West Leeds Dispatch caught up with Julie Botham, who is the founder of the Sassy Divas women’s group in Bramley. Julie is certainly sassy and speaks with great enthusiasm for the group!
Sassy Divas does what it says on the tin.
It’s a women’s group for over 18s, which sees around 25 women of all ages from across west Leeds meet at Bramley Lawn once a month for craft, talks, demonstrations, fun and friendship. It features workshops featuring everything from chocolate making to lip balms, jam making, food foraging and sewing.
It’s the brainchild of Bramley resident Julie Botham, who started the group two and a half years ago after feeling there should be more for women in Bramley. She said:
“If you don’t want to go out and drink, what can you do on an evening? I just wanted to get together with people and have a laugh and learn something, and here we are now with Sassy Divas.”
Julie says the emphasis is on being informal and making friends. She adds:
“We’re a welcoming, friendly and very informal group, there are no rules of membership, just turn up and you’re made to feel welcome! Come along and join us for a chat. There’s no pressure. Essentially we’re women supporting women, and we’ve always got something planned.
“It keeps me busy. I enjoy organising, but I also enjoy going to the group. I enjoy learning new skills and then trying them out at home if I want.
“We have all different kinds of people coming, ages range from a couple of students to older people. We have quiet people, outgoing people – you name it! They come from all over west Leeds, last month we had a couple of new people come from Farsley to see what we were about.
“I bake and bring the scones, but people can come along and bring their own stuff along too.”
Sassy Divas meet at Bramley Lawn every second Wednesday of the month, 7.30pm-9.30pm. The next meeting is on August 12 where there will be a demonstration of jams and curds – all the ingredients are provided, just bring an empty jar.
The Divas are a not-for-profit group, but charge £4 a meeting for tea, coffee and hall hire and to subsidise events.
For more information, email Julie on sassydivasleeds@hotmail.com or just turn up!
Sassy Divas is such a fun and friendly group, we learn, laugh and enjoy the company of other like minded people.
Julie is a very warm, vivacious, bubbly bundle of fun who goes out of her way to make everyone feel welcome.
I am proud to call myself a Sassy Diva, I love all the various projects and experiences that you get from the group, I can highly recommend that you come along and join us but have to warn you, you will want to come back for more!