On 17 March a trio of Soroptimist International Clubs in the London Chilterns Region SI Slough Windsor & Maidenhead, SI Thames Valley, and SI High Wycombe and District organised a brilliant International Women’s Day event in Maidenhead Town Hall.
The theme was “Opportunities for Women and Girls
READ ALL ABOUT IT ! in the Maidenhead Advertiser: www.maidenhead-advertiser.co.uk/gallery/maidenhead/142762/in-pictures-soroptimist-clubs-join-forces-to-celebrate-international-women-s-day.html and in the Windsor Observer: www.windsorobserver.co.uk/news/17525578.town-hall-conference-on-international-womens-day/
Speakers included:
- Gerry Lejeune OBE, CEO, Berkshire Community Foundation
- Hannah Little, Fundraising Officer, Womankind Worldwide – A global women’s rights organisation working to improve lives of women
- Alaa Fawaz, Chairman, and Raakhi Sharma, Representative, – two schoolgirls from Slough Youth Parliament
- Penny MacKenzie, Detective Chief Inspector, Thames Valley Police on crime issues affecting women in the Thames Valley
The Mayor of Slough, Paul Sohal, and the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress of the Royal Borough, Colin and Samantha Rayner, attended. Disappointingly but not surprisingly, the Prime Minister and local MP, Theresa May, who had been invited to open or close the event, sent an excellent letter of apology for absence. Members from local women’s organisations also came. A number of local organisations had stands including the Kori Project, Women and Girls, DASH, Slough Fostering, Womankind Worldwide, Wycombe Women’s Aid, and Healing Fit and Wellness.
A raffle was held in aid of the Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland Emergency Disaster Fund and raised £200.40.
Jackie Paling, Soroptimist International London Chilterns Region Programme Officer and Member of SI Slough, Windsor and Maidenhead organised the event and afterwards said “I am so pleased it went very well, as it has been a lot of hard work. The speakers were inspiring and the two schoolgirls were so enthusiastic about their place in politics. The event provided networking opportunities. We are already thinking about what to do for next year!”
