{"id":4709,"date":"2025-06-13T12:00:20","date_gmt":"2025-06-13T11:00:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/cirencester\/?page_id=4709"},"modified":"2026-09-28T12:19:42","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T11:19:42","slug":"welcome-to-si-cirencester-district","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/cirencester\/","title":{"rendered":"."},"content":{"rendered":"

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Welcome to SI Cirencester and District
\nCome and Join Us!<\/h2>\n

Soroptimist International was launched over 100 years ago and is a worldwide organisation with links to the United Nations. Membership will give you an opportunity to support local, national and international projects benefitting women and girls; enjoying friendship and fun; lobbying, influencing and making a difference for women at home and abroad.<\/p>\n

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An “Orange Cafe” meeting at a local cafe, do come and join us.\u00a0 “Orange the World” is an United Nations campaign highlighting the issue of violence towards women and girls. For upcoming dates, times and locations, please visit our Events page.<\/p>\n

https:\/\/sigbi.org\/cirencester\/club-events\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Conversation, Connection and Community<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

There was certainly no shortage of conversation when we welcomed guests and prospective members to our latest Orange Caf\u00e9 get-together at The Long Table, Cirencester, on Friday 25 September. From local projects and women\u2019s history to books, travel and forthcoming events, conversation flowed easily, with plenty of ideas exchanged and new connections made.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Raising Awareness of Violence Against Women and Girls<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our Orange Caf\u00e9s have an important purpose: raising awareness of domestic abuse and\u00a0the importance of confronting\u00a0the often\u00a0very different\u00a0reality of family life from that portrayed in the media. There are plans afoot to invite speakers to our monthly dinner meetings from those on the front line, such as the VAWG team in Gloucestershire and a local Young Carers group.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Community Action at the Heart of\u00a0Soroptimism<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Soroptimists are volunteers who work together to educate,\u00a0empower\u00a0and enable women and girls and improve the lives of women and their families. As our September gathering showed, that can begin quite simply: women around a table, sharing ideas, making\u00a0connections\u00a0and discovering what we might achieve together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

As a club, we have recently fundraised for WaterAid and\u00a0demonstrated\u00a0our commitment to local partnership at the Stronger Cotswolds event.\u00a0Conversations were\u00a0had about members volunteering with a CHURN-run adult education initiative, just one example of the many ways individual Soroptimists contribute to our community. Members also shared useful Foreign Office travel advice for women going abroad\u2014another example of women sharing information that can help other women.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Local women\u2019s history sparked\u00a0particular enthusiasm. The extensive but little-celebrated archives at Northleach\u00a0contain\u00a0photographs and stories of women who have made their mark on our community over generations. Could we work with the\u00a0Corinium\u00a0Museum, Civic\u00a0Society\u00a0and others to bring some of those women back into the spotlight for International Women\u2019s Day 2027? Watch this space!<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Celebrating Women\u2019s Voices\u00a0from the Past<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Our next big celebration is the prize-giving for our Young Writers Short Story Competition at Cirencester Library on 23 October\u00a0to celebrate\u00a0winning\u00a0stories inspired by the theme\u00a0<\/span>Her Story \u2013 Women and Girls\u2019 Voices from the Past<\/span><\/i>.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

This initiative\u00a0wouldn\u2019t\u00a0have been possible without the incredible support of businesses, secondary schools and college librarians, the Cirencester Home School Association, Cirencester History Festival, the\u00a0Corinium\u00a0Museum, local authors,\u00a0publishing house\u00a0Crumps Barn Studio.\u00a0Her Majesty Queen Camilla called it a \u201cbrilliant initiative\u201d,\u00a0and\u00a0we\u00a0are thrilled to have a representative from both the local MP\u2019s office and the\u00a0Mayor\u2019s\u00a0office attending the prize-giving.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

And Plenty of Fun and Friendship!<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Of course,\u00a0Soroptimism\u00a0is about friendship and fun too. We swapped thoughts on books\u2014including local author Caroline Bradley\u2019s\u00a0<\/span>Making Tracks<\/span><\/i>\u2014and celebrated member Maggie\u2019s two recent bowling awards. There were stories of the hilarious antics of grandchildren over the summer holidays, a day trip to the local sculpture park (enjoyed despite the drizzling rain!) and much more.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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What is Orange the World?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Orange the World is a global campaign supported by Soroptimist International that shines a light on an issue that affects millions of women and girls worldwide: violence and abuse.<\/p>\n

The colour\u00a0orange<\/strong>\u00a0represents hope, safety and a brighter future. It is a visible reminder that every woman and girl has the right to live free from fear, violence and discrimination.<\/p>\n

As Soroptimists, we believe that change begins with awareness, conversation and community action. Through Orange the World, we work to raise awareness, challenge attitudes that enable violence, support local initiatives and encourage greater understanding of the issues facing women and girls.<\/p>\n

Our monthly\u00a0Orange Caf\u00e9s<\/strong>\u00a0provide a welcoming space where women can come together over coffee, share ideas, hear about local projects and learn how they can make a difference in their community. Whether you want to listen, learn, connect with others or get involved, you will find a warm welcome.<\/p>\n

Together, we can help build a world where women and girls are valued, respected and safe. Every conversation matters. Every action counts. And every voice has the power to create change.<\/p>\n

Standing up for women and girls. Building connections. Strengthening communities.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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Our relationship with the United Nations<\/h4>\n

Soroptimist International’s relationship with the United Nations began in 1950, when they gained category “C” consultative status with ECOSOC<\/p>\n

In 1984 the organisation gained Category 1 status, General Consultative Status and in 2013 SIGBI gained Special Consultative Status with ECOSOC<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.soroptimistinternational.org\/united-nations\/<\/a><\/p>\n

https:\/\/sigbi.org\/what-we-do\/opportunities\/united-nations\/<\/a><\/p>\n

Below is a link to the list of observance days or weeks<\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.un.org\/en\/observances\/list-days-weeks<\/a><\/p>\n

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Check our club activities on the Club Menu on the right side of this page<\/h4>\n

2026 -2027<\/h1>\n

The club has moved away from having a President to the Executive Committee taking on this role.<\/p>\n

Our main Programme Action project this year is “The Bookmark project”<\/h4>\n

More information will follow<\/p>\n

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SIGBI clubs will be supporting these important days this year. More information will be found here and on our Facebook page<\/h4>\n

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OUR DIRECTORY PROJECT<\/p>\n

The Soroptimist Club in Cirencester is pleased to announce the formation of a Directory for Women and Girls, https:\/\/whatson4women-cirencester.co.uk\/<\/a>\u00a0in the local area. The directory holds information about many aspects of life including well-being, health, families and parenting, spirituality, community and local groups and support groups.<\/p>\n

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The formation of a directory of groups\u00a0 clubs, societies, organisations and support groups focusing on issues and information for women and girls is on going. It is the kind of project which will never end, if there is anything you think should be in the Directory, please let us know.<\/p>\n

The director includes fun activities to increase well being, health and mindfulness, sports opportunities and where to find information about all manner of things important to women and girls.<\/p>\n

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https:\/\/whatson4women-cirencester.co.uk\/<\/a><\/p>\n

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To this end we have offered a number of placements opportunities to two students from Cirencester College who are studying for a T-Level qualification. The placements have taken place at The Growth Hub<\/p>\n

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For information about our Worldwide Organisation click on the links below<\/h4>\n

There are Soroptimist Clubs around the world:\u00a0Soroptimist International\u00a0\"\u25b6\ufe0f\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Here is the latest newsletter from Soroptimist International<\/strong><\/p>\n

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There are Soroptimist Clubs around the UK :\u00a0Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland\u00a0\"\u25b6\ufe0f\"<\/a><\/p>\n

There are Soroptimist Clubs around the South West Region:\u00a0Soroptimist International of South West & Channel Islands\u00a0\"\u25b6\ufe0f\"<\/a><\/p>\n

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We are committed to a world where women and girls can achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong peaceful communities worldwide. \u00a0We work for change through direct involvement in local, national and international projects.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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The Cirencester and District Club began in 1948 and we are now a thriving group of women of varying ages.\u00a0\u00a0We are actively seeking new members to join us.\u00a0\u00a0<\/strong>We need the enthusiasm and dynamism of younger women as well as the experience and wisdom of those who are older. \u00a0If transforming the lives of women and girls is important to you Contact us<\/a>\u00a0today to find out more and perhaps arrange an informal chat or attend a meeting.<\/p>\n

We meet in the evening on the 1st Wednesday of the month for a Business Meeting at the C-Hub https:\/\/www.danielbinghamfoundation.org.uk\/chub\/ and on the 3rd Wednesday of the month for a Dinner Meeting at the Royal Agricultural University.https:\/\/www.rau.ac.uk<\/p>\n

See Club Diary<\/a><\/p>\n

Visit our Events Page<\/a> to learn about forthcoming events.<\/p>\n

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Please take a look at this interesting research blog post below<\/h4>\n

https:\/\/www.safetydetectives.com\/blog\/womens-safety-research\/<\/a>[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”6960″ img_size=”medium” add_caption=”yes” alignment=”center”][vc_column_text][\/vc_column_text][vc_empty_space]