SI Bilston and District – Spoon Badges Project
SI Bilston and District have an ongoing project with Karma Nirvana by selling and distributing their lapel spoon badges to raise awareness of Forced Marriage.
People who wear spoon badges are able to explain the significance of the issue.
In spite of new legislation there is still much work to be done raising awareness of professionals and agencies. Through the SoroptiVoiceBlog SI Bilston has already drawn attention to the campaign worldwide.
SI Chester – Toilet Twinning
SI Chester encouraged a number of individuals/organisations to donate to Toilet Twinning. Toilet Twinning works to improve sanitation in remote areas in several countries, reducing the number of girls who miss school because of the lack of suitable toilet facilities. When girls/ women have to go to the toilet in open areas, it increases the risk of violence against them. SI Chester met with the individuals/organisations as stated above, raising awareness of Toilet Twinning and Soroptimist, and donated a toilet to the Sheriff of Chester at their Charter Ceremony.
See SI Chester’s full presentation
SI Grange Over Sands – Singing for Memory
SI Grange-over-Sands has successfully set up and run “Singing for the Brain” sessions for local people suffering from dementia and their carers in partnership with the Alzheimers Society for almost two years.They contacted the staff of the memory clinic to which people suspected of suffering from dementia are referred and supplied them with leaflets outlining the nature, dates and times of sessions. We also contacted the Care Navigator, funded by Age UK who works with all our local practices to identify patients with dementia and direct them to services run which can help them. Two of our medical members attended an educational meeting for GPs and outlined our work, to encourage referral. As a result of this project there has been a definite increase in the number of people with dementia and their carers that are benefitting.
SI Bournemouth – STEM
By running a challenge aimed at girls and providing criteria that appeal to girls SI Bournemouth hope to encourage girls to choose STEM subject at GCSE and continue to do A level and Degree level and choose a STEM based career. SI Bournemouth started a Challenge in 2012 for girls in Key Stage 3 years 9 and 10, and this was amended to Girls in years 8 and 9 when we realised that many girls choose their GCSE options in year 8 as well as year 9.The Challenge involves researching, designing and making something to help people in the developing world that is sustainable and usable. The focus is on the process rather than producing a technologically perfect working model at the end. The challenge is judged by people from local businesses, Bournemouth University Professors and staff from Bournemouth Borough Council using judging criteria approved by the British Science Association. The number of girls entering the Challenge has grown and there were 204 this year. Some of the girls in the initial Challenge are now in the 6th form and acted as mentors to the girls in year 8 and 9 in their school.
See SI Bournemouth’s full presentation