Programme Action Overview

Programme Action within the Club.

“Awareness, Advocacy and Action”

Through partnerships with other organisations, and using awareness, advocacy and action, Soroptimists work together at local, national and international level to create a  better world for all by helping to improve the lives of women and children.

Awareness

  • We have speakers on programme related topics such as  St Vincents Centre, Gloucestershire Young Carers, Environmental issues, Cheltenham Community Champions, Mental Health, the Crown Prosecution Service, Fair Trade, Sightsavers.
  • Our attendance at Regional Meetings and Federation Conferences promotes awareness of the activities of Soroptimists around the world and knowledge of the wider issues relating to women and children world-wide.

Advocacy and Action

  • Internationally we have supported Project SIerra, a world wide Soroptimist four year project in partnership with “Hope and Homes for Children” to help girls and young women in Sierra Leone in the aftermath of their civil war. This all clubs do by fundraising throughout the four years and welcoming speakers who are working with the project.
  • The new international theme of Education and Leadership will be informing many of our activities in the future.
  • We are affiliated to the local branch of the UN.
  • We have lobbied our local MPs and written to the Gloucestershire Echo on the dangers of unsupervised sunbeds, and sent leaflets & posters to local schools on the same subject and are delighted that legislation has now been passed to regulate sunbed use.
  • We have representatives who attend Cheltenham Community Champions which meets monthly to focus on waste reduction and recycling. In the past we have collected used batteries for recycling and still collect plastic milk bottle tops.
  • We have produced leaflet on recycling facilities in Cheltenham.
  • We have supported a member of the club in setting up the Lilian Elizabeth Fund to build a medical centre in Sika in The Gambia. This also involved fundraising activities over a period of two years, most notably “Bra Bra Blacksheep” – collecting unwanted bras from families, friends and local organisations for recycling/redistribution. This proved great success and the idea has been picked up by other clubs. Other fundraising included quiz evenings, a sponsored walk, fish & chip suppers.

Bra Bra Blacksheep Sorting bras for Bra Bra Blacksheep

  • We help the Battledown Centre for Families and Children maintain an attractive outdoor environment by planting and looking after their planters and sensory garden.

  • Saturday of ServiceSaturday of Service

  • We support the Women’s Refuge with emergency toilet bags and other items.
  • We award a trophy each year at the Cheltenham Youth Brass Concert for the player who has made the most progress.
  • We support the International President’s Appeal each December. In 2011 the money raised will go towards “Birthing in the Pacific”