The United Nations’ website describes International Days and weeks as occasions to educate the public on issues of concern and to mobilise political will, also to celebrate and reinforce the achievements of humanity. As I write, in October 2023, we have very little to celebrate.  With war ongoing in several countries and with the media

We are delighted to welcome two new Clubs which have been chartered in October. SI Whitstable and District was chartered on 1 October 2023, and SI Northampton on 7 October 2023. President Cathy was delighted to charter both Clubs. Congratulations to the Clubs and their members.  

After nearly 5 years and over 4,000 hours of volunteering time the Report on the Special Domestic Abuse Courts has been completed. The report, with recommendations, covers the final tranche of court observations (earlier reports covered our work in Northumbria, Wiltshire, and the Midlands). Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts – How special were they in 2022 (PDF)

In 2017 Dame Vera Baird KC, then the Police and Crime Commissioner for the area, initiated a unique partnership between SIGBI and criminal justice partners in Northumbria. She engaged local Soroptimists in an observation project in which they watched over 220 sessions of the Specialist Domestic Violence Courts (now Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts), answering a