The 25th November is the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women and Cirencester Soroptimists meet at the Long Table to mark this United Nations event.       The 25th November also marks the first day of the 16 Days of Activism, the Soroptimists in Cirencester plan to promote the new website https://whatson4women-cirencester.co.uk/ each and every day of the 16 day. If each one of the members contact at least one person during this time we could touch the lives of over 300 women

A member from Cirencester Soroptimists joined an event arranged by Swindon Rotary Club Members from Swindon Soroptimists joined Swindon Rotary Club, Swindon Inner Wheel club and members from the Swindon’s Society Without Abuse (SWA), formally  Swindon Women’s Aid,  to hear about the issues related to domestic violence. Everyone at the event was wearing orange to raise awareness to the United Nations Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women, marked on Nov 25th, a global campaign to end violence towards women and girls.  Each of the organisations had an opportunity  to  speak and tell the company what they were doing, both locally and across the world to address the issue.         A lunch followed with informal chatting as attendees were encouraged to sit with people they did not know

Sophie Jarrett from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner came to talk to Cirencester Soroptimists  on Wednesday 19th November Sophie told the group about the provision and services available in the County and gave us a PowerPoint presentation with some of the statistics for Gloucestershire and happily answered many questions from the floor

Members from Cirencester attended the 91st conference of our federation Our Federation, SIGBI, Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland, which includes other Commonwealth countries, held its 91st conference in Birmingham 31st October -2nd November 2025 and celebrated the work undertaken by Soroptimists around the world                       We were welcomed by outgoing SIGBI President Ruth Headley, who has attended events in Cirencester including our conference on Modern Day Slavery and Human trafficking and our 75th Anniversary Charter Lunch. She received the flags of all the countries and territories of the  federation in a moving ceremony to start the conference. Greetings for  a successful conference were received from His Majesty King Charles 111, the Prime Ministers and from other federations across the world

Cirencester Soroptimists were welcomed at the Long table. The group raised awareness of the issue of violence towards women and girls and invited other people sitting near by to join us. We were joined by a former member of Cirencester Soroptimists who is a member of Inner Wheel in Witney, who also brought with her a fellow member.             As usual the group was easy to spot as we were wearing orange for the Orange the World campaign by the United Nations. On Tuesday 25th November, The International Day to Eliminate Violence Towards Women and Girls world wide, members of Cirencester Soroptimists will be at The Long Table in The Old Department Store from 10.30-1200. Please come and join us on the first of 16 days of activism

Cirencester Soroptimists meet for dinner in Poulton at the Falcon Inn     A friend from Ukraine told us all about life there and thanked a member of our group for their support for people back in Ukraine

Cirencester Soroptimists enjoyed an evening with local MP, Roz Savage       A wide range of topics relating to women and girls were discussed and Roz was interested in the work of the club and in the many organisations around the town that members were also involved with

On Wednesday 1st October Cirencester Soroptimists had a “table” at the TODS Long Table in support of Older Persons Day                 There was a real bustle in The Old Department store on 1st October; A National Day for Older People brought a wide variety of organisations and clubs in the Cirencester area together to provide information about the many activities available. Many local people as well as visitors to Cirencester came to chat and share contacts, as well as to enjoy the tea and cake supplied at a special rate by The Long Table.   Later in the day the group attended  a special opening of the  Cotswold in the Second World War exhibition at the Corinium Museum                         Sam Fryer-Ward has curated a very interesting and

Cirencester Soroptimist helped to fund the Park Run’s PA system through its charity arm The Minnis Trust   On Saturday 13th September Elizabeth walked the Cirencester Park Run on behalf of Cirencester and District Soroptimists, the sun shone and it was wonderful to support a previous Minnis Trust recipient. We had granted funds towards their PA system which we are happy to report is still working hard

We were invited to a special performance of Haywire at The Barn Theatre   Our members are a busy bunch and on top of being Soroptimists they are involved with so many other organisations in and around Cirencester. One of our past Presidents and current Head of Programme Action, Shirley Alexander has just been made an Ambassador for The Churn Project . Along with fellow Soroptimists Penny Carpenter (presenter of Penny’s Picks on Cirencester Radio) and Elizabeth Wilcox, (Minnis Trust)  they were invited to a special performance of Haywire at The Barn Theatre. Haywire tells the story of how the much loved radio show The Archers came to be. It was fun, fast paced and fascinating.