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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

Donation cheque to the Teapot Trust from SI Glasgow City.
SI Glasgow City recently raised funds for the ‘Teapot Trust’

SI Glasgow City recently raised funds for the ‘Teapot Trust’

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At the Club meeting on 15 May 2019, Presidents Christine and Fiona asked that members raise funds for the 'Teapot Trust' https://www.teapot-trust.org/ during their year of office. The Teapot Trust is a Scottish charity providing a UK wide programme of art therapy and creative interventions in hospitals, to support the wellbeing of children and young people with chronic conditions and their families. Over the last year, members organised 'tea parties' in their homes using a blue china teapot, and attendees gave donations for the refreshments. As well as these individual efforts, the club held a Big Tea Party in February 2020 and in total we raised the wonderful sum of £2,000 for the Teapot Trust. As you can see, the blue teapot has had lots of outings during the past year and we thank those who took part for their time, energy and amazing donations!
Support for Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow

Support for Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow

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Since 2012 the members of SI Glasgow City have been supporting Tomorrow’s Women Glasgow (TWG), which is a multi-agency service for women after their release from prison on completion of their custodial sentence. Each month two members deliver basic toiletries, sanitary products and foods for emergency packs as shown in the images. The members have raised funds to purchase two electric sewing machines for the art and craft sessions. More recently funds were used to purchase cooking utensils and pots for the cookery lessons. A walking club has now been organised and the club bought water bottles for the women.

SI Glasgow City is looking at mental heath and the stigma surrounding it.

SI Glasgow City is looking at mental heath and the stigma surrounding it.

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In early May, our club organised an evening of Friendship, Mindfulness and Meditation to help members begin their work to ‘Think On It’. We were joined by our friends from SI Paisley and SI Hamilton. Ms Clare Bennet, a Transformational Life Coach helped us to learn how mindfulness can help us to cope with life’s stressors leading to us being better able to support others who need us. Following a break for refreshments we began to experience some meditation which is a useful tool to keep us ‘grounded’ and promote good mental health. Comments about the evening were very favourable and members felt that they would continue to use these strategies on their own.