{"id":26,"date":"2026-07-11T17:53:11","date_gmt":"2026-07-11T17:53:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon-and-district\/about-our-club\/"},"modified":"2026-10-21T22:35:35","modified_gmt":"2026-10-21T22:35:35","slug":"about-our-club","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/about-our-club\/","title":{"rendered":"About our club"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\n\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\n\t
\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t

Our Heritage<\/h2>\n

From our inauguration in 1960, the Swindon & District Club has grown from strength to strength, supporting women and girls locally in Swindon and Wiltshire, nationally and internationally for over 60 years.\u00a0 Our club regalia comprises an enamelled badge and sliver chain.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

\"\"Our club is part of the South West Region (SW) (formerly the South West & Channel Islands Region (SWCI)); now stretching from Cheltenham and Cirencester in the North; to Bristol and West-super-Mare in the East; to St Austell and Kernow in the South.\u00a0 There are currently 13 clubs in the SW Region.<\/p>\n

The SW Region is part of the SI Great Britain and Ireland Federation (SIGBI).<\/p>\n

Six of our members have been elected as President of the former SWCI Region and other members have been involved at SIGBI level organising 2 SIGBI Annual Conferences.\u00a0 Members have also filled other roles at Region and SIGBI level.<\/p>\n

Our project work is diverse, supporting the main pillars of Soroptimism in Education, Environment, Health and Well-being, and Economic Independence.\u00a0 These over-arching aims encompass our club’s overall emphasis against Violence and Domestic Abuse.\u00a0 We have supported the Swindon Refuge since it was set up in the 1970s and other charitable organisations by way of donations of money and goods.<\/p>\n

We have celebrated many achievements including influencing the change in the law on pornography; 10 years\u2019 service at the BIG Breakfast Club for the homeless; raising over \u00a3100,000 for local and international charities; held a public Cancer Awareness event highlighting skin cancer; held 2 public Health & Well Being Days and were only the 2nd club asked by Dame Vera Baird to do Domestic Abuse Court Observations, which became UK wide and culminated in a key report on Specialist Domestic Abuse Courts.<\/p>\n

From time to time we hold speaker meetings, with fellow Soroptimists and non-members, at which charities and other organisations of interest give presentations, in a face-to-face or Zoom meeting.\u00a0 Examples include Age Concern, the NSPCC, the Alzheimer’s Society, the Wilts Air Ambulance and the Youth Adventure Trust.\u00a0 We have supported many of these organisations financially, with goods or just by spreading the word.<\/p>\n

 <\/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

\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t

Programme Action<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t
Our principal activity is Programme Action which involves us in various projects for the benefit of women. As our Federation has special consultative status at the UN, we follow their Sustainable Development Goals and support many of their designated days, as well as others.<\/div>\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tRead about our projects<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t <\/header>\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t \t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

UN International Women\u2019s Day – 8th March<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

This is a key awareness day for all Soroptimists, and our club has marked each year since 2011. We started with the UN theme \u201cStanding on a Bridge\u201d, then the cold got to us and we moved to displays in the Swindon Library. In some years we have handed daffodils to all women passing by in the town Centre and also did the same and helped at a Tea at The Nelson Trust Centre. The picture above shows our club\u2019s display stand in Swindon Community Hub, to celebrate International Women\u2019s Day 2024. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t \t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

UN World Environment Day – 5th June<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

This day was created by the UN to raise awareness, inspire change, and drive global action for a healthier, more sustainable planet. Women are the most affected by Climate Change, especially by the impact on water supplies in developing countries. In the past we have supported several projects with the international charity Water Aid. More recently we have tried to improve our local environment with litter picking sessions and helping at the local gardening therapy charity TWIGS.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t \t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

Stand Up to Cancer Day – 11th September<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Stand Up To Cancer day is a chance to shine a light on health issues like cervical cancer which is one of the most preventable cancers, yet it remains a significant health threat to women worldwide. With proper screening, timely treatment and vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV) – the primary cause of cervical cancer – this disease can largely be prevented. \r\nAdults and children can easily be vaccinated at a local GP Surgery. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t \t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \"Nov\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

UN Day for Elimination of Violence Against Women – 25th November<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

Each year we mark Nov 25th, often by a \u201cRailing Against Abuse\u201d event where Clubs in our Region meet at a rail station and march through a town to raise awareness, handing out our Relationship Bookmarks. Weston and Bristol have often held them, being joined one year by Tara Arkle and her mum, Dame Joan Collins! In 2019 our Club marched through Swindon town centre and were joined by Deputy Lieutenant Nicky Alberry, Wilts PCC Angus Macpherson and 40 fellow South West Soroptimists and other local representatives from Domestic Abuse agencies.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t \t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t \"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t

16 Days of Action following 25th November<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/header>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

The 16 Days of Activism follow UN day Nov 25th leading up to Human Rights Day on Dec 10th. We raise awareness by highlighting key messages that relate to the Soroptimists themes, across social media on each of the 16 Days. For example in 2026, the campaign focuses on online violence against women and girls, including image-based abuse and digital stalking. Previously we joined many groups to follow Swindon Borough Council\u2019s targeted approach to Healthy Relationships. In addition, we often hold \u2018Orange Caf\u00e9s\u2019 dressing in the UN colour for Nov 25th, to engage with and educate the public on violence against women. <\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/article>\n\t\t \t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<\/section>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"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":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"page-themes":[],"topic":[],"class_list":["post-26","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"publishpress_future_workflow_manual_trigger":{"enabledWorkflows":[]},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/155"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=26"}],"version-history":[{"count":98,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1417,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/26\/revisions\/1417"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=26"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"page-themes","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/page-themes?post=26"},{"taxonomy":"topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/swindon\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/topic?post=26"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}