Soroptimist International of Newcastle upon Tyne Stand up for Women against trafficking and modern day slavery. Traffickers say openly that their trade is more lucrative than drugs or arms sales because people can be sold and resold time and again. During our 16 days of activism against violence against women Soroptimists in Newcastle upon Tyne shine a spotlight on this barbaric and pernicious trade. Some 800,000 women and children are trafficked across borders annually, many of them for sexual exploitation, as sex workers, sex slaves or for pornography In 2016 it was estimated that 28 million women were in slavery worldwide, including forced labour, enforced prostitution or forced marriage. Women and girls account for 99% of victims in the commercial sex industry, and 58% of other sectors of forced labour. Working for poor or no wages, kept as domestic or sex slaves, fearful to speak

At our last meeting before Christmas, Newcastle Soroptimists assembled the gift bags for Under the Bridge and the gift boxes for the the Hub which supports trafficked women #ask me whyiamasoroptimist#stopthetraffik @sigbi1

Tuesday October 23rd was our last meeting at Jesmond Library as from November 12th we will be meeting at TDR, Q1, Quorum Business Park, NE12 8EX. Our speakers this evening were Laura and Rochelle from the West End Women and Girls’ Centre in Elswick. They spoke eloquently and at length on how they became involved with the work the centre does and how they recruit and train other young people to become Domestic Violence Champions (D.V.Cs). They are funded by the office of the Police and Crime Commissioner amongst other organisations. The West End Women and Girls Centre is a registered charity which has been working with women and girls in the West End of Newcastle since 1981. The Centre provides support through group work where the members have the opportunity to meet, have fun, learn skills, look at issues relevant their lives and generally

WMHD in the Metrocentre was a great success , SI Newcastle upon Tyne were supported by WI Washington doing crafts, The Body Shop giving hand massages, Intu Metrocentre entertaining children with balloon shaping. We helped raise awareness of Soroptimists as well as mental health issues Pam from SI South Shields was supporting SI Newcastle Soroptimists at the World Mental Heath Day event in the Intu Metro Centre. It was a very successful and well attended event.

On World Mental Health Day, October 10th, 9am to 6pm, Soroptimist International Newcastle upon Tyne are raising awareness of the support available to promote positive mental health and well-being. Venue: INTU Metrocentre NE11 9YG TOWN SQUARE….OUTSIDE HOUSE OF FRASER Other supporters: Intu Metro Centre providing Kiosk, sofas, chairs and tables. WI Washington doing crafts WI Washington ukulele players x 5 12.30-1.30pm WI South Shields doing parchment work making cards CKA  providing signs Booklets and leaflets will be available from Mind Independent Age Age UK. On the same day Intu Metro Centre are doing ‘Chatty Chairs’ encouraging people to talk to each other.  This will complement the work being undertaken by soroptimists and other supporters.

  Soroptimist International Newcastle upon Tyne Our President, Chris Jones and SI Newcastle upon Tyne are celebrating Soroptimism and 100 years of women’s access into the professions with a celebratory lunch. This follows on from our festivities last year marking 100 years of suffrage – and we would really love you to join us. On Saturday 16 November, our celebrations will take us to the Banqueting Suite at the International Centre for Life, Newcastle upon Tyne for a three course meal, and our guest speakers will share with us their reflections on their experiences of joining the professions. Enjoy good food and good company with us celebrating “100 Years of Women’s Access into the Professions”. Join us on this special afternoon for only £25.00 per person. The menu and form are attached – we would love to see you, your partner and guests at the event.

Today, current and former Soroptimists from around the Northern Region attended the funeral of Miss Florence Mary Kirkby (22nd June 1921 – 15th January 2019). The church was crowded with friends, colleagues, and former pupils and it was a wonderful tribute to Florence’s life and her wide range of interests that so many people came to show their affection and respect for her. When notice of her passing was posted on the Newcastle upon Tyne Soroptimist website and Facebook, we received a response from a lady who knew Florence and who remembered her as an inspirational lady. She commented: ‘I knew her through British Federation Bfwg and did not realise Florence was a Soroptimist too. I have attended her 90th birthday party and it was just so lovely to see a twinkle in Florence’s eyes and million dollar smile, throughout the celebrations. 22 June 1921

It is with sadness that we have to tell you that our long serving member of 46 years, Florence Kirkby, died in hospital in the early hours of Tuesday 15 January aged 98 years. She had a number of falls a few days before she died, for which she had sought medical attention, but then was admitted to hospital with pneumonia a short while after, where she died. She was our Club President in 1983-84 and SI Northern Regional President in 2010-11. Florence’s funeral will be held on Thursday 7 February 2019 at 1.0pm at St.Aidan’s Church in Brunton Park ( NE3 5NF ). There will be refreshments after the service in the adjacent Church Hall. The flowers for the coffin are to be provided by her executors and close family and the ladies of the church wish to decorate the church with flowers (

On Sunday 25th November Newcastle Soroptimist’s and members of the Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade rescue and support teams gathered at the Watch House in Tynemouth with Northumbria Police & Crime Commissioner/SI Newcastle President Dame Vera Baird QC to show support for the White Ribbon campaign.           Later in the afternoon Soroptimist’s from Newcastle, Tynedale, and Tynemouth and Whitley Bay clubs gathered on the Gateshead Millennium Bridge. Also in attendance were the Northumbria Police Chief Constable Winton Keenan and IPCC Vera Baird, Gateshead Councillors and members of the public.