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Club Secretary Jackie stands at the side of a table filled with books
262 books donated for World Book Day 2023 to Drove School

262 books donated for World Book Day 2023 to Drove School

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Swindon Soroptimists Celebrate World Book Day Swindon Soroptimists joined the children at Drove Primary School, Swindon, face to face at last, at their World Book Day assemblies.  We donated a huge 262 books, filling an enormous table at the front of the hall, amazing the children as they filed in. Staff at the school dressed in ‘Where’s Wally’ theme outfits, joining the array of colourful character costumes of the children and members Lydia, Jackie and Corrine joined in the fun at two assemblies, where the children had to identify the voices of teachers in a ‘Masked Reader’ competition.  Principal Bryony Bardwell received the biggest cheer from the children, after reading from ‘Aliens Love Underpants’! English teacher Abby Picton led the assemblies and introduced us, with Lydia explaining who we were and the children delightedly thanking them for the books.  Swindon Club are grateful for all

Gillian, Valerie and Jackie with 25 brightly coloured Christmas gift bags on a table
Christmas Gift bags to Nelson Trust 2022

Christmas Gift bags to Nelson Trust 2022

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With the current cold and hardship that so many are facing, Swindon Soroptimists were again pleased to continue their support of the Nelson Trust with Christmas gift bags. The 25 bags are for the vulnerable women who use the Centre, for many of whom this may be the only Christmas gift they receive. Following previous requests from Centre staff, the Soroptimists also donated underwear, leggings and gloves to help the Sex workers the staff support. The Club are now known for the Christmas bags and once again had had great support from friends and also local Ladies Who Latte, Nordic Walking and WI Book Clubs in buying, sorting and collecting items that can be included. Members Gillian, Valerie and Jackie got together to sort and pack the 800 plus items received, so each box had an amazing 31 different items.  The items ranged from useful

“Railing” Against Violence Against Women 2022

“Railing” Against Violence Against Women 2022

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Once again Swindon Soroptimists joined the South West Region clubs to ‘rail’ against violence against women. Resplendent in orange, the UN nominated colour for 25th Nov, Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women, Swindon member & Regional President Valerie & member Lydia joined the others at Weston-Super-Mare rail station. The group then marched through the town, holding banners and handing out Love Is… bookmarks, giving examples of good and bad relationship traits to passers by and ending in Grove Park, where ribbons were tied on ‘railings’ to commemorate all the women killed in a year by someone they know. Local MP John Penrose and Mayor Sonia Russe joined the nearly 70 people gathered and thanked all for attending on such a cold day!  The group then moved to the Soroptimist statue to hear poems from local support organisations.

Medaille Trust donations

Medaille Trust donations

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Soroptimists are keen to raise awareness of Trafficking and Modern Day Slavery so Swindon Club have decided to support the Medaille Trust. 40.3 million people are estimated to be trapped in some form of modern slavery in the world today.  136,000 victims are estimated to be in the UK. Medaille Trust exists to provide refuge and freedom to victims of modern slavery – supporting them as they rebuild their lives. In Wiltshire they have a safe house which has 14 women, and also support another 20 women through the Moving On Project in Swindon. Many of those women have babies and toddlers. Donna at MT suggested Soroptimists could provide items for craft sessions to help the women relax.  All members sprang in to action and at first donated teddies for the children, knitted by member Valerie. Donna Lovell, Local coordinator – Moving on Project Wiltshire
Day Of Action for Climate Change July 2022!

Day Of Action for Climate Change July 2022!

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As Soroptimists each year we have a Day of Action! Across the world we all take part in a common themed activity or local community service, on 16th July.  Covid and lack of members has made this difficult recently, but this year, as the theme is Climate Change, Swindon Soroptimists decided to help out TWIGS Community Gardens in Swindon. Despite the heat 5 Club members and 2 friends met at 10am on Saturday 16th and spent over 2 hours watering, weeding, deadheading and tidying!  Member Jackie Webb armed herself with a wheel barrow and collected armfuls of weeds and our chief ‘deadheader’ was Gillian Reed who commented, “everything looks tidier and re-flowers if you deadhead the faded blooms!”       TWIGS (www.twigscommunitygardens.org.uk) is a garden used to give to give people who experience mental health problems the chance to regain confidence, self-esteem and to

Swindon Soroptimist Jackie Webb with Carrie, Kerry and Ella from the Nelson Trust Women’s Centre all stand behind a stack of boxed Easter eggs
Easter gifts to Nelson Trust Women’s Centre 2022

Easter gifts to Nelson Trust Women’s Centre 2022

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Swindon Soroptimists once again wished ‘HAPPY EASTER!’ to the clients and staff at Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre.  Delivering on Maundy Thursday, members Jackie Webb and Gillian Reed 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 three bags of mini eggs for the hardworking staff! Just as in lockdown, the Soroptimists know the value of ensuring vulnerable women were remembered and can enjoy the same annual festivities as everyone else. This annual Easter visit was started in 2017 by Swindon Soroptimists and their donation added to ones the Trust had already received and ensured that all the women and children were able to receive an Easter egg. This year as restrictions have eased three of the staff, Carrie, Kerry and Ella were able to welcome Gillian and

International Women’s Day 2022

International Women’s Day 2022

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Echoing the yellow of the Ukrainian flag, Swindon Soroptimists purchased bright daffodils and gave them free to women yesterday to highlight and celebrate International Women’s Day, held each year on 8th March . With kind permission of the Swindon Women’s Aid, five members gathered outside their Survivor shop.  Holding  banners displaying some of the IWD #BreakTheBias statements, the ladies approached women passing by and offered them a free flower, handing a leaflet explaining this year’s theme as well as information on the Soroptimist organisation. As Club Secretary Jackie Webb commented to one passer by, “We do something every year to mark IWD, usually a display, but this year felt that we needed to do something kind to help others feel better after these difficult times”. Despite the 5 members and probably over 150 blooms it took less than an hour to distribute them all.  The

World Book Day 2022

World Book Day 2022

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Swindon Soroptimists have donated books aimed at younger children, to the Drove Road Primary School.every year since 2015. This year members Jackie Webb and Corrine Daycock delivered over 240 books to coincide with World Book Day on 3rd March 2022. The Soroptimists appreciate all the books donated by members, friends and relatives: both good quality second hand and new books obtained cheaply in bulk. Jackie and Corrine were delighted to be able to take part in the morning's events, albeit on screen via TEAMS, organised by teachers James Bower and Abby Pitkin, with James introducing the ladies and declaring “ The Soroptimists are on my Christmas card list now in view of all these books they have donated!" Children and staff dressed up as their favourite book characters and the theme was based on The Masked Singer where teachers dressed  in masks to read stories
Tree Planting

Tree Planting

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Soroptimist International (SI) with Soroptimists from across the world have joined together to celebrate 100 years of "Soroptimism"  and celebrate a "Bright Past" and a "Brilliant Future". What better way to celebrate the first centenary of Soroptimism and to help the environment, than to plant trees for a Brilliant Future, echoing the ‘Saving Trees’ campaign, which was the first action taken by Soroptimists in 1921. Clubs around the world from Aberdeen to Jamaica and Sri Lanka to Indonesia have taken part in the challenge and to date an incredible 71,870 trees have been planted, with many more planned in 2022. The Swindon Soroptimist Club members are delighted to announce that, in partnership with Wiltshire Wildlife Trust, they celebrated 100 years of Soroptimist International by recently planting 100 trees in Swindon.
SI Swindon Members with gift bags
Christmas bags Nelson Trust

Christmas bags Nelson Trust

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Swindon Soroptimists were once again delighted to present their Christmas gift bags to the Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre recently, for the 7th year running.  The 25 bags are for the vulnerable women who use the Centre, many of whom face hardship and in some cases this may be the only Christmas gift they receive.  The Club also donated Christmas chocolates for the hardworking, dedicated staff. We are indebted once again to all our members, plus many friends from Ladies Who Latte, Nordic Walking  and Swindon WI Book Club for buying and donating items to enable us to continue to give these Christmas gifts. This year several members were able to get together and sort and pack the 1000 plus items received, so each box had an amazing 38 different items.  The items ranged from useful things like gloves, hats, mini toiletries to treats such
Underwear Donation

Underwear Donation

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Continuing our ongoing support, club members Jackie and Lydia recently delivered a huge amount of underwear, T-shirts, leggings and toiletries to the Nelson Trust Swindon Women’s Centre.  This was a result of previously asking them how the club could best support the Centre. They said this is what they needed as they run an Outreach service for street sex workers in Swindon. The Centre provides holistic one-to-one support to help the women overcome addictions, be protected against sexual violence, find safe and stable homes, and ultimately exit sex working altogether. Support worker Bethany was astounded at the size of the donation and said “the women will be so delighted and appreciative; the items are just perfect, especially now the weather is getting colder”.
Elimination of Violence Against Women Day

Elimination of Violence Against Women Day

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Each year November 25th is the start of 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence.  Swindon Soroptimists met on that date dressed in orange in response to a call for a global effort on UN International Day of Elimination of Violence Against Women. Since Covid a Shadow Pandemic of domestic violence is growing and there is an urgent need to stem the tide. 2021 marks the 30th anniversary of the Global Campaign.  In 2021 the Campaign will focus on the issue of “femicide or the gender-related killing of women.” Soroptimists around the world stand up for women and girls.
Bumper Donation

Bumper Donation

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After a successful campaign on Facebook and asking friends and family, Swindon Soroptimists once again made a delivery to the 'Survivor' charity shop, which helps fund the amazing work done by Swindon Domestic Abuse Support Service. Asking how we could help support them during the difficult times of the pandemic, the charity had requested toys and bric-a-brac to sell in the charity shop. With donations from Club members and our friends at Ladies Who Latte, Live Laugh Love and Nordic Walking groups, Swindon Soroptimist members Jackie Webb and Lydia Cardew delivered a staggering amount of household items, toys, clothes, bedding and linens to Carol Gibbon, Manager of the 'Survivor' charity shop. As Lydia, Project officer of Swindon Soroptimists says, “We made a reasonable delivery in August but this time, our friends have astounded us with their generosity and we filled half a cage!!  Carol thanked