Items for Sale/Recommended by Clubs

This section is for Soroptimist Clubs to sell Soroptimist promotional items to Members of other Soroptimist Clubs. Clubs can either put pictures and details of their items on the website so that they can sell directly to other clubs, or they can put supplier details to put Clubs in contact with suppliers who have made things for them. To have your items listed here please send a jpeg image and details to Sally Higgins – sally@sigbi.org.

Please note that items must be approved by SIGBI Trading Ltd to ensure that they conform to the SIGBI Brand before they are added to the website.

Items for raising awareness/funds for charities

Kente Sashes

The story begins about 5000 years ago when hand weaving techniques were developed in West Africa. Kente is a form of weaving that evolved from the early traditions and in particular those of the ancient West African Kingdoms that flourished between 300 AD and 1600 AD. Kente is still hand woven in Ghana by traditional skilled weavers. The colourful designs woven in strips or sashes when sewn together form a rich attire worn by royals and on special occasions.

A chance remark at the Bournemouth Conference in 2003 led SI Maidstone to develop a project which contributes to several of the objectives for UK Programme Action: international goodwill and understanding; education; health; economic and social development, and forges a link between clubs.

In 2003, some Members of SI Accra had the idea of taking Kente sashes to sell at The European Federation Conference. Nellie Adjaye, member of SI Maidstone who has friends in SI Accra club, wore one of the sashes to SIGBI Conference in 2004. This attracted interest of some members. In 2005 the sashes were worn by conference stewards at the Nottingham Conference. A project was hatched and a friendship link with SI Accra and the Former SI Maidstone began. (now SI Medway and Maidstone).

Since then, a partnership has been in place between the two clubs, providing employment for the Kente weavers. Proceeds from the sale of the sashes goes to both clubs. SI Accra has been able to refurbish equipment in the School for the Blind in the University of Ghana, Legon, Accra. When that was completed, the second project was to raise funds to support building a library for a cluster of schools in a deprived area in Accra. Funds are now being used to keep the library up-to-date. SI MM use the funds for local projects.

Sashes are used for:

For promoting Soroptimist International/clubs
Gifts to Friendship Link Clubs
Gifts to Club Members
Identifying SI members at club and PR events, Orange the World etc
Supporting the Kente weavers in Accra
Supporting charities in both countries

Purchasing a sash enables you to change lives in Ghana. The cost is £15 per sash plus postage.

For more information or to order sashes for yourself, your club or region please contact Nellie Adjaye on O7767441188 or email her on nellieadjaye2@gmail.com

Promotional Items – Roll Up Banner

SI St Albans & District can recommend a great supplier for light-weight roll up banners.

They were charged £60 + VAT in May 2024 – which included a carry case and shipping in the UK.

The photo here is for an “Orange the World” banner – if Clubs only want to make minor changes then they won’t be charged for creating the artwork – although each order will need to be quoted separately and prices may have gone up.

They have some other Soroptimist designs not relating to OTW.

Kit U Out

Tel: 01353 722405
Email: sales@kituout.com
Contact email: ben@kituout.com
Website: www.kituout.com

Sushila‘s Silk Suffragette Scarves

Quality 100% Pure Indian Silk Scarves

Now available in three colours:

The Orange Scarf is for the Domestic Abuse Cafe day held on the 25^th of the month.
The Royal Blue / Blue is the colour for our Soroptimist LOGO.
The Purple / Green and Cream is the original Suffragette scarf which has been advertised for many years, as worn here by our incoming President Ruth Healey.

The price of the scarf is now £13.00 each – or why not buy all three for £35.00? Prices exclude packaging and postage.

Length is 150 cms and the width is 80 cms. Washing instructions, by hand cold water.

To order please contact Sushila Sadarangani, a Soroptimist Member of the SI Greater London Club, by email at sheilasadarangani1@gmail.com.

Sushila makes a donation from sales to SI Greater London Club’s charities.

Soroptimist Rose – The Perfect Gift

Perfect on the patio or balcony. Happy in a large pot or in the ground.

The cost of bare-rooted roses are £16.45. Delivery remains at £4.95 and £6.95 for two to four roses to same address.

Rose in a pot is £19.45 and delivery is £10.50 for one and £3.50 for each additional rose to same address.

Order from: Peggy Simson at pegsimson@gmail.com – telephone 01628 523386

All profits from the sale of the Soroptimist Rose go to SI Thames Valley’s charities: Kori Development Project and Wycombe Women’s Aid.

“Five Ladies and a bus called Bertha” by Sue Williams, SI Harrogate and District

Harrogate Soroptimist, Sue Williams, has just published her first novel – ‘Five Ladies and a Bus Called Bertha’. Sue has written many short stories and particularly enjoyed writing those with a humorous twist. She has contributed to 2 anthologies and has written two pantomimes, both of which, when performed, raise several hundred pounds for charity.

During a lunch for retired Soroptimists, the conversation got round to how fingerprints wear away with age, and how useful this would be if they embarked on a life of crime. Sue thought this would make a great short story or, perhaps, a detective story featuring elderly sleuths. But the ladies had other ideas and the result is Sue’s first novel ‘Five Ladies and a Bus Called Bertha’.

Sue has had great fun writing the book and has spent many happy hours with friends who have shared comic and occasionally scandalous tales about themselves, their colleagues and families for the book. As a thank you, Sue has decided to share the profits from the book, between four very worthwhile charities supported by Soroptimist International of Harrogate and District – Dementia Forward, Toilet Twinning, The Trussell Trust and Soroptimist SIGBI.

Sue said “This is a book for those who don’t want to grow old gracefully, and I loved writing it.”

The book is available to buy from Amazon.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/5-Ladies-Bus-Called-Bertha-ebook/dp/B0B56YD4S7/ref=sr_1_5?qid=1658984299&refinements=p_27%3ASue+Williams&s=books&sr=1-5

“Overcoming the Odds” by SI Middlesbrough

A book of 32 brief biographies of women, past and present, working in scientific fields.

Produced as a lockdown project by SI Middlesbrough.

£10 + postage.

Order from Pam Cooper on 07710449823 or cooperpageo21@aol.com

“A Beat From The Heart To The Heart Of Power” by Phyllis Sigsworth

Phyllis Sigsworth is a member of SI Slough Windsor and Maidenhead. She is very sprightly at 91 years old and has been a Soroptimist for over 50 years. She had a very distinguished career in the Police Service and was awarded the Queen’s Police Medal for distinguished Police Service. She has worked tirelessly on issues affecting women and children including domestic violence, human trafficking, and child protection, in both her working life in the Service and Soroptimist life.

She has written a book covering her thirty years of service, showing social changes and also changes in women’s role in law enforcement since 1950. The book is called “A Beat From The Heart To The Heart Of Power”. The proceeds from the sale of this book will be given to our local women’s refuge organisation DASH – Domestic Abuse Stops Here. The book was published on 27^th August 2020 and is available via Amazon, some branches of Waterstones and from Phyllis herself. Email Phyllis to order.

Metal Spoon Project

SI Bilston and District has been working with Jasvinder Sanghera and her Charity Karma Nirvana (KN) since 2010. Karma Nirvana is a registered UK charity that supports victims and survivors of Forced Marriage and Honour Based Abuse. In July 2015 KN launched their Spoon Lapel Badge initiative to raise awareness of the issues affecting women & girls who are being forced to marry.

Call handlers at KN advise girls as a last resort when being taken out of this country to place a metal spoon in their underwear providing an opportunity to be taken aside when the airport security alarm sounds and spoken to in a private room.

Raising the awareness of the issues of Forced Marriage, now a criminal offence, is a lengthy process and it is hoped that the lapel spoons will be an excellent tool for raising awareness and advocacy. The project was announced at SIGBI Glasgow Conference when many Soroptimists expressed interest in the project and purchased spoons.

SI Bilston & District is selling the Lapel Spoons (£2),on behalf of KN, with all proceeds going to support the Help-Line of KN. For further information or to purchase lapel spoons contact Jackie Brookes on ortbro43@gmail.com or visit the website: www.sigbi.org/bilston-and-district.

Promotional Items

Car Stickers

This is a great idea. SI St Austell and District have designed their own car sticker, dimentions 240 x 60mm. There are two versions: a self-cling that sits inside of the back window – for clear windows – and a vinyl sticker that sites on the outside of the window for cars with tinted windows.

The price is £2.00 plus postage and packing. If you wish to order any car stickers please contact Liz Jenkin – lizjenkin@cornwallsigns.com.

Nylon Bags

Any Club interested should email dynamicgrafix@btconnect.com – bags can bought for £2 each (depending on stock levels) minimum order 100 + P&P.

Tabards

These tabards look great and are printed on both sides. They cost £18 each. Please email dynamicgrafix@btconnect.com to order.

Fleeces

SI Chelmsford had fleeces made with their Club Logo on. These really stand out when worn by all members participating in a particular event, and can also be worn by individual members when out shopping. They are bound to attract attention.

Order your own:

Regatta
Minuteman Press
Unit 20 Eckersley Road
Chelmsford
Essex
CM1 1SL
Tel: 01245 268222
Fax: 01245 268290
Email: minuteman@btconnect.com

The fleeces cost £21.50 including printing, but plus postage and packing, and come in the following sizes (the number of inches shown is the bust measurement:

Extra Small (34″), Small (38″), Medium (41″), Large (44″), XL (47″), 2XL (52″), 3XL (56″).

Payment can be made by cheque, made payable to Direct INQ, or by BACS: Account Name Direct INQ; Sort Code 30-91-85; Account No: 04576197

Plain Roll Up Banner

SI St Albans & District and SI Hertford & District can recommend a great supplier for light weight roll up banners.

They were charged £40 + VAT – which included a carry case and shipping in the UK – which is a really good price.

If Clubs only want to change the Club Name and website address on the banner then there may not be a charge for creating the artwork – although each order will need to be quoted separately and prices may have gone up.

See artwork.

Order your own:

Kituout
Unit 2 Ermine Point
Gentlemens Field Ware
Herts
SG12 0EF
Tel: 01920 485550
Email: sales@kituout.com
Contact email: ben@kituout.com
Website: www.kituout.com

Soroptimist Scarf

SI Wexford (Republic of Ireland) developed this beautiful silk scarf in the Soroptimist colours and Emblem. They have been selling this item very successfully to the Clubs in the Republic of Ireland and they had a stand at the Conference in Harrogate where the item was very well received by the many delegates.

Right is picture of the scarf being worn at Harrogate. The scarf features on the ROI website and can be purchased by contacting the PRO at www.soroptimistireland.com

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