I am delighted to welcome you to the 85th Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Conference. The venue for this exciting Conference is the Bournemouth International Conference Centre and will take place from 24th to 26th October 2019.
The SIGBI Conference is a time to meet friends, old and new, and to listen to inspiring speakers who will reenergise you and add to your already positive enthusiasm as you continue to support and encourage women and girls to be the best they can be. It provides an opportunity to appreciate the wide variety of projects Clubs across our Federation support which have such a positive impact on the progress women and girls can make to their own lives and the lives of their families and communities. In attending Conference, you also have a say in the direction of our organisation through our stimulating, often lively, and thought-provoking general meeting.
The theme for 2018 -19 is “Think on it” which focuses on our own wellbeing and the mental health of the women and girls we support. Many women and girls experience adverse life experiences, for example, as a result of domestic violence, female genital mutilation, forced marriage, imprisonment and trafficking or have mental health issues related to anorexia, self-harm, post-natal depression or dementia. Clubs have been challenged throughout 2018 -19 to improve their own mental health and to raise awareness of the wellbeing and mental health of the women and girls we support. This year’s Conference speakers will exemplify this theme through their own experiences of mental health issues or through their work in supporting the wellbeing of others.
I hope you will enjoy this conference and I look forward to welcoming you in Bournemouth.
Sue Williams
SIGBI President 2018-2019
