{"id":670,"date":"2026-10-10T10:27:55","date_gmt":"2026-10-10T10:27:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/southern-england\/?page_id=670"},"modified":"2026-11-02T22:52:53","modified_gmt":"2026-11-02T22:52:53","slug":"programme-action","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/about-our-region\/programme-action\/","title":{"rendered":"Programme Action"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\n\t
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The next activity will be:<\/p>\n

Regional Railway Day on Saturday 28 November.<\/h4>\n

This has now been confirmed, on Winchester market on Saturday 28 November. We don’t know the exact location of our stall yet, but likely to be at the bottom of the High Street near Sainsburys. The station is a ten minute walk away towards the Guildhall.
\nMarket timings are 0900 to 1700.<\/p>\n

It would be helpful to know how many members will be attending and at roughly what time.\u00a0 We don’t know if anyone is attending from the railway company, but the Winchester Mayor and Danny Chambers MP will be visiting the stand around 10.45 to 11.15.<\/p>\n

SI Winchester will set up the stand so please advise Julie Blackwell of any items you wish to display. There are Trello Board posters which can be printed, and we have the safety cards to hand out and talk to people.\u00a0 Julie will also organise printing a few copies of the latest Railway Survey report, so there is something to show and talk about on the day.<\/p>\n

<\/h4>\n

 <\/p>\n

Regional PAC report 2025.<\/h4>\n

Last year we published a report on all Programme Action across the region (summarised with the aid of AI). It is reproduced in the box below.\u00a0 The headlines were:<\/p>\n

Executive Summary<\/h6>\n

Throughout 2025, clubs across the Southern England Region have continued to make a real difference in the lives of women and girls. Through a wide range of projects, events and partnerships, members have worked tirelessly to educate, support and advocate within their local communities.<\/p>\n

Activities this year have included:<\/h6>\n
    \n
  • Supporting education and leadership opportunities;<\/li>\n
  • Promoting health and wellbeing;<\/li>\n
  • Raising awareness of violence against women and girls;<\/li>\n
  • Encouraging environmental sustainability;<\/li>\n
  • Reaching out to and supporting local communities;<\/li>\n
  • Fundraising for local, national and international causes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    What stands out most is the enthusiasm, creativity and commitment shown by clubs across the region. By working together and building strong partnerships, clubs have extended their reach and increased their impact within their communities.<\/p>\n

    Looking Across the Region<\/h6>\n

    There is much to celebrate from the past year. Clubs have continued to deliver a wide variety of Programme Action activities, often working alongside community organisations to maximise their impact. Awareness campaigns linked to Soroptimist priorities and international observances have helped shine a spotlight on issues affecting women and girls, while collaboration between clubs has continued to grow.<\/p>\n

    Like many voluntary organisations, clubs have also faced some challenges. Recruiting and retaining members remains an ongoing concern for some clubs, and finding enough volunteer capacity to support projects can be difficult. Maintaining visibility, both in local communities and across social media platforms, continues to require time and effort.<\/p>\n

    At the same time, these challenges present opportunities. There is great potential for even more collaboration across the region, sharing resources, ideas and successful project approaches. Making greater use of digital communication and social media can help raise awareness of clubs’ achievements, while improved impact measurement will help demonstrate the value of the work being carried out.<\/p>\n

    Conclusion<\/h6>\n

    The work undertaken by clubs across the Southern England Region during 2025 reflects the dedication, compassion and resourcefulness of our members. Every project, partnership and fundraising activity contributes to improving the lives of women and girls and strengthening local communities. Together, clubs continue to demonstrate the positive difference that Soroptimists can make when they work with purpose, passion and commitment.<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/section>\n\n\n\t\n\t

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    REGIONAL PROGRAMME ACTION REPORT 2025<\/h2>\n

    Southern Region \u2013 Consolidated Report for All Clubs<\/p>\n

    Prepared by: Olein Webster & Bobbie White<\/p>\n

    Clubs included: Bournemouth, Woking, Salisbury, Epsom, Surrey Hills, Solent East, Weybridge, Poole Purbeck & District, Winchester & District<\/p>\n

     <\/p>\n

    SECTION 1 \u2014 BRIEFING PACK SUMMARY<\/h3>\n

    Regional Highlights<\/h4>\n

    Nine clubs submitted Programme Action reports, showing strong engagement across all six SIGBI Charitable Objects.
    \nPoverty Relief (Object 3) is the most universal area, with all clubs contributing.
    \nEquality, VAWG, and Human Rights remain major themes, with strong participation in Orange the World, Who\u2019s Seeing Red?, Walk for Freedom, and multiple refuge-support projects.
    \nEducation projects are well established, including long-running STEM initiatives and international sponsorships.
    \nInternationalism is a defining strength, with projects supporting women and girls in Nepal, Kenya, Vietnam, Sierra Leone, Malawi, Ukraine, Afghanistan, and Gaza.
    \nCommunity engagement is vibrant, including railway surveys, fairs, tea parties, Mothers\u2019 Day gifts, and local sports partnerships.
    \nInter-club collaboration is increasing, notably between Weybridge & Woking and Surrey Hills & Weybridge.<\/p>\n

    Key Regional Statistics<\/h4>\n
      \n
    • 9 clubs reporting;<\/li>\n
    • 100% active in Poverty Relief;<\/li>\n
    • 7 clubs active in Education;<\/li>\n
    • 7 clubs active in Health;<\/li>\n
    • 8 clubs active in Community Development;<\/li>\n
    • 7 clubs active in Equality & Diversity;<\/li>\n
    • 6 clubs active in Human Rights;<\/li>\n
    • Over 120 individual projects recorded;<\/li>\n
    • At least 10 countries supported internationally.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Summary Tables<\/h4>\n

      1. Club Activity by Charitable Object<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Club<\/td>\nObj 1<\/td>\nObj 2<\/td>\nObj 3<\/td>\nObj 4<\/td>\nObj 5<\/td>\nObj 6<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Bournemouth<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Woking<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Salisbury<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Epsom<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Surrey Hills<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Solent East<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n–<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Weybridge<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Poole<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Winchester<\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/strong><\/td>\n\u2714\ufe0f<\/strong><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      2. Programme Action Structures<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Club<\/td>\nStructure<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Bournemouth<\/td>\n5 PA groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Woking<\/td>\nWorking Groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Salisbury<\/td>\nProject groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Epsom<\/td>\nWhole club + task groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Surrey Hills<\/td>\nMixed model<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Solent East<\/td>\nWhole club<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Weybridge<\/td>\nPAC team + small groups<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Poole<\/td>\nWhole club + individuals + knitting group<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Winchester<\/td>\nWhole club + sub-groups + individual leads<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      3. PFR Reporting Overview<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
      Club<\/td>\nCompletion<\/td>\nNotes<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Bournemouth<\/td>\nStrong<\/td>\nSecretary + Lobbying Lead<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Woking<\/td>\nWeak<\/td>\n\u201cPoor record\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Salisbury<\/td>\nModerate<\/td>\n\u201cNot always promptly\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Epsom<\/td>\nModerate<\/td>\nSystem barriers<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Surrey Hills<\/td>\nModerate<\/td>\n\u201cA couple missing\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Solent East<\/td>\nWeak<\/td>\nNo clear responsibility<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Weybridge<\/td>\nStrong<\/td>\nPAO leads; trying to share<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Poole<\/td>\nModerate<\/td>\nReports often delayed<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
      Winchester<\/td>\nModerate<\/td>\n\u201cNot submitted for some projects\u201d<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

      What This Means for the Region<\/h4>\n

      The region has excellent breadth of Programme Action, with strong representation across all Charitable Objects.
      \nPoverty Relief, VAWG, and Education are the region\u2019s strongest shared themes.
      \nRefuge support is a major unifying thread, with at least six clubs contributing.
      \nMicrofinance is growing, with Poole, Winchester, and Surrey Hills all active.
      \nInternational education sponsorships highlight long-term commitment.
      \nPFR reporting remains the region\u2019s biggest operational challenge.
      \nSmall clubs show remarkable impact despite limited capacity.
      \nCollaboration opportunities are increasing and could be formalised to reduce workload and increase visibility.<\/p>\n

       <\/p>\n

      SECTION 2 \u2014 FULL REGIONAL REPORT<\/h3>\n

      1. Introduction<\/h4>\n

      This report summarises Programme Action activity across nine clubs in the Southern Region for 2025\u201326. It highlights trends, strengths, challenges, and opportunities for regional collaboration.<\/p>\n

      2. Participation by Charitable Object<\/h4>\n

      Object 1 \u2014 Education<\/h5>\n

      Seven clubs are active in education, with a mix of local and international projects:<\/p>\n

      Bournemouth\u2019s STEM Challenge
      \nWeybridge\u2019s STEM Initiative
      \nPoole\u2019s sponsorships in Nepal and Kenya
      \nWinchester\u2019s Cambodia sponsorship
      \nSurrey Hills\u2019 mock interviews
      \nEducation remains a strong and growing area.<\/p>\n

      Object 2 \u2014 Health & Saving Lives<\/h5>\n

      Seven clubs contribute to health-related projects:<\/p>\n

      Bournemouth\u2019s Cervical Cancer Prevention
      \nEpsom\u2019s Trauma Teddies
      \nSurrey Hills\u2019 hospital toiletry packs
      \nPoole\u2019s Love Grace appeal
      \nWinchester\u2019s SolarAid
      \nHealth work often overlaps with VAWG and poverty relief.<\/p>\n

      Object 3 \u2014 Poverty Relief<\/h5>\n

      All nine clubs are active here:<\/p>\n

      Solent East\u2019s spare coin collection
      \nWeybridge\u2019s monthly foodbank donations
      \nPoole\u2019s LendwithCare loans and refuge support
      \nWinchester\u2019s hostel support
      \nBournemouth\u2019s international convoys
      \nThis is the region\u2019s strongest shared area.<\/p>\n

      Object 4 \u2014 Good Citizenship & Community Development<\/h5>\n

      Eight clubs contribute:<\/p>\n

      Solent East\u2019s Tea Party by the Sea
      \nSurrey Hills\u2019 Railway Survey
      \nWinchester\u2019s Women\u2019s Rugby Club partnership
      \nWeybridge\u2019s Oatlands Village Fair
      \nThese projects strengthen local visibility and community relationships.<\/p>\n

      Object 5 \u2014 Equality & Diversity<\/h5>\n

      Seven clubs are active:<\/p>\n

      Salisbury\u2019s Orange the World
      \nEpsom\u2019s Supporting True Honour
      \nBournemouth\u2019s Gender Apartheid petition
      \nPoole\u2019s refuge lending library
      \nWinchester\u2019s Women\u2019s Rugby Club
      \nEquality work is closely linked to VAWG and human rights.<\/p>\n

      Object 6 \u2014 Human Rights<\/h5>\n

      Six clubs contribute:<\/p>\n

      Bournemouth\u2019s Female Offenders project
      \nEpsom\u2019s support for SI Lviv
      \nWeybridge\u2019s Afghan advocacy
      \nPoole\u2019s solar lighting microfinance loan
      \nWinchester\u2019s Orange Campaign
      \nHuman rights work is often international and advocacy-focused.<\/p>\n

      3. Programme Action Structures<\/h4>\n

      Clubs use a variety of structures:<\/p>\n

      Multi-group models (Bournemouth, Woking, Weybridge)
      \nMixed models (Surrey Hills, Epsom)
      \nWhole-club models (Solent East, Poole, Winchester)
      \nLarge-club project groups (Salisbury)
      \nWinchester notes that all members contribute in some way.<\/p>\n

      4. Programme Focus Reporting (PFR)<\/h4>\n

      PFR reporting remains a challenge:<\/p>\n

      Strong: Bournemouth, Weybridge
      \nModerate: Salisbury, Epsom, Surrey Hills, Poole, Winchester
      \nWeak: Woking, Solent East
      \nCommon issues include time constraints, unclear responsibility, and system limitations.<\/p>\n

      5. Regional Strengths<\/h4>\n

      Strong commitment to VAWG, poverty relief, and education
      \nDeep international engagement
      \nCreative fundraising
      \nHigh community involvement
      \nGrowing inter-club collaboration
      \nLong-running, sustainable projects<\/p>\n

      6. Regional Gaps & Opportunities<\/h4>\n

      <\/h5>\n
      Gaps<\/h5>\n
        \n
      • Inconsistent PFR reporting<\/li>\n
      • Limited PR and social media capacity<\/li>\n
      • Reliance on a small number of active members<\/li>\n
      • Some clubs less active in Objects 5 & 6<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
        Opportunities<\/h5>\n
          \n
        • Shared regional toolkits<\/li>\n
        • Joint advocacy campaigns<\/li>\n
        • Regional VAWG coalition<\/li>\n
        • Shared STEM resources<\/li>\n
        • Mentoring for smaller clubs<\/li>\n
        • Regional calendar for coordination<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

           <\/p>\n

          7. Recommendations<\/h4>\n
            \n
          • Establish a Regional PA Network<\/li>\n
          • Develop shared resources<\/li>\n
          • Encourage inter-club partnerships<\/li>\n
          • Provide training on PFRs, Canva, and advocacy<\/li>\n
          • Strengthen regional advocacy strategy<\/li>\n
          • Support smaller clubs through mentoring<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":137,"featured_media":0,"parent":26,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"1","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"page-themes":[],"topic":[],"class_list":["post-670","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/670","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/137"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=670"}],"version-history":[{"count":29,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/670\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":857,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/670\/revisions\/857"}],"up":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=670"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"page-themes","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page-themes?post=670"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/seci\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=670"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}