SI Penrith and District was re-launched in April 2019 and currently has 11 members. We are all like-minded women who want to make a difference in Penrith and the surrounding area. We do this by raising awareness of issues of importance to women and girls, giving service to the community and raising funds for projects we feel require some support.
The Soroptimist Mission is to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment and enabling opportunities. Soroptimists have also been at the forefront in caring for the environment by encouraging recycling and looking after the biodiversity of the beautiful area in which we are situated.
International goodwill and understanding through friendship is also one of our priorities and members meet together to discuss, plan and work on projects in this area.
Next year the Club will be celebrating 60 years since incorporation and in that time members have been involved in many activities in the local, regional, national and international areas of service.
Over recent years we have taken an active interest in The Calvert Trust at Crosthwaite, Keswick and together with members of SI Cockermouth, have a team assisting with preparing the centre for new residents during the summer weeks. Our other long term project is assisting with the Eden District Talking Newpaper. Every 6 weeks a team of 8 members and friends record articles from the Cumberland and Westmorland Herald onto memory sticks which are sent out to blind and partially sighted people.
We also have Friendship Link Clubs in Voss, Norway and Dhaka, Bangladesh. Members from Penrith Club have visited each of these Clubs and we have helped support a Literacy Project in Dhaka for over 30 years by giving the Club financial support.
Internationally, Soroptimist International is representated at the United Nations and we celebrate many of the UN offical days.
Our meetings take place once a month and include speakers on various topics. In addition social and fundraising events take place during the year.
We welcome new members.
Please do contact us at: sigbi.org/penrith-and-district/contact-us
