About Soroptimist International Croydon and District
A longstanding connection with Croydon High School
Our relationship with Croydon High School is woven into our club’s history. Two former headteachers of the school were Soroptimists, including Dr Margaret F. Adams OBE, who became the first President of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) when the Federation was established in 1934.
Dr Adams went on to lead Croydon High School from 1939 to 1960 and served as President of SI Croydon and District in 1952.
Her successor, Elsa Cameron, who had previously taught at Roedean School, was Headmistress of Croydon High from 1960 to 1974. She remained a member of SI Croydon and District until her death in 2002.
These remarkable women represent an important part of our shared heritage, bringing together leadership in education, service to the community and a commitment to improving opportunities for women and girls.
The connection has continued through the generations, with many of our members having attended Croydon High School themselves, reflecting a longstanding commitment to the education and empowerment of girls.
This commitment to developing confidence and encouraging young women to find their voices also inspired the creation of our Loud and Proud public speaking competition.
The competition gives Year 6 girls an opportunity to develop their public speaking skills, express their opinions and experience the confidence that comes from speaking before an audience.
Our relationship with the Civic Mayor’s Office has been an important part of the competition, with the Mayor’s support helping to make the occasion special for the girls taking part.
A special relationship with the borough
Our links with Croydon’s civic life extend well beyond individual events. Over the years, we have enjoyed a longstanding relationship with the Civic Mayor’s Office and have been privileged to display the borough’s crest as part of our club identity.
Our members have participated in civic occasions, supported community initiatives and joined local organisations in activities that celebrate Croydon’s people and heritage.
We are proud to be part of the borough’s story and to contribute to its future.
Our collaboration with the Friends of Park Hill Park is a particularly special part of our history.
Within the park’s walled garden, we have our own section, which includes a Soroptimist bench and Peace Pole. It is a place that reflects our commitment to friendship, peace and the environment.
Our late member, Grace Onions, also made a lasting contribution to the park when she donated the first apple sapling, helping to establish the orchard at Park Hill Park. It is a wonderful example of how one person’s thoughtful action can leave a legacy for generations to enjoy.
Our environmental activities have also included supporting local tree planting initiatives, efforts to make Croydon greener and engagement with Croydon Climate Action.
Celebrating World Food Day
Our annual World Food Day celebrations have become an opportunity to bring people together through something we all enjoy: food.
Members and friends share dishes inspired by different cultures and traditions, celebrating the diversity of our community while drawing attention to the importance of food security and the global challenge of hunger.
These gatherings reflect the international character of Soroptimism and remind us how much we can learn from one another.
Friendship, partnerships and community action
Strong relationships have always been central to our club’s activities.
Over the years, we have supported and worked alongside organisations including Bromley and Croydon Women’s Aid, Off The Record, which supports young people including young carers, Croydon Vision, local Rotary clubs and Croydon Voluntary Action.
Since 2025, we have also supported Croydon Youth Zone, extending our commitment to helping young people in the borough access opportunities, develop confidence and fulfil their potential.
Our activities have included fundraising, donations, volunteering, awareness raising and joining forces with other organisations to address local needs.
We value these connections because collaboration allows us to extend our reach and make a greater difference.
Encouraging young voices and inspiring future leaders
Every girl has a voice worth hearing. At Soroptimist International Croydon and District, we believe that developing the confidence to use that voice can open doors, challenge perceptions and create opportunities.
This belief is at the heart of Loud and Proud, our annual public speaking competition for Year 6 girls from primary schools across the borough of Croydon.
How Loud and Proud began
Loud and Proud was established to encourage girls to develop their public speaking and communication skills, build confidence and recognise the importance of expressing their opinions.
The competition was created with a simple but meaningful ambition: to help girls find their voices at an early age and encourage them to play a more prominent role in public life.
Held annually around International Women’s Day, it reflects the Soroptimist commitment to educating, empowering and enabling women and girls.
Over the years, Loud and Proud has become a much-valued part of our club’s activities, bringing together schools, families, community representatives and Soroptimists to celebrate the abilities and potential of young people.
More than a public speaking competition
Each year, participating schools select Year 6 girls to represent them in the competition. The girls are invited to research and prepare a speech on a chosen topic, encouraging them to think independently, explore different perspectives and communicate their ideas clearly.
Standing before an audience of adults, fellow pupils and judges can be a daunting experience, particularly at the age of 10 or 11. Yet, year after year, we are impressed by the knowledge, conviction, creativity and confidence demonstrated by these young speakers.
The subjects they explore often reflect the issues shaping the world around them. From climate change and equality to the achievements of women in sport, economic challenges and the future of their communities, the girls demonstrate that young people have thoughtful and informed opinions worth listening to.
Although prizes are awarded, the true value of Loud and Proud lies in the experience itself. Every participant has the opportunity to develop skills that can serve her throughout her education, career and life.
A proud Croydon tradition
Our longstanding relationship with the Civic Mayor of Croydon has helped make Loud and Proud a particularly special occasion. The competition has been hosted in the impressive surroundings of Croydon Town Hall, providing young speakers with an opportunity to address an audience in a setting associated with local democracy and civic leadership.
The involvement of the Civic Mayor, alongside other community representatives who have supported or judged the competition, reinforces an important message: the voices of young girls deserve to be heard and taken seriously.
For many participants, the experience of speaking in such surroundings is likely to remain a lasting memory.
From Croydon to the world
The success of Loud and Proud has also inspired an exciting international development.
In 2023, the competition’s principles provided the foundation for Visible and Vocal, an international public speaking competition for girls aged 10 and 11.
The inaugural event brought together participants from seven countries: Australia, Côte d’Ivoire, Liechtenstein, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines and Rwanda.
Held virtually, it provided young speakers with a platform to discuss subjects including climate change, discrimination against girls, bullying, the cost of living and barriers to achieving their career ambitions.
What began as a local initiative in Croydon had helped inspire a platform for girls from different countries and cultures to share their ideas and aspirations. It was a particularly meaningful demonstration of international Soroptimist friendship and our shared commitment to ensuring that girls everywhere have opportunities to be heard.
Looking to the future
As SI Croydon and District approaches its centenary in 2027, Loud and Proud remains an important expression of our belief in the potential of young women.
The world in which today’s girls are growing up is changing rapidly, making the ability to communicate effectively, think critically and express an informed opinion more valuable than ever.
We are proud of every girl who has stepped forward to participate in Loud and Proud, the schools that encourage them, and the people and organisations who have supported the competition over the years.
We look forward to continuing this tradition and welcoming future generations of confident, thoughtful young speakers.
Because when we encourage girls to find their voices today, we help them become the women who will shape tomorrow.
Working to end violence against women and girls
Ending violence against women and girls is a cause that remains central to our work.
Each year, we participate in the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, which takes place from 25 November to 10 December.
Through awareness campaigns, community engagement, information sharing and collaboration with local organisations, we encourage conversations about violence, challenge harmful attitudes and highlight the support available to those affected.
Our aim is to contribute to a community in which women and girls can live safely, free from fear and violence.
Supporting women, girls and young people
Education, opportunity and wellbeing have long been important areas of our work.
Alongside our Loud and Proud competition, our members have supported mentoring, initiatives for young people and organisations helping women and girls overcome challenges and develop their potential.
We believe that giving someone an opportunity, encouragement or practical support can make a lasting difference.
Although our roots are firmly planted in the borough, our outlook has always been international.
One example is our award-winning project in Beterverwagting, Guyana. Following a visit by our then Club President in 2007, we helped establish a breakfast club for schoolchildren, working alongside the Association of Guyanese Nurses and Allied Professionals in the UK.
The initiative developed to include support for a school library, access to computers and gardening activities. The project received the regional Daphne Whitmore Prize in recognition of its contribution to international goodwill and understanding.
In 2023, we had the privilege of supporting the launch of Soroptimist International TAWI E-Club in Kenya, working in partnership with fellow Soroptimists to help the club establish itself and extend the reach of Soroptimism. Bringing together women from across Kenya through a virtual club, TAWI reflects our shared commitment to education, empowerment and creating opportunities for women and girls. It was a wonderful opportunity to put international friendship and cooperation into practice.
We have also supported Fairtrade initiatives over many years, recognising the importance of fair wages, decent working conditions and greater opportunities for women involved in global supply chains.
These activities demonstrate that although we work locally, we recognise our responsibilities as members of a global community.
The needs of our community have changed over the years, and so have some of the ways in which we respond. What has remained constant is our belief in friendship, service and the power of women working together.
We continue to welcome new ideas, build partnerships and create opportunities to make a positive difference.
Whether you are interested in volunteering, supporting our activities or becoming a Soroptimist, we would love to hear from you.
When we meet
We meet on the second and fourth Thursday of each month at 7.30 pm.
If you are interested in joining us, please get in touch to find out more about our meetings and activities. Visitors and prospective members are always welcome.
Our history matters, but so does what we do next.