2020 End Violence Against Women campaign 25 November 2020 saw the start of 16 days of activism to mark the Ending of Violence Against Women Day which is an annual event always on 25th November. In 1994, the United Nations defined violence against women, as “any act of gender-based violence that results in, or is likely to result in, physical, sexual or psychological harm or suffering to women, including threats of such acts, coercion or arbitrary deprivation of liberty, whether occurring in public or in private life”. Let’s all try to be ware of this and to raise awareness where ever we can and to listen and provide what support we can. During this week our chair, Amanda Carter Phillpot  attended a performance of Never Going to Beat You – Domestic Abuse in the Traveller Community on 23rd November hosted by Soroptimists International ST Albans.

  Soroptimists are approaching their 100 years celebrations.  One of our ways to celebrate this is to look to a bright future.  And we thought lets plant a tree. Here in Milton Keynes the Parks Trust manage a number of ancient woodlands and they are currently facing a loss of trees due to Ash dieback.  They are looking for our  help.  This autumn we are seeing a bumper crop of acorns being produced within our woodlands, and Parks Trust are asking us help to collect and plant these so that we can all help protect woodlands such as Howe Park, Shenley and Linford wood for future generations. To learn more of how you can help click here

  The Soroptimist International London Chilterns (SILC) Region AGM and Conference is going online this year on Saturday 10 October 10am to 1pm.  Speakers include Ann Beatty from the Steve Sinnott Foundation, an international education charity and Janis Feely MBE,  founder of the Living Room charity in Hertforshire talking about the aims of the charity to break family addiction. All are welcome to join on Zoom 10 Oct 10am to 1pm. For more information and how to book a place click here