It’s April, which means a new club year starts at SI Peterborough. During our 2022/23 year, we enjoyed socials, events and interesting talks while raising money for our President’s Charity of the Year – Peterborough Women’s Aid. SI Peterborough President, Rita Bali, says: “We’re delighted to have reached our fundraising goal this past club year, raising £1,000 for Peterborough Women’s Aid. These vital funds will help the charity provide life-saving services and build a future where domestic violence is not tolerated. “A huge thank you to everyone – members and non-members alike – who have supported us over the last 12 months. We look forward to another year of raising money and awareness for invaluable causes that empower women and girls locally, nationally and internationally.” As we look forward to what’s in store for 2023/24, we look back at what we got up to and

We know the importance of pollination; 75% of global crops and one out of every three mouthfuls of our food depends on it. But 250 of our insect pollinators are in danger of extinction so we need to make changes so we can protect them. Bees, butterflies, moths, birds, flies and beetles play a pivotal role in contributing to the pollination of 8 in 10 British plants. And there are simple things we can do at home to help pollinators. Here are five tips for you to try at home! Let your grass grow Ok, this is a favourite in our household. Everyone loves a freshly cut and neatly manicured lawn but by growing a small part of it and letting it run wild you’re encouraging the natural ecosystem to thrive. You’ll soon see more insects, flowers and maybe even small mammals! All it takes

As part of supporting the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals, SI Peterborough members have made eco pledges this year. The aim? To make small changes to our everyday lives that support climate action. Find out how our member, Karen, has made the switch to plastic-free shampoo, deodorant and toothpaste – and their top tips if you’re thinking of doing the same… Cutting down on plastic For the past few years, I’ve been making an effort to cut down on the amount of plastic I buy. Looking around my house though one area where I was struggling was with toiletries. I’d made the easy switch to bars of soap instead of shower gels and face wash, but for other toiletries, I’d been put off in the past by products that seemed expensive or didn’t work, one particularly memorable shampoo bar left my hair feeling like greasy straw!

It’s a big deal saving the planet, but… “A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step” – Lao Tzu. Here at SI Peterborough, we’re taking steps to create space for nature and look after our small part of the planet in an eco-friendly way. We’re learning about the planet and what we can do to reduce our footprint and support sustainable goals. “We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on earth as it’s other creatures do” – Barbara Ward. As part of our sustainability commitments, we’re making small changes in our everyday lives that will support the planet and raise awareness of climate change – particularly how it disproportionately affects women in situations of poverty. “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best time is now” – Chinese Proverb. What are

I joined SI Peterborough women’s club last year, which means I’m one of the Club’s newest members. I knew a couple of members who’d been encouraging me to attend for a while, and I finally got around to joining. In October 2020, I sat down and really thought about what it would be like to join a local volunteer group; what value this could add to my life and perhaps other people’s lives. Now I’ve been a member of SI Peterborough women’s club for just over four months, I’ve taken time to reflect on why I joined and the perks of joining a group like SI Peterborough. Here are some of my thoughts: Being part of a community of like-minded individuals Being part of SI Peterborough social club allows you to connect with new people who share a desire to make friends and supporting charitable

  SI Peterborough is a women’s club in the city that – through advocacy and fundraising – supports charities and projects that help women locally, nationally and internationally. If you follow us on social media, you may have some idea of what we do at SI Peterborough. But, do you know who is behind it? We are a diverse mix of women from Peterborough with one common aim – to make a difference to the lives of women and girls around the world. Read on to learn more about some of the SI Peterborough members… Moira   I have been married to Adam for 57 years and we have three children. I worked in the NHS for 43 years, specialising in cancer services and received the OBE for my work. I have been a Soroptimist for over 30 years, and I was Midland East Regional benevolent officer for

For 16 Days of Activism starting 25th November to 10th December, Soroptimists everywhere will #OrangetheWorld. The theme for 2020 is “Orange the World: Fund, Respond, Prevent, Collect!”. Each of the 16 days we celebrate marks a step towards women’s rights and a safe space for them.  Soroptimist International believes that women’s rights are human rights and through our work in the communities we work with that objective. SI Peterborough President, Jessica Barton, says: “Advocacy plays such a huge part in what we do, particularly with Covid-19 restricting our fundraising efforts. “Marking these 16 days of activism is our way of creating public awareness about what needs to change, and to prevent it from happening in the first place at local, national, regional and international levels.” Beginning with the International Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women on 25th November, Soroptimists follow UN Days to transform

Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) held its annual conference last week (30th – 31st October 2020). It was the 86th SIGBI Conference, which was broadcast from Belfast – the first virtual conference ever! Held in a different destination each year (usually face-to-face), Conference is a time for Soroptimists to meet friends old and new, and to listen to inspiring speakers. Several SI Peterborough members attended this year’s virtual event, and a couple kindly share their experience below… Rita Bali Of course nothing compares to the atmosphere of a live event. But SIGBI, like all the SI clubs, has adapted. Both Conference days kicked off literally with a wonderful welcome from the Irish dance group, Celtic Storm. The speakers were excellent, talking about subjects that are close to every Soroptimist’s heart; celebrating women’s achievement in law, building slavery-free communities etc. My favourite was the

We’re so pleased to support Peterborough charity No Gain, No Pain UK (NGNP UK) with their fundraising efforts by donating chocolate oranges and hand-knitted covers! Each chocolate orange and their cute hats (knitted by Ann, Moira and Judy) will be sold to raise money to go towards buying syringe drivers (medical pain control devices) for our local area. If you’re in Peterborough and would like to buy one, you can contact NGNP UK direct via their Facebook page here. What is a syringe driver? In short, a syringe driver is a device used in palliative care. It is a box that is attached to the patient by a needle, through which drugs can be administered giving a constant flow of pain relief. Without these devices, patients have to wait for a nurse to attend to administer countless injections every time they are in pain. This

Soroptimist International (SI) Peterborough is looking for new members to join its vibrant club. Specifically, women with enthusiasm and energy – who are interested in friendship and advocacy – to take the work of SI Peterborough forward. Members enjoy affiliation to a 100-year-old international organisation that stands up for women and girls in local communities. Members meet and collaborate with women of all ages and backgrounds to work towards one common goal – to make a difference to the lives of women and girls on a local, national and international level. SI Peterborough President, Jessica Barton, says: “As Soroptimists, we believe sisterhood and bonding is the best way to address the gender-based issues in communities. We believe in educating, empowering and enabling women and girls through advocacy and supporting related charities and projects. “Due to Covid-19, we are meeting via Zoom on the second and