Julia’s House Open Day
Come and Meet Us for International Women’s Day 2024!
Swindon Soroptimists Inspire Inclusion This year, the national theme for International Women’s Day on 8th March is Inspire Inclusion. Here we all are, holding this year’s pose, as we get ready for it! But what are we getting ready for? Come to Swindon Community Hub, and find out! Our members Jackie and Lydia have set up a display stand to celebrate International Women’s Day, with more information about the day, this year’s theme Inspire Inclusion, and what we do as Soroptimists. You can pop along and see it any time until 25th March, but the absolutely best day to come and see it would be Friday 8th March, International Women’s Day itself. Guess who will be there, (wo)manning the stand? Yes, that’s right, Swindon Soroptimists! So come along and learn more about what we do and why! Swindon Community Hub is located at
Raffle Results
Christmas Gift Bags for the Nelson Trust, 2023
Swindon Soroptimists Attend Wiltshire Police’s Conference on VAWG
Seldom Heard Voices Our members Lydia and Jackie were inspired, moved and motivated by all the wonderful speakers at the #WiltshirePolice “Seldom Heard Voices” VAWG event yesterday, highlighting the even greater injustices and violence suffered by those from ethnic minorities or with vulnerabilities or disabilities. Some harrowing stories from amazing and courageous women, as well as shocking statistics, such as women with limiting disabilities are twice as likely to suffer Domestic Abuse. Lovely to meet up with our friends from Salisbury Soroptimists, VAS Swindon, Swindon Sisters Alliance & The Nelson Trust. As Chief Constable Catherine Roper closed the meeting, she echoed Bridie Anderson’s words, “Don’t Assume, Ask; Listen and Be Kind” and charged us all to consider what more we can do to do to end Violence Against Women and those “Seldom Heard Voices” .
Railing Against Abuse 2023
Hiding in Plain Sight: a conference on Modern Day Slavery and Human Trafficking
UN Orange Day for October 2023
Anti-Slavery Day 2023 with the Medaille Trust
Medaille Trust Trafficking Awareness Meeting We at Swindon Soroptimists recently had the opportunity to attend the Medaille Trust‘s event to raise awareness of human trafficking. Held to mark Anti-Slavery Day, it was an incredibly informative morning. Many thanks to the Trust for the invitation. In conjunction with the Medaille Trust’s CEO, Garry Smith, experienced staff members from the Swindon Moving On Project talked guests through how to recognise the signs of modern slavery and trafficking, and took us through some harrowing facts and figures to explain just how prevalent human trafficking is today. Did you know that 25% of those reported to the National Referral Mechanism are UK nationals? Victims’ stories The disturbing true stories of victims kept the audience conscious of the human side to the statistics, and the extent of the harm that traffickers inflict. Journalists from BBC Wiltshire were in attendance, along
Swindon Soroptimists Go Walkies with the Big Dog Art Trail!
Day of Service 2023 with the Big Dog Art Trail Day of Service Here at the Soroptimists, we have an international Day of Service, as befits an international organisation! Each year women from clubs all over the world mark the day, either by taking part in activities related to a specific theme chosen for the year, or by performing other acts of service that advance the SIGBI mission goals. This year’s Day of Action fell on July the 15th, the same day as UN Youth Skills Day, so we particularly wanted a local project that supported children. We found it in the form of the Big Dog Art Trail 2023 run in aid of Julia’s House, a children’s hospice that supports children and their families across Dorset and Wiltshire. Aptly enough, the Big Dog Art Trail even launched on the same day as our day
Swindon Soroptimists take part in the King’s Big Help Out
Easter Gifts to Nelson Trust Women’s Centre 2023
Easter Joy! You can never have too much chocolate at Easter! In what is now an annual tradition, Swindon Soroptimists wished ‘HAPPY EASTER!’ to the clients and staff at Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre. Our members Jackie Webb, Gillian Reed and Alison Millin visited the Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre to present 25 individual Easter eggs for the women who use the Centre and its services, as well as four bags of mini eggs for the hardworking staff! The Soroptimists know the value of ensuring vulnerable women are remembered and can enjoy the same annual festivities as everyone else. We first began making these Easter visits in 2017; as ever our donation is added to gifts the Trust has already received to ensure that all the women and children are able to receive an Easter egg. We’re happy to say the Centre staff also believe their
‘Anyway, Listening Isn’t Enough’ – AAFDA Annual Conference 2023
International Women’s Day 2023
Embracing Equity This year the theme is #EmbraceEquity and ladies at both Ladies Who Latte networking groups joined members in showing support and solidarity by making the #IWD2023 theme pose. Each one of us can actively support and #EmbraceEquity within our own sphere of influence. We can all challenge gender stereotypes, call out discrimination, draw attention to bias, and seek out inclusion. Club members held their own pose on a Zoom call! Afternoon Tea On the actual International Women’s Day 2023 how better to celebrate than by holding an Afternoon Tea party! Swindon Club were delighted to support the Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre, who planned the Afternoon Tea to celebrate the event, by bringing homemade cakes to contribute and add to their Bake Off cake competition! As Tracey, Partnership and Development Coordinator said, “we wanted to celebrate and honour all the amazing women we