Celebrated Perthshire makar, Jim Mackintosh, performed his poem, Never Enough Winters, at our IWD event this month. This poem is in memory of Sarah Everard (pictured below) and speaks powerfully to our campaign against gender-based violence experienced by women and girls. Jim has generously allowed us to share his work here, as part of our commitment to provoke thought and reflection on the rights of women and girls to be safe. NEVER ENOUGH WINTERS for Sarah Five winters mark the night she did not reach her door, her keys still quiet in her hand. Street lamps along the south-flow river burned, ashamed of what their light could not prevent. In London, where broken pavements hum with borrowed footsteps and the rush of home, her name is spoken softly – Sarah Everard with reflection, with memory and ache. The trust we placed in uniforms was ripped

Inspiring launch of Perth Soroptimists’ 2026 flagship project, Money Matters, celebrates women’s creativity and empowerment.        It was an honour to hear our key-note speakers, Shirley-Anne Somerville, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, and Professor Dame Sally Mapstone, Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of St Andrews. Both recognised that we must do more to ensure women’s financial literacy as part of independence and opportunity. They called for greater literacies for women: financial, creative and beyond, while reminding us how vital matters of opportunity and equality are.         Dame Sally reminded us of the pivotal but often-overlooked role played by women in Tayside’s Timex factories. These women and technologies were a pre-cursor in the 1980s to Dundee’s global reputation for computer gaming. Ms Somerville spoke of the various contexts in which financial literacy was sorely needed, and how timely the Soroptimists’

Soroptimists Launch ‘Money Matters Workshops’ with Gathering at Civic Chambers including First Minister John Swinney, and women leaders from Social Justice and Education The Perth Soroptimists, part of a global network dedicated to advancing women’s rights and opportunities for more than a century, are proud to announce a landmark launch event in celebration of International Women’s Day. Held in the historic Civic Hall at 2, High Street, Perth, on Saturday 7 March from 10am-3.00pm, the event promises a vibrant and thought-provoking launch. The Soroptimists will provide a dynamic workshop series, ‘Money Matters’ throughout 2026 after securing competitive funding from PKC’s Fairer Communities Fund. Perth Soroptimist President, Gameeda Barnard, explained why the Soroptomists felt compelled to make gender and finance their 2026 IWD theme: ‘Financial independence isn’t just about money – it’s about the freedom to choose safety, dignity, and a life lived on your own

The photographs shows some Scottish Soroptimists, including Perth members, all in orange to support the UNiTE Campaign’s global advocacy theme. Members of Soroptimist International globally highlight an annual campaign against gender-based violence.The Activism against Gender-based Violence Campaign  spans from the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on 25 November to Human Rights Day on 10 December. This is a time to galvanize action to end violence against women and girls around the world, when people unite and speak out on ending violence against women and girls. In streets, in schools, offices, villages and cities, every year, people around the world raise awareness and take action during the 16 Days of Activism. Here in Perth this includes the vital Perth & Kinross Violence Against Women’s Partnership’s programme of events. This year, the 16 days come on the heels of #MeToo and other global

Perth Soroptimist Perth are pleased to support the work of Trauma Healing Together. We presented a cheque for  £1,500 in support women accessing the Pathways to Hope project.

Soroptimist International Perth marked International Women’s Day 2025 with a virtual Zoom meeting. We welcomed members and guests from a range of women’s organisations. Our guest speaker, Louise Craig, Manager of Perthshire Women’s Aid, delivered a powerful presentation about Women’s Aid which was established in Perth in 1974. Louise highlighted the stark reality of domestic abuse in the UK, where on average two women each week lose their lives.  Around 60,000  incidents are reported UK-wide each year. Over 900 were reported in Perthshire in the past year. The presentation was both moving and thought-provoking, reinforcing the vital work carried out locally to support women and families affected by abuse. If you would like to find out more about Soroptimist International Perth you can: Email siperth@outlook.com Visit the SI Perth page on the Great Britain and Ireland Soroptimist website Follow Soroptimist Perth Scotland on Facebook.

What a fantastic time we had at SI Perth’s opening lunch on Sunday, celebrating the launch of our 2024/2025 Programme! The day was filled with fun, laughter and so much inspiration—especially from the amazing Violet Dalton, who gave an uplifting talk on volunteerism. We were also thrilled to have Heidi Hope, sector manager for science, engineering and aviation at Perth College UHI, join us. Here’s to an incredible year ahead!