Yesterday, two Club members visited one of Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid refuges to deliver a surprise gift for the children staying there. These larger than life models were gifted by friends of the Soroptimists and in this difficult time,  anything that can bring a smile to a child’s face is of great benefit!  They proved to be quite a challenge to transport them to the refuge but once they arrived, were welcomed with open arms!  The Soroptimists were met by the the manager who said they were a great addition to their Play Therapy Room and thanked the Soroptimists for bringing them and their original owners for donating them.

Yesterday’s talk given by Michelle Blunsom MBE, CEO, at  East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services(ESDAS) was very informative and gave members a clear insight into the current situation in domestic abuse. The lockdown and current restrictions have made it even harder for victims of domestic abuse to seek help. Although women make up the large proportion of those abused, men are also abused. Michelle spoke about  training Community Ambassadors to offer a safe place to speak and refer victims to ESDAS. Details of this training will be made available shortly and will be posted on this website and social media. Michelle mentioned that they will be launching their Acts of Kindness appeal, where members of the public can donate an item that will bring comfort to a domestic abuse survivor. More information about ESDAS  can be found on our Domestic Abuse Charities post.

SI Epsom will be celebrating World Food Day by donating items to donation points in supermarkets, churches and directly to the foodbanks themselves. We are encouraging our Club members, family, friends and other Soroptimists to do the same. Please let us know if you are making a food or other essential item donation by completing this form Food donation form Here is a list of some local  places to donate in and around Epsom but you can donate to anywhere near you!  Supermarkets Churches and Foodbank For those who would like to donate to other Foodbanks you can search on here: https://www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ It is also possible to donate money to your local foodbank. Let us know if you are doing that.

                  A great evening was had by all for our first online fundraiser! We have raised  £435 which will go to the three domestic abuse charities; True Honour,  East Surrey Domestic Abuse Services and Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid. Many thanks to the three speakers who told us about the charities and a special thank you must to Neelam and her daughter Sakina in  providing a feast before out eyes – Bombay Aloo and Homemade Chicken Punjabi Style.  Some of the audience were cooking at the same time including a vegan version made with pumpkins! A request for Green Chicken Curry was also made so this has also been included.  Recipes are available on this link: A Taste of Spice – Homemade Punjabi Cooking Recipe Booklet.docx Here is what some people had to say: ‘Thank you so much

Today SI Epsom celebrates International Literacy Day by sharing book reviews on our website. Being able to read and write means being able to keep up with current events, communicate effectively, and understand the issues shaping our world.  Literacy skills give us access to information and points of view and the enjoyment of sharing the world of others. Lacking vital literacy skills holds a person back at every stage of their life.  Literacy is critical to economic development as well as individual and community well-being. Literacy skills are fundamental to education and two-thirds of the world’s illiterate adults are women. Invisible Women: exposing data bias in a world designed for men by Caroline Criado Perez This is a book every girl and every woman should read to understand why life presents so many problems for us – from cars and car seats designed for men,

    After several months of trying to make contact with SI Okayama, we received some good news this month! Two letters and a photo were sent to us by  the Club Chair of the IGU committee. One letter sent in May 2020 begins with “Japan is in uproar by Coronavirus infection…… All meetings of the Soroptimists disappeared from March…As I cannot meet a friend either, I am lonely. I endure it now …I just pray so that a day to be able to spend in peace comes to the people of the world so that Coronavirus ends early.”   The other letter sent in July 2020 says “I was not able to send international mail…At last I begin to move, I send it. In your country, did the Coronavirus die down? Patients of Japan still increase. In Okayama, the patient almost disappeared. All people are

We have some very talented members at SI Epsom & District.  On Friday 24 July 2020, two members performed in a Rock Choir Variety Show online. One member pictured here, S, performed a song called My Colouring Book, accompanied by her son. Here is a link to the whole show and you can see the performance on this time: 1.08.17  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bTouBxxt-I  There has been a strong link between the Soroptimists and Rock Choir over the past year. Two members from Rock Choir have joined SI Epsom as a result of being invited by another member to the Meru Women’s Garden Project Garden Party last summer. This was a fund-raising event in a member’s garden where some choir members performed. One choir member, who was drawn to the Soroptimist stall, was given plenty of leaflets and was almost instantly recruited! Here at SI Epsom & District

Welcome to our two new members!  Both members were inducted earlier this year  and when asked to say something about themselves, they surprised us with two full accounts! C  gave us  plenty of interesting information about her work, studies and family life. V gave us a poem about her hobbies and family life.    C: In 1988, at the age of 28, having been working with homeless young people and people with addiction issues for a number of years, I decided to train as a social worker. As I was self funding I sought help to pay my fees and came across the Soroptimists who funded one year of the fees of my two year course. I am very grateful for the support.  I have loved working as a social worker and after working in child protection and with young people in care I moved