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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
Food Donations

Food Donations

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Despite Lockdown the Nelson Trust are working hard to support women.  Swindon Soroptimists have continued to donate food and kitchen items for their Lunch Club as well as food parcels. Soroptimists members Jackie and Lydia dropped off £25 worth of pasta, rice, sauces and tinned fish as well as kitchen items on 30th Sept. Team Lead Vee commented “Thank you so much, I really do appreciate your support for the Trust and for the women.” Further similar deliveries were made in late Oct 2020 and Feb 2021, with Natalie at the Centre commenting “Thank you so much for thinking of us here at Nelson yet again! It is very much appreciated.  We are desperate for things to make proper substantial meals. Some of our women don’t have much access to cooking facilities so things that can be put into the microwave or even eaten cold
Swindon Women’s Aid

Swindon Women’s Aid

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Here we are delivering much needed items to the 'Survivor' charity shop, which helps fund the amazing work done by Swindon Women's Aid. Manager Carol & Sue came out with their trusty trolleys, which we filled to the brim! MANY thanks to Club members and our friends at Marlborough Ladies Who Latte for contributing toys, clothes, bedding, jigsaws and linens. See more of their work at https://swadomesticabuse.org/https://swadomesticabuse.org/ QUOTE from Swindon Women's Aid ‘Survivor’ shop Manager, Carol Gibbon” Dear Soroptimists, Thank you so much, we really appreciate your support and the great quality of donations you always bring to us”.
Food Delivery

Food Delivery

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On 5th June and 9th July Swindon Soroptimists continued with their regular donations of food and household items to the Nelson Trust  Swindon Women’s Centre With the current crisis the Center wanted quick snacks for the women they support on the streets at night. Well done to the Centre for also achieving a grant from the local Coronavirus fund to help continue their support of vulnerable women. Veronica Cooper, manager of Nelson Trust Women’s Centre thanked Swindon Soroptimists for their on-going support. Additionally, a bag of clothes was also donated by Swindon Soroptimist members Gillian & Jackie.
Easter gifts Nelson Trust 2021

Easter gifts Nelson Trust 2021

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Swindon Soroptimists know the value of ensuring vulnerable women are supported, despite lockdown.  Members Jackie Webb and Lydia Cardew therefore visited the Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre to present 25 individual Easter eggs for the women who use the Centre and its services. They also delivered bags of mini eggs for the hardworking staff! Swindon Soroptimists annual Easter visits began in 2017.  Rae and Mia from the Centre were delighted to meet Jackie and Lydia in the Centre’s courtyard garden.  Senior Keyworker Rae later wrote to thank the Soroptimists on behalf of the women and children who access the centre, saying “Another year has passed, and we have been chosen for a donation of Easter Eggs from the lovely Soroptimist ladies. The women and children will be extremely grateful!  A huge thank you for your continuous support and making lockdown that little bit easier”. SWINDON
World Book Day

World Book Day

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Despite having to miss World Book Day itself due to lockdown, Swindon Soroptimists were determined to ensure they maintained their annual donation of books to Drove Primary School in Swindon.   Even with restrictions we managed to accumulate an outstanding 264 fiction and activity books, as once again we had wonderful support from Club members, friends and especially Marlborough Ladies Who Latte.  As Project Officer Lydia Cardew said “with home schooling and missing their friends we felt it was even more important for children to be able to enjoy being immersed in a good story”. It was a great shame not to be able to join the children and teachers at a World Book Day assembly as in the past, when we have been entertained by singing and dancing and as they are in a ‘bubble’  two members Lydia Cardew and Jackie Webb had arranged to
Gift Bags Presentation 6th Year Running

Gift Bags Presentation 6th Year Running

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Even more important after the issues of Lockdown, Swindon Soroptimists maintained their support of the Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre by presenting their Christmas gift boxes / bags for the 6th year running. The Club have few members but have had great support from friends and also Marlborough Ladies Who Latte club in donating unwanted and freebie items that can be included!  Fortunately two members are in a bubble so were able to do the mammoth task of sorting and filling all the boxes, each containing 28 different items collected over the year. As Lydia Cardew, Club Project Officer says “These women have challenging lives, often made worse by the lockdown situation so we want them to know that people do care. We always make the boxes useful and fun, with items such as scarves, toiletries, and pads / pens as well as a Christmas
Int. Women’s Day 2021

Int. Women’s Day 2021

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Despite lockdown Swindon Soroptimists have been determined to still celebrate International Women’s Day (#IWD2021).  Held on March 8th it is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.  The day also marks a call to action for accelerating women's equality.  Not being able to ‘Stand on the Bridge’, or have a display in Swindon library, Swindon Soroptimists held an online event via Facebook. Joining forces with Marlborough Ladies Who Latte business women’s group, they celebrated women’s achievements and stood together to support the #ChooseToChallenge campaign theme to help forge women's equality.  It is still important to remind everyone that women are still not equal in the work place, the law making institutions, the scientific establishments or our political governments. #IWD2021 asked everyone to raise their hand high and pledge to #ChooseToChallenge, so we collected photos of  members of both our
Christmas Boxes 2019

Christmas Boxes 2019

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Once again Swindon Soroptimists have presented Christmas gift shoe boxes to the Swindon Nelson Trust Women’s Centre.  The 25 boxes go to the vulnerable women who use the Centre, many of whom have difficult lives and often don’t get any Christmas gifts. The Club also donated clothes and household items well as Christmas chocolates for the hardworking, dedicated staff! The Club have few members but have had great support from Marlborough Ladies Who Latte and Live Laugh Love clubs and all are inventive in finding unwanted and freebie items that can be included!  Member Gillian Reed generously hosted our wrapping and filling event, joined by members Lydia Cardew and Valerie Nuttall. Each box contained over 25 different items collected over the year by members and friends. As Lydia Cardew, PA Officer says “These women have often difficult lives. We want them to know that people

World Book Day 2020 donation

World Book Day 2020 donation

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Well this year we surpassed ourselves!!  Swindon Soroptimists donated 286 books to Drove Primary School in Swindon on World Book Day!  This is our 6th year and once again we had wonderful support from Club members, friends and especially Marlborough and Swindon Ladies Who Latte. The children delighted us with their story book character costumes and we were all laughing ourselves silly with the antics of the staff who performed Fairy stories on stage!  Ast Principal Bryony said that our annual donations make a big difference to the children. Bryony thanked us for the amazing donations again and explained “We are hoping to open a Book Swap Station or something similar for our families to access at points throughout the term. This will allow parents to borrow a range of books to read at home with their children and allow them opportunities to experience books

Swindon Club’s Birthday

Swindon Club’s Birthday

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Celebrating 60 years of service to Swindon and the wider community, some of the members of Swindon Soroptimists had a celebratory drink and nibbles in Oct 2020, whilst socially distancing! Since Oct 1960 the club has celebrated many achievements including influencing the change in the law on pornography, 10 years service at the BIG Breakfast Club for the homeless, providing 2,500 hearing aids to deaf children in Nigeria, raising over £100,000 for local and international charities, whilst supporting many women’s organisations such as the  Nelson Trust and Swindon Women’s Aid. Photos show members Lydia, Gillian, Jackie and Valerie.  The 2nd shows our official Charter and the badges of previous Presidents!  We hope to have a proper celebratory meal with all members when Covid allows!
Swindon Women’s Aid

Swindon Women’s Aid

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Swindon Soroptimists made the most of lockdown in 2020 to have a clear out and donated a large pile of books, DVD’s clothes, household and gift items to Swindon Women’s Aid (SWA) charity shop to help provide essential funding for the excellent support and Helpline they provide women who have been abused. Swindon Soroptimists have a long association with SWA and constantly campaign on the issue of violence against women. Club members advertised the shortages to friends and family and many from the Ladies Who Latte groups also made direct deliveries to the SWA shop. SWA Chairman Nicky Alberry commented “ We will be delighted to receive your donations. Thank you so much for doing this for us. “ For more info on their work see https://swadomesticabuse.org/