This month, our club has been buzzing with activity! From inspiring talks to exciting upcoming events, here’s everything you need to know:
A View from the UN: The Commission on the Status of Women (CSW)
We were privileged to welcome Susan Mendoza, a member of SI Bingley, as our guest speaker at the March meeting. Susan shared her incredible experiences as a delegate at the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in 2024 and 2025.
Did you know? SIGBI and Soroptimist International (SI) both hold special consultative status at the UN, enabling members to participate in critical global discussions on gender equality.
Susan gave us a fascinating overview of the CSW, which has been fostering global awareness of women’s issues since its first meeting in 1947. Each year, the CSW focuses on a priority theme—this year, it’s Justice, while past themes have included Poverty.
Susan described the intense process of negotiations and meetings, where delegates work tirelessly to finalise statements. At the last CSW meeting, SIGBI delegates even met with UK parliamentarians, including Harriet Harman, the UK Special Envoy in 2025.
Key topics discussed included:
- Female Genital Mutilation (FGM)
- Promoting Women’s Health
- Girls’ Leadership
One significant proposal was to categorise FGM as Child Abuse, though it faced resistance from some states. Despite the challenges, Susan’s talk was a powerful reminder of the importance of our advocacy work.
She urged all SIGBI members to complete their Programme Action reports. These are crucial for SI to maintain its permanent CSW status and continue being a global voice for women and girls.
Exciting Events
Baroness Hale Afternoon Tea
We discussed our special event with club patron, Baroness Hale!
- Date: Saturday 24 April 2026
- Time: 2pm – 4pm
- Location: Holiday Inn, Scotch Corner
- Tickets: £20 each (£5 from each ticket will go to our chosen club charity, the Paul Cullen Trust).
Lady Hale has been a champion of diversity in the judiciary throughout her career. On becoming the first female Law Lord in 2003, she created her new coat of arms bearing the motto “omnia feminae aequissimae”, meaning “women are equal to everything”; something Soroptimists everywhere would surely endorse. An inspirational trailblazer, she was the first woman and first family judge to sit on the Supreme Court, and the first woman appointed as law lord in the Supreme Court’s predecessor, the House of Lords appellate committee.
The event included a talk by Baroness Hale, followed by a delightful afternoon tea. Her new book was also available for purchase and she kindly signed copies.
SOS Students Launch New Project
Our Sharing Our Skills (SOS) students, Cara and Freya, are launching an exciting new project to support the Growbaby charity in Darlington.
Here’s what they are planning:
- A collection box for clothing, nappies, and baby wipes located in Year 12 common areas.
- An upcoming free dress/pyjama day to raise awareness.
- Sharing leaflets across the school detailing the items most needed.
During the March meeting, we discussed how we can extend our support for this cause further in to the community. If you have good quality baby items looking for a new home, please let us know.
Fundraising Coffee Morning
We had a lovely morning of coffee, biscuits, and community spirit!
- Date: Thursday, 23rd April
- Time: 9am – 12pm
- Location: Town Hall, Richmond
Guests enjoyed hot drinks, sweet treats, and a fun tombola.
Programme Action & Club Highlights
Our club has been hard at work, and we’re proud to share some of our recent achievements:
- Tote Bag Initiative: Our team created 36 additional tote bag kits for other Yorkshire clubs after the success of our project for North Yorkshire Voice. We also donated the remaining fabric to a refugee centre and the Colburn sewing group.
- Collections: Members collected 45 pairs of spectacles and 30 mobile phones, which they sent for recycling and reuse.
- Fundraising Success: We raised £1,421 and donated it to the Hambleton and Richmondshire Specialist Palliative Care Team. The team thanked us with a heartfelt letter of appreciation.
- Future Planning: Our club has started organising a Women’s Film Festival, “Reel Women,” to celebrate next year’s International Women’s Day.
Membership News
We’re thrilled to announce a new initiative to recognise our members’ dedication. Long-service certificates will now be awarded for 10, 15, and 20 years of membership, in addition to the longer periods already recognised. These will be presented at future AGMs.
A huge congratulations to the following members for their incredible milestones:
- Shirley Thubron: 55 years
- Margaret: 45 years
- Judith and Chris: Approaching 20 years
- Sue Young: Approaching 15 years
Thank you to all our members for your hard work and dedication. Together, we continue to make a difference in our community and beyond.