We are Soroptimists – Women inspiring action, transforming lives. We are vibrant, dynamic and like-minded women working on global to local projects that help improve the lives of women and girls.

PROGRAMME OF MEETINGS 2025 – 2026

Gender, Youth & Poverty

14th September – Opening Lunch & Programme Launch,
Royal George, 12:30 for 13:00
Speaker: Phebe IIesanmi
Women, Youth and the Global Climate Agenda

23rd September – Women and Poverty: A Local to Global Perspective,
Royal George, 18:30
Speaker: Carmen Martinez from Scottish Women’s Budget Group

OCTOBER 2025
14th – Empowering Women Financially Across a Lifetime, CAB Office, 18:30
Workshop facilitated by Sarah Russell – Citizens Advice Bureau 

NOVEMBER 2025
25 Nov – 10 Dec 2025: 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence
All 16 days – SI Perth-Crieff collaboration – orange ribboned High Street tie-up in Blairgowrie and Alyth
11th – Zoom Meeting, 19:00 

Speaker: Helen Olafsdottir on Women, Peace & Security: UN Resolution 1325

21st – Official Launch, Perth Concert Hall, 10:30

25th – International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women 

Silent Vigil: 11:00 – 12:00 outside M&S or St. John’s Mall

DECEMBER 2025

14th – Making Christmas Joyful for All – 12:30 for 13:00
Christmas Lunch, Royal George Hotel

JANUARY 2026

13th – Service Project – 10:30 – 12:30
Craigie Community Soup Kitchen service activity 

FEBRUARY 2026
10th – Arts and crafts workshop and demonstration – 10:30
Royal George Hotel 

MARCH 2026
7th – Launch: Money Matters Workshops and International Women’s Day Celebration 10:00 – 15:00
Civic Hall, Perth 

Women’s Leadership Stories, Journeys, and Challenges to Inspire the Next Generation

31st – Reflect and Review Club Mtg – 18:30
An opportunity to look back on our achievements over the year and potential changes to our programme content and format as well as planning ahead.

APRIL 2026
21st – Yearly Review – 18:30
Annual General Meeting, Royal George Hotel
Report from Trauma Healing Together (Good Deed Fund recipient)

MAY 2026
12th – Summer Outing, St Mary’s Episcopal Church, Edinburgh (TBC)

JUNE 2026
SI Perth Rising Star STEM Award at UHI Perth Prize-giving

JULY 2026
SIGBI Day of Action
UN International Day of Hope

AUGUST 2026
Soroptimist Table at Annual Rotary Summer Fayre – King Edward St., Perth (TBC),
Baked goods, 

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African Projects

• Collecting new pants and lightly used bras for SMALLS FOR ALL to give girls the chance of full time education.
• SMALLS FOR ALL  is an organisation who operate from the UK and support people and charitable organisations working on projects in Africa who are able to transport and distribute the pants and bras they collect. Underwear has gone to many countries in Africa, including Cameroon, Ethiopia, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Malawi, Namibia, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zanzibar.  SMALLS FOR ALL also help charities that focus on alleviating poverty in the UK by providing them with underwear.

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Violence Against Women

Soroptimists of Perth have worked locally for many years supporting organisations like Women’s Aid and RASAC, in various ways including:

• Taking part in the annual Reclaim The Night Marches in Perth
• Supporting local and national campaigns – at the present time (Nov. 2020) we are taking part in the 16 Days of Activism Campaign in Perth.  See our Club News 2020 page for details of this.
• Working with RASAC (our local Rape & Sexual Abuse Centre) in a joint project raising awareness of their services (bookmarks) and collecting toiletries at Christmas.

  

  

  

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Female Genital Mutiliation (FGM)

• Lobbying and raising awareness to stop FGM where advocacy needed

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Support in Local Community

Like the rest of the population, we knitted during lock-down – beautiful lacy blankets for Care Homes, squares which are then crocheted into knee rugs for a Psychiatric Hospital.  Tiny baby clothes are being knitted for a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and trauma teddies for the children cared for by Women’s Aid.  These will be given to the intended recipients as soon as current restrictions permit them to accept the items.

One of our members also made 20 beautiful decorated laundry bags – nurses’ and doctors’ scrubs are placed in the bags prior to popping them in the washing machine, to prevent any cross infection during the wash.

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Sponsorship of Students 

Soila Girls Maasai Centre – We continue to sponsor the care, protection and education of Lucy, a young orphan girl in Kenya deemed at high risk of FGM and premature marriage.  Although the Kenyan Government has closed down schools and orphanages in response to the Covid pandemic, Lucy and 11 others have remained under the care of the Centre.

CPD Kenya – A financial donation was sent to the Center for Development and Peace in Mombasa to help provide hand-washing soaps, face masks, gloves, sanitizers and communication Covid-19 posters supplied by the Ministry of Health.  CPD is a youth and women led organisation formed in 2016.  They work passionately to engage the community for progressive development.  Check out their website icpdkenya.org for more information about them.