As part of our annual summer outing a group of members enjoyed a very pleasant, extensive walk around the beautiful grounds surrounding Crathes Castle, built  in the sixteenth century and situated near Banchory, a town in Aberdeenshire. Owned and managed by the National Trust for Scotland the grounds are particularly well known for the walled garden which is divided into distinct sections. These include the Gold Garden, the Upper Pool Garden, the Evolution Garden and the Fountain Garden. Meticulously cared for, the gardens are a delight of colour and layout all year round, and feature gravel paths for easy access for visitors. The views from vantage points show visitors the wonderful surrounding countryside scattered with woodlands and fields.

  Cervical Screening Awareness Week in 2025 takes place from June 19th to 24th. Its purpose is to highlight the importance of cervical screening for preventing cervical cancer, the most common form of cancer in women under the age of 35. The screening process checks for the human papillomavirus (HPV) which causes almost all cervical cancers. The week also aims to encourage more women to attend their screening appointments and to provide information and reassurance.

Members had a busy Saturday at our annual plant sale at the Bonnymuir Community Garden where customers could choose from a wide range of plants on offer. They included herbs, tomato and strawberry plants, chives and peppers and summer bedding plants like pansies, geraniums and marigolds. Sweet pea plants and nasturtiums were also available to buy as well as a range of perennial plants which ensure year round beauty in any garden. Large and small house plants were also available as well as hand made cards and other items with a 'gardening' theme. Thank you to all our customers for their support on the day. The proceeds from the sale will add to our charity fund which will be used to benefit charities and organisations in the coming year.  

In a local restaurant a number of club members and guests together with staff and friends of Grampian Women’s Aid spent a fun filled evening taking part in a fundraising quiz in aid of Grampian Women’s Aid, a local charity providing free, confidential and person centred support to victims of domestic abuse. More than seventy participants not only competed in teams for a variety of prizes but also enjoyed choices from the supper menu. The evening raised more than £950 including the proceeds from a raffle with prizes including a large food hamper.info@grampianwomensaid.com

Members were delighted to hear about the charity, Aberdeen Action on Disability. The chairwoman gave us a very interesting talk about the assistance the charity provides for people who have physical or sensory disabilities. The charity aims to raise awareness of disability issues and to promote social inclusion and equality of opportunity for anyone with a disability. Established in 1992, the charity is user-led and provides advice and support on matters relating to disability, and currently their efforts are being directed to addressing issues arising from the welfare reforms of the past few years. Also available is training in media studies and computer skills. At their base there is a weekly 'Drop In' social group to which all are welcome to enjoy a wide range of activities. A Book Group also meets monthly. Future plans include the setting up of a 'HUB' in their current

In a recent talk to club members a representative of NESCAN, The North East Scotland Climate Action Network, spoke about what the organisation does. Its aim is to develop community led climate action in North East Scotland to reduce and adapt to climate change, and to contribute to policy setting and decision making. NESCAN Hub Ltd, the charity set up in August 2021 is the support organisation for the network helping communities with funding for sustainability projects, providing inspiring information by video and organising community events. Members discussed their efforts to combat climate change, talking about recycling, repairing and reusing a wide variety of goods including clothing, footwear, hard and soft plastics, tablet blister packs and all kinds of paper and card. There was also a discussion about our work in various gardens in the city. We were commended for all our efforts and were

International Women’s Day is a global day to recognise and celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. To mark and to celebrate International Women’s Day members enjoyed a range of traditional sweet and savoury snacks from a variety of countries represented by a group of Aberdeen club members from Brazil, Algeria, Nigeria, Wales and Scotland. Aberdeen City Council headquarters at Marischal College in the centre of the city was lit up in purple light to mark the day, and two members attended the Scottish Women’s Convention event at the Scottish parliament. In lovely sunshine at the local Duthie Park Winter Garden a group of members gifted single roses to forty women.

‘A good time was had by all’ was the unanimous comment following a most enjoyable few hours at the Woodside Women’s Day which took place at the Woodside Community Centre in Aberdeen. Run by members of the Woodside Network, and on offer at no cost, was a wide range of workshops and information sessions highlighting the holistic and practical support available to women living locally and beyond. There were opportunities to join yoga, Zumba and meditation classes, to learn about the Cacao ritual, to experience Sound Bath, to hear from the Scottish Women’s Budget Group and the Spirit of Women Panel, and to learn more about nutrition. Club members who attended agreed that it was a most relaxing, satisfying and informative day, not forgetting, of course, enjoying the lovely lunch!

In a central city venue, Common Sense Coffee House on Union Terrace, club members organised and manned two Christmas fundraising stalls with several donations of Christmas items from members and friends, including cards and craft pieces made by members, raising more than £200 for Grampian Women’s Aid.

To continue to raise awareness of the UN campaign to eradicate violence against women and to reflect the 25th November start date for the annual activities members of Soroptimist clubs wearing orange items and orange  badges meet up in a range of venues in towns and cities on 25th of every month for a cuppa and a chat. Groups of our club members have been gathering in cafes in shopping malls, in restaurants, in church cafes, in a community centre and in the local art gallery.   PLEASE CONSULT OUR CLUB PROGRAMME AND JOIN US FOR A CUPPA AND A CHAT