Welcome to Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District

Welcome and thank you for taking time to look at the website of Soroptimist International of Harrogate & District . I hope that you find it informative and inspiring.

Our club is one of 19 clubs across Yorkshire and a member of an international organisation of 3000 clubs in 115 countries.

The 19^th April saw us entering our 90^th year of service to women and girls locally and Internationally

The membership is warm, friendly and energetic with 42 members, fifteen having joined in the last three years.

Current projects involve sharing our skills in developing young people in sixth forms, supporting Resurrected Bites and local food banks, Dementia Forward, Young Carers and women and girls in Malawi .The next year will see others coming on board.

I am delighted to announce that the Club has achieved its aim in working with Toilet Twinning, part of the TearFund Charity and Twinned Ninety Toilets for our Ninetieth Year. The Toilets, for families and schools across the world improve the health and well-being of people, particularly women and girls. During the last 18 months we have worked with Harrogate District and Wetherby Town Councils to achieve Toilet Twinning status for the Borough and the Town. We achieved this through working in partnership with other organisations including the Wetherby Lions, local schools and churches and businesses.

95 Toilets Twinned. A fantastic result for our project.

If you want to make a real difference to the lives of women and girls why not come and see us at The Crown Hotel where we meet on the first and third Wednesday of most months, you will find the current programme here – Programme 2023

Pat Shore MBE

President

What we do?

See our Presentation about our Project work (Programme Action) here

Women’s Rights are Human Rights. The Club supports our local Women’s Refuge. We campaign to Stop Abuse Against Women. Club members are actively involved in supporting refugees.

We support Local Food Banks and the work of the Trussell Trust – Including Race Against Hunger that rasied £1000 this year – We also support Resurrected Bites – a local organisation whose aims to reduce Food Waste and Food Poverty by putting ‘Food in Bellies rather than Bins’

Every year we take part in 16 Days of Activism – From 25th November, the International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women through to the 10th December, the United Nation’s Human Rights Day. We post on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages @soroptimist80. Help us raise awareness by following us and sharing our posts. #16DaysofActivism #StopViolenceAgainstWomen

Charity Shop Christmas Window Competition 2023

This year we will once again be organising the Charity Shop Christmas Window Competition. More detials will be posted here in October 23.

You can find out the results of the 2022 Charity Shop Christmas Window Competition Here

Our members are active in the community.

We support local libraries, act as guides for the Royal Hall, serve meals at Resurrected Bites,

We activley respond to calls for help, such as providing warm blankets/throws and hot water bottles to the local food bank to stave off the cold as people try to reduce energy consumption.

What drives us?

We believe passionately in human rights for all; to raise awareness by campaigning locally and globally for equal rights and opportunities for women and girls. We specifically work to achieve the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).