Joy as Harleston Ladies Circle wins national award

It was celebration time for a town fundraising group as it took home a national prize last weekend.

Harleston Ladies Circle scooped the Circle of the Year award at the Round Table and Ladies Circle’s National Conference Weekend in Cardiff on May 10.

The town group, aimed at women between the ages of 18 and 45, disbanded in the 1990s, before being revived around five years ago. It has grown in popularity ever since.

Vice-chairman Kerrie Foster said: “It is amazing and we, as a group, are just so excited to have achieved this out of all the ladies circles in the whole of the country. It is just incredible.

“When we found out we had won it, a few of our members cried as they were so overwhelmed.”

Judging criteria focussed on use of social media, interaction with the community, fundraising and events and members who have gone above and beyond.

The circle, which was up against seven other groups in the final, has raised more than £6,000 through bingos, bake sales its first Spring Fest last year.

With the return of its Spring Fest event, which was held at The Cap at the start of this month, it also raised £4,000.

Ms Foster praised the local community for getting behind their various fundraising exploits.

“We thank everyone who comes to our events and for having faith in what we do,” she said. “It means so much.

“The town always turns out for us and we have so many people that support us in so many ways. We cannot thank everyone enough.

“The community and the hard work of our members has helped us to win this award.”

The Ladies Circle was first formed in Bournemouth in 1936 by wives of Round Table members, beginning as a way to support the war effort.

Now there are 100 clubs across the UK and Ireland and 13,000 members in more than 40 countries worldwide.

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