‘Women’s Grassroots Activism in England and Ireland: 1918 to the present’
Women’s Grassroots Activism Podcast Series
Soroptimist Tunbridge Wells are delighted and honoured to receive this certificate from Soroptimist International with the following message ‘Your Club’s outstanding project, “Grassroots Activism Podcast Series” has been selected as an exemplary initiative and included in SI’s our HLPF 2025 Report.’
Grassroots activism is rooted in the belief that lasting change comes from the ground up. By organising at a local level, women can create networks of solidarity, built coalitions and work toward long-term solutions that align with the real needs of their communities. Sharing stories is an important element of this work.
SITWD has continued it’s collaboration on the important academic research project into Women’s Grassroots Activism. The podcast series is funded by the United Kingdom Research Innovation (UKRI) Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) as part of the grant awarded for Agency and Advocacy: Locating Women’s Grassroots Activism in England and Ireland, 1918 to the present (Project Reference: AH/X008606/1, August 2023 -January 2025). The research team is made up of Principal Investigator Professor Caitríona Beaumont (London South Bank University and Visiting Full Professor at University College Dublin), Co-Investigator is Dr Anne Logan (University of Kent), Dr Ruth Davidson (Institute of Historical Research, University of London), Dr Anna Muggeridge (University of Worcester) and Rachel Collett (University of Liverpool).
This podcast series tells stories of women’s grassroots activism across the island of Ireland and in England from 1918 to the present. This stage saw a production of a podcast series which highlight the diverse ways that various women’s organisations, including Soroptimist Tunbridge Wells & District , and SIGBI contribute to enhancing the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and globally.
Episode 3
Women’s Grassroots Activism: SIGBI campaigns and educational work against gender-based violence
In this episode, Dr Ruth Davidson, Caroline Auckland, former President of the Tunbridge Wells and District Soroptimists Club, Kent, and Eadaoin Lawlor, national past President of Soroptimists Republic of Ireland discuss how Soroptimists have campaigned to end Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG). We consider the ways this work is achieved through advocacy and campaigns around policy and education at local, national and global levels. We also discuss campaigns including the ‘Safe Home Safe Community Project’ and how SIGBI supports the United Nations ‘Orange the World’ campaign, launched in 2008 to end violence against women and girls.
Episode 4
Women’s Grassroots Activism: stories of environmental activism
In this episode, Dr Anne Logan, Chrissie Booth, Vice-Chair of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), and Lorna Blackmore, past regional President of the Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) Southeast Region, discuss the myriad ways in which women’s organisations have campaigned, and continue to campaign, to protect and improve the natural environment. Topics we discuss include the formation of the iconic ‘Keep Britain Tidy’ campaign by the NFWI in 1954 and the current NFWI campaign for ‘clean rivers for people and wildlife’. We also discuss SIGBI support for ‘toilet twinning’ and for solar-powered cooking devices to reduce deforestation and hopes for a future less dependent upon single-use plastic items.
Episode 4 Women’s Grassroots Activism: stories of environmental activism.
Understanding and acknowledging women’s contributions can help shift cultural norms that have historically sidelined or undervalued women’s roles. It helps promote gender equality and ensures that everyone, regardless of gender, is treated fairly and with respect, By acknowledging the impact women have, we move closer to eliminating systemic discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities for all.
All links to the podcasts can be accessed here: https://historyhub.ie/womens-grassroots-actvism-podcast
Episodes 3 & 4 relate to Soroptimist Tunbridge Wells & District and also Soroptimist South East Region.
This collaborative project would not have been possible without the rich legacy of current and past Tunbridge Wells Soroptimists who have informed these podcasts and also our sisters in Ireland and other areas of the country who contributed so much in our quest to NOT be the best kept secret. We enjoyed working with other women’s organisations by using the podcast as a method of demonstrating advocacy for change, bringing influence on decision making and making positive contributions to our communities. The podcast is an exciting format to use, once published details of our soroptimist work can be accessed at the listeners leisure. The conversational format makes for a more in-depth informative listen and has more permanence in a social media bite-size driven world of communication.
Caroline Auckland and Lorna Blackmore receiving the certificate in recognition of their work on the project
