The bra recycling scheme takes your unwanted or unloved bras and through a network of bra banks raises vital funds for pioneering breast cancer research. The same bras also help to support small businesses in Africa. Together with recycling partners, the textile recovery project prevents these bras going into landfill before giving them a new lease of life in developing countries such as Togo, Ghana and Kenya, where bras remain too expensive to produce locally. Successful ventures like this keep many families in developing countries out of poverty whilst providing employment for people at home in the UK. Any bras that are genuinely beyond redemption are dismantled and disposed of properly. For every tonne of bras collected, Against Breast Cancer receives £700 to fund our research. With over 30 million women in the UK you could really help make a difference!

SIGBI President’s December 2016 Blog This is my first message as Federation President so I would like to thank everyone for your support in Malta, and for all the kind congratulation messages that I received in Malta and since whilst at home. Congratulations to Margaret Emsley and her conference committee on a successful conference. And how lovely it was to experience it all on the beautiful island of Malta. Our conferences have had similar themes running through them in recent years – all of them about leading change, taking action and moving forward. I am continuing along the same lines and have chosen my theme Step Up, Lead the Way, to continue the focus on growing our organisation and securing its future. It is important that we continue to move forward and achieve our aim of doubling the membership by 2021. I believe that the

Well done everyone - we did make a SPLASH IN PINK!!

  SEVERAL MEMBERS WROTE TO THEIR MP TO REQUEST THEIR ATTENDANCE AT PARLIAMENT ON FRIDAY 16TH DECEMBER – thank you Alan Campbell for your reply and your vote. What is the Istanbul Convention? It is a Council of Europe convention against violence against women and domestic violence which was opened for signature on 11 May 2011 in Istanbul, Turkey. The Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence. The government signed up to the Istanbul Convention in June 2012 but is yet to formally ratify it, to make this written agreement official by signing it. One Tory MP was accused of trying to “filibuster” the bill by talking for 78 minutes, but it progressed to the next stage by 135 votes to two. Ministers said they are “committed” to the convention, which states that “it is the obligation of the state to

  Today our club received a cheque for £1800 from The Greggs Foundation – what can we say apart from a huge THANK-YOU.  This generous grant will enable us, in the new year, to put together another 24 NEW START BAGS to donate to Northumbria Police through our contact Detective Inspector Claire Wheatley. Watch this space for more information.

  What are NEW START BAGS? Several Soroptimist Clubs in the Northern Region are working in conjunction with Northumbria Police to raise awareness of the increasing problems with VAWG – VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS, including traffiking. Each bag contains new clothes, toiletries and a few treats at the start of the long process of helping these vulnerable women and girls rebuild their lives   Operation Sanctuary is the name given to the Northumbria Police investigation into allegations of a series of sexual offences To date a number of people, from a range of backgrounds and communities, have been arrested in connection with Operation Sanctuary. While much of the activity has been in Newcastle, other areas of the force are affected. The investigation continues to progress at pace and there is a dedicated team of officers looking at all the information police continue to receive.

Wonderful start to our evening – fun and laughter at our (now not so new) venue – THE SANDPIPER. Cullercoats – they are so kind and look after us well. Turn this into this – over 80 gift bags for Harbour Refuge,North Shields wrapped ready for delivery.Part of our annual support of this local cause.   20+ energetic ladies hard at work. Toys too for the children.

    http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p01k3j50  

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I USED TO DO THIS AND BELIEVE IT OR NOT – HA-HA YOU CAN BUILD ONE ONLINE – JUST FOLLOW THIS LINK.     https://shoeboxworld.co.uk/shoeboxworld/?_ga=1.235151748.442127382.1480370416