{"id":5658,"date":"2026-03-12T13:47:14","date_gmt":"2026-03-12T13:47:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/tunbridge-wells\/?page_id=5658"},"modified":"2026-04-22T07:35:55","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T06:35:55","slug":"latest-news","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sigbi.org\/tunbridge-wells\/latest-news\/","title":{"rendered":"Latest News"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tunbridge Wells members making items for Comfort Cases<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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At\u00a0the March 2026 SISEE Region meeting\u00a0there was\u00a0an excellent presentation from Sarah Jacoby, CEO of Comfort Cases, a charity which provides filled backpacks\/holdalls for children in and young people in care, to provide them with essentials as they go into care initially or subsequently move between foster homes. The Comfort Cases, intended as a better alternative to bin bags, and would be the children\u2019s own to keep, and can be used by them to move\u00a0their possessions when changing foster homes or moving to other accommodation.<\/span><\/p>\n

At the meeting Sarah\u00a0invited Soroptimists to make\u00a0and donate drawstring bags, lined with waterproof fabric, to hold toiletries, to be added to the Comfort Cases. The bags were to be made up in different fabric designs to suit both boys and girls, and also younger and older children. For those bags for older girls, fabric \u2018Period SOS\u2019 pouches, where girls could keep spare sanitary pads or tampons, were also requested.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

A group of club members \u2013 initially five, later joined by others – from SI Tunbridge Wells set to with a will and embarked on producing the toiletry bags and period pouches. The intention is to produce as many bags as possible by the time of the June club meeting.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Campaign Against Sexual Harassment in Tunbridge Wells<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/strong>In October 2021, a young woman was attacked on a street in Tunbridge Wells. This, alongside the tragic murder of Sarah Everard earlier that year, brought renewed focus on the safety of women and girls in public spaces. In response, the Soroptimists of Tunbridge Wells & District (SITWD) took immediate action. They organised a candlelit vigil on the steps of the Town Hall to raise awareness of gender-based violence, and launched a survey to understand how safe local women and girls felt.<\/span><\/p>\n

The survey caught the attention of then MP Greg Clark, sparking a collaboration that led to the introduction of a Private Member\u2019s Bill, the Protection from Sex-Based Harassment in Public Bill<\/em>. Mr Clark presented the bill for its first reading in June 2022, acknowledging SITWD\u2019s crucial role in shaping its provisions. The legislation creates a specific criminal offence of intentionally harassing someone in public on the basis of their sex, causing alarm or distress. The Bill received Royal Assent in September 2023, and adds a sex-based aggravation to offences under the Public Order Act 1986, allowing for harsher penalties when harassment is motivated by gender.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Normally, enactment\u2014the process that ensures the Act\u2019s provisions are operationalised\u2014would have followed automatically. However, the 2024 General Election delayed this vital step. SITWD raised the issue with their newly elected MP, Mike Martin, who immediately took action. He first raised a Parliamentary question to draw attention to the delay. When that failed to result in action, he tabled an amendment to the Crime and Policing Bill to commence the Act. Despite securing cross-party support from around 100 MPs, the amendment did not pass.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, thanks to persistent pressure, the Act came into force on 1 April 2026.<\/span><\/p>\n

The offence carries a maximum sentence of two years in prison.<\/span><\/p>\n

The Home Office said the new law had given police “stronger powers to act decisively.”<\/span><\/p>\n

SITWD will continue to work with Mike Martin and local police to discuss what changes this will bring on the ground, ensuring the safety of women and girls in Tunbridge Wells is prioritised.<\/span><\/p>\n

SITWD participates in the Royal Tunbridge Wells Spring Clean<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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On 27th<\/sup> March, members of SITWD participated in the\u00a0Tunbridge Wells\u00a0Spring Clean project\u00a0organised by\u00a0RTW Together, the local Business Improvement District. The plan was to collect litter, clean street furniture, and signs, remove graffiti and de-weed pavements and planters.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The litter pickers collected in total\u00a03 bin bags of miscellaneous litter,\u00a0a large number of\u00a0(empty) vodka bottles and\u00a0some discarded bedding. It was a tiring but rewarding experience.<\/span><\/p>\n

During the two hours\u00a0spent picking up litter,\u00a0between them they walked a total of\u00a08 miles!<\/span><\/p>\n

A Toolkit for Grassroots Activism<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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\"\"Tunbridge Wells members Caroline Auckland and Lorna Blackmore have played an active role in the Women\u2019s Grassroots Activism Project (2023\u20132025), funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council. The project aimed to raise the visibility of leading women\u2019s organisations, highlight their legacy in campaigning for gender equality, and safeguard future activism by preserving local archives and promoting innovative ways of using them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Grassroots activism takes many forms, from local community action and education to campaigning and influencing policy at national and global levels.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lorna and Caroline focused on two key areas: environmental sustainability and women\u2019s safety, highlighting the work of the Tunbridge Wells Soroptimists. Environmental initiatives included the collection and recycling of aluminium cans, helping to fund sanitation projects in developing countries, helping Tunbridge Wells becoming a \u201cToilet Twinned\u201d town.<\/span><\/p>\n

Caroline\u2019s contributions centred on campaigning against gender-based violence and harassment. She highlighted initiatives such as community vigils, safety surveys, and collaboration with former Tunbridge Wells MP Greg Clark on his Private Member\u2019s Bill, the Protection from Sex-based Harassment in Public Act 2023. The Act, which received Royal Assent in 2023 and comes into force on 1st<\/sup> April 2026, makes harassment in public motivated by sex an aggravated offence.<\/span><\/p>\n

Working alongside organisations including the Irish Countrywomen\u2019s Association, the National Federation of Women\u2019s Institutes, the Federation of Women\u2019s Institutes of Northern Ireland, and Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland, the project represents the activism of over 200,000 women committed to improving the lives of women and girls.<\/span><\/p>\n

The project concluded with the publication of Women\u2019s Grassroots Activism Toolkit 100+<\/em>, a resource outlining how women\u2019s activism has shaped society at every level. The toolkit provides practical guidance for those wishing to become activists, encouraging approaches such as storytelling, intergenerational conversations, the use of meaningful objects, and collaboration and networking.<\/span><\/p>\n

The steering team, led by Caitr\u00edona Beaumont, Professor of Social History at London South Bank University, launched the toolkit in March. Caroline participated as a roundtable member representing the Tunbridge Wells Soroptimist club.<\/span><\/p>\n

The toolkit can be downloaded here:<\/span>
\nWomen’s Grassroots Activism Toolkit 100+<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Tunbridge Wells and District hold an International Women\u2019s Day Event \u2013 \u201cGender Equality through Economic Empowerment\u201d<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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SITWD organised an event to mark International Women\u2019s Day aimed at raising awareness of the importance of financial literacy as a means of being safe and empowered.<\/span><\/p>\n

Members of the public were invited, and many club members also attended. Four representatives from Citizens Advice, who provide financial guidance, and an expert from Wave Community Bank worked with club leaders to plan a session designed both to educate participants and to address specific financial situations and concerns.<\/span><\/p>\n

A panel discussion, led by President Jill Ruddock, explored topics such as the warning signs that someone may be heading towards unmanageable debt, times when women may be particularly financially vulnerable and how they can protect themselves, and initiatives aimed at improving financial education in schools.<\/span><\/p>\n

There were four workshops covering: recognising economic abuse; budgeting and debt management; managing energy costs; and the role of credit unions and how they can help.<\/span><\/p>\n

The experts also engaged with participants on a one-to-one basis, offering personalised advice tailored to their individual circumstances.<\/span><\/p>\n

Feedback from the session was very positive. Participants shared a number of encouraging comments, including: \u201cThat knowledge share is going to help people directly in the community and increase the ripple effect of the couple of hours we spent together.\u201d<\/em> Another attendee noted, \u201cI really enjoyed the event and the speakers were excellent,\u201d<\/em> while someone else added, \u201cThe interactive tasks were fun and helped me retain the information.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n


\nInternational Women\u2019s Day Event in Southborough:<\/span><\/strong><\/span> Celebrating Local Women<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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On Friday 6th<\/sup> March, the Ridgemont Pavilion in Southborough hosted an evening event with Southborough Street Community to honour women\u2019s achievements and strengthen the spirit of support that drives real change.<\/span><\/p>\n

Club member Kathy Lewis gave a talk about the Southborough Women who featured in the recent display in Southborough Library that marked the contribution of local women to\u00a0the community, both now and in the past. This display is featured below in the article SITWD celebrates Women\u2019s leadership.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

SITWD celebrates Women\u2019s leadership<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

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Members of the Tunbridge Wells and District Club worked in partnership with the local Southborough Society to organise and present a library display celebrating the significant contributions of local women, past and present, to the community.<\/span><\/p>\n

Originally created as part of the Soroptimists\u2019 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence campaign, the exhibition resonated so strongly within the local community that it remained on display in the library until the end of February.<\/span><\/p>\n

The exhibition highlighted women from the town of Southborough who have made or are making a meaningful difference to the safety and wellbeing of women and girls. It featured photographs of seven contemporary local women making a significant impact, alongside seven prominent women from Southborough\u2019s past. Current representatives included GPs, a headteacher, a councillor and former Mayor of Southborough, a vicar, a community artist, and a Keep Britain Tidy Ambassador.<\/span><\/p>\n

Past local residents featured in the display were:<\/span><\/p>\n