blocks. We took them on foot with our little ones (who were delighted to meet officers and see Police vans), as there was no way to get around town in a car with the road closures. In the morning hot breakfast sandwiches and brews were delivered. During the afternoon sandwiches, cold drinks, cakes or ice lollies were offered. We also delivered food donated by local takeaways to New Mills fire Station in the evenings as they had a lot of extra personnel at their station who were helping in Whaley Bridge. New Mills WI delivered hot drinks to the workers at road blocks during the evenings. 

 The whole community pulled together and raised so much money that there was enough to deliver food and drink for the five days the roads were closed and send some toiletries to Whaley Bridge when they were running low. Thankfully following the incredible work of the RAF, Royal Engineers and emergency services, the dam was saved, residents were allowed home and the roads were re-opened.