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SI Glasgow City members seated around a table enjoying a meal.
Orange Cafe at Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow

Orange Cafe at Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow

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On Monday 25th March six members of SI Glasgow City paid a visit to Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow. The ladies’ hospitality at TWG was second to none. On our arrival we were served tea, coffee and cakes. We were able to watch and chat with some of the women who were working industriously in their newly refurbished kitchen. We discovered that this cookery group normally came in on Wednesdays but they had wanted to show us what they could do and to thank our club for our ongoing support. So, from their arrival at around 9 am, they worked together to make lunch for us. As we hadn’t expected to be served lunch we were very pleasantly surprised! And what a feast: vegetable pakora, chapatis, chicken curry and rice, followed by home made carrot cake and chocolate – totally decadent. (There is a rumour that one or

A photo collage showing a screen with the words 'International Women's Day 2024 and two images of women in the Scottish Parliament chamber.
International Women’s Day events 2024

International Women’s Day events 2024

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Early March was busy for the members of SI Glasgow City with a variety of International Women’s Day (IWD) activities. Some members attended an event at the Scottish Parliament hosted by the Scottish Women’s Convention and a number of sponsors. 350 women attended from a variety of women’s organisations across Scotland and enjoyed speakers which included three schoolgirls reciting their poetry focussing on the rights of women. A panel of representatives from all five political parties answered questions which had been submitted prior to the event. The event closed with  a reception in the Garden Lobby of the Parliament. During the week members raised awareness of IWD in the city centre and within Glasgow City Council Offices by engaging in conversation with women and handing out publicity materials. In the Council Chambers one member met a couple on holiday from Frankfurt who knew about Soroptimists

Four SI Glasgow City members sitting at a table at a cafe with 'speak out' table tents on the table.
Orange Cafe at Toshies in January

Orange Cafe at Toshies in January

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11 members met at Toshies today for an Orange Café. We handed out 14 leaflets and cards talking to other cafe patrons about the UN Orange the World campaign to raise awareness of violence against women and girls. Toshies is the café linked to The Courtyard Food Pantry Enterprise, which is a great community asset in Possilpark. The cafe is located at 875 Garscube Road well worth a visit for coffee, lunch or a carry-out. Varied menu and the cakes are fabulous as well the homemade soups. Dale, Chief Executive, joined us for a blether and catch up after his presentation back in October 2023. www.courtyardpantry.org.uk #@courtyardpantry #doinggoodthroughfood

A kingfisher bird sitting on a branch.
A bonanza of birds at SI Glasgow City’s January meeting!

A bonanza of birds at SI Glasgow City’s January meeting!

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Our first speaker for 2024 was Lang Stewart, a keen ornithologist and amateur photographer. He took us on a photographic journey to some of Britain’s best nature reserves, sharing stunning pictures of birds and describing his experiences, and also telling us about the effect of Avian Flu on coastal bird populations. Lang completed his talk with some pictures taken closer to home, including the one taken below of a Kingfisher in East Kilbride.

A smiling woman. Eleanor Gibson who was the speaker at the SI Glasgow City club in September 2023.
A focus on mindfulness

A focus on mindfulness

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The speaker at the SI Glasgow City club on Wednesday 20th September was Eleanor Gibson, who shared some of her journey towards mindfulness, having published her book entitled ‘Mindfulness The Journey, Not The Destination’ a year ago. As well as some of her personal story, her book contains some of her beautiful poetry which gives an insight into her feelings at particular times in her life – happy, sad, traumatic, and positive events, and she shared some of these in her talk. In Eleanor’s book there are 50 mindfulness exercises which any reader can follow and try for themselves, and before her talk Eleanor led the members of SI Glasgow City in one of those soothing exercises, which the ladies enjoyed immensely.

Soroptimist members in Marie Curie tabards and hats collecting donations.
SI Glasgow City members support the Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal!

SI Glasgow City members support the Marie Curie Daffodil Appeal!

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As in previous years members of SI Glasgow City gave service by supporting Marie Curie’s annual daffodil appeal in two Morrisons supermarkets in Glasgow. A grand total of £1095 was donated by the shoppers in both the stores . The images show Soroptimists and a Marie Curie volunteer collector in action. There were a lot of coins to count, thank goodness for bank coin counting machines! #MarieCurie #SIGlasgowCity #Soroptimists

16 Days of Activism – 26 November

16 Days of Activism – 26 November

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SI Glasgow City encourages everyone to support women and girl survivors of violence to stay safe and free of violence today and everyday. The 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is an annual international campaign that runs from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and runs until 10 December, Human Rights Day. It was started by activists at the inaugural Women’s Global Leadership Institute in 1991 and continues to be coordinated each year by the Center for Women’s Global Leadership. It is used as an organizing strategy by individuals and organizations around the world to call for the prevention and elimination of violence against women and girls.

A collage of images showing a marquee with women and a Soroptimist International Glasgow City sign.
SI Glasgow City display at Pollok Park in July

SI Glasgow City display at Pollok Park in July

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SI Glasgow City members organised a display at Pollok Park next to the refurbished Burrell Museum. Club Membership Officer Madeleine had designed colourful displays about Club project work with a SIGBI Day of Service focus and information on other activities. The members chatted to visitors telling them of the work of Soroptimists. Some women opted to receive more information and they will be invited to come along to a club meeting in September after the summer break.  

Detective Sargeant Chris Hughes and Detective Constable Stewart Fleming of Police Scotland
Tackling human trafficking and domestic abuse

Tackling human trafficking and domestic abuse

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SI Glasgow City had their first face to face speaker meeting for 2 years on Wednesday, March 16th. The speakers, Detective Sargeant Chris Hughes and Detective Constable Stewart Fleming of Police Scotland, provided updates regarding human trafficking and domestic abuse within Scotland. Unfortunately, both areas have increased over the last two years. Police Scotland is using social media to highlight these issues and raise awareness within the general public including secondary schoolchildren. Two video resources are: a video titled ‘Don’t be that Guy?’ accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sVcu8Hwv8u8 and an explanation of the Disclosure Scheme for Domestic Abuse Scotland (DSDAS) accessed at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HY-MHi1zR5E BBC Radio Four recently aired a 30minute programme about sexual violence which explores how men can address their attitudes to women. This can be accessed at https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/m0015mgx