As part of its Friendship Link Weekend 2018 SI Lichfield and District presented a Domestic Abuse workshop with high profile speakers and to invite other Soroptimists as well as partner/potential partner organisations.
The aim was to organise a workshop to educate ourselves and others, and for delegates to leave with a clear idea of how Soroptimists can work together on a project or projects related to Domestic Abuse and include partner organisations too.
Through attending similar conferences and contacts with the local police force, we decided to arrange an interactive workshop to educate ourselves and others and to empower all of us to do more work in this area. We also wanted to give attendees the opportunity to discuss what work we could all do and how we could work together efficiently and learn from each other.
Our German Friendship Link Club SI Kaarst has been very active in this area and we were keen to get their perspective and input and to find a way of working together even at a distance. Our UK Friendship Link Clubs were also invited and we welcomed a substantial group from SI Mansfield & District Club.
Around 80 attended the full day event which was held in Elford, Staffordshire. In addition to members of our Friendship Links including 4 delegates from SI Kaarst, and other Midland Chase and Midland Arden clubs, we invited a number of interested third party organisations. The Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Staffordshire Sue Arnold, was our keynote speaker and two officers from West Midlands Police gave powerful expert presentations. SIGBI President Sue Williams also joined us.
We had updates on the Domestic Abuse work performed by SI Lichfield and SI Kaarst. Various pieces of Round Table work enabled all participants to discuss future action in the area of Domestic Abuse. The day concluded with the packing of Mums’ bags with essentials and little luxuries for women having to leave their homes suddenly owing to domestic abuse.
Online evaluation questionnaires were completed and the feedback was excellent. A few of the comments are here:
- ‘Excellent speakers – educational and inspiring’,
- ‘Great information sharing. Meeting new contacts’,
- ‘Different speakers, different aspects and perspectives, everybody got involved, very good organisation’.
We are planning a second event in the autumn of 2020, so if you are interested in attending, please get in touch.