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British Science Week showcased by Surrey Soroptimists at Careers Fair at Weybridge School

British Science Week showcased by Surrey Soroptimists at Careers Fair at Weybridge School

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Careers Fair in School Several hundred secondary school pupils attended a lively careers fair held at Heathside School Weybridge yesterday, March 4th. Weybridge based women soroptimists on the Girl STEMSTAR Working Party presented information from a number of education sources relating to study choices, post 16 GCSE study routes and a careers to boys and girls aged 11-18. The school’s timing was perfect with the event taking place during National Careers Week (4-9th March) and just ahead of British Science Week (8-17th March). National Careers Week is an annual event focused on helping students decide on career options as part of their pathway through subject choices and route of qualification.   Government and business investment in apprenticeships from age 16 upwards to adult learning is at an all time high. There are resources for adults, parents, students and sponsors including Nat West and others provide access

Soroptimists at School Assembly about British Science Week

Soroptimists at School Assembly about British Science Week

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The Weybridge and District STEM Team members are so appreciative of the positive welcome given at Cobham Free School in Surrey this week where there was a chance to help launch the British Science Week National Poster Competition during an assembly. It gave local soroptimists a chance to also advertise the #BSW insights and breadth and scope especially activities open to students and communities  for ‘at home’ science learning during March and over the year to come. Some 300 Year 7,8 and 9 pupils listened patiently to details of this year’s #BSW theme ‘TIME’.  A  soroptimist, herself a life scientist,  gave a 10 minute overview of the opportunities prevailing during #BSW for students and families to learn have fun and take part. She followed an inspiring short presentation by a female 6th former who plans a career in motorsport engineering . Our presentation highlighted not

Calling all Parents…and Students – In a muddle about Science or Careers..?

Calling all Parents…and Students – In a muddle about Science or Careers..?

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It’s National Careers & British Science Week! Next week is a key week in education with National Careers Week running from March 4th – 9th and British Science Week beginning on March 8th. There are projects to do at home, with friends  over the Easter break, competitions and exciting resources and helpful videos and guides available. We’d heartily recommend sharing these links with family and friends who have children at school or just graduating this summer. On March 4th we are exhibiting at a School Careers fair for 11-18 year olds. It’s made us reflect on our own experiences as parents, teachers, employers and mentors as we create materials to share.  In our STEM working party we have found a free education site of particular value in terms of aiding decision-making about both academic subject options and career planning for students evaluating career paths via

Weybridge Soroptimists Launch ‘STEMSTARS Project’ in schools as British Science Week (#BSW) approaches

Weybridge Soroptimists Launch ‘STEMSTARS Project’ in schools as British Science Week (#BSW) approaches

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As we approach British Science Week in March, Weybridge and District soroptimists are very excited! Our partnerships with two local Elmbridge secondary schools will launch. Following combined efforts from the club's  STEM Working Party and the scientific and academic leads in both schools, ideas simply flowed. We have made steady  progress and STEM soroptimists are involved in two big events at the schools in the next week. February 29th - A school assembly for Years 7-9 where together with the Head of Science and a 6th Form science student, we will launch the #BSW National Poster Competition to local students. The theme is on how TIME has impacted science and could impact in future.  Boys and girls will be invited to design a poster on this topic for the March deadline. Soroptimist charity  funds will provide prizes for up to 5 posters selected by year group
Weybridge, Walton & Hersham are on Santa’s Route

Weybridge, Walton & Hersham are on Santa’s Route

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At this time of year mothers and women struggling financially face difficult choices, heat the home, pay the bills, put food on the table,  borrow to buy extras and gifts? Alongside supporting foodbanks with female hygiene products year round, local women soroptimists volunteer and fundraise to aid community foodbanks around the country with supermarket vouchers and food, plus summer essentials like children’s sun lotion and treats at Easter. This festive season our soroptimists and friends in Elmbridge donated £15 to fill each gift hat for women and mums from Santa.  Brenda and Cathy delivered 20 to @Runnymede at #WeybridgeFoodbank last week, Jean and Ann did the same at @Walton&Hershamfoodbank. Sincere thanks to the generous soroptimists, neighbours, friends and family for the cash to enable this sharing of joy and goodwill locally. Merry Christmas to all  partners, volunteers and charities we work with locally to improve

Soroptimists fly the flag for Women and Girls for #16DaysofActivism

Soroptimists fly the flag for Women and Girls for #16DaysofActivism

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Women volunteers in local soroptimist clubs around the world #orangetheworld as part of the global campaign and action to stop violence against women and girls. Locally they are ‘flying the flag’ in many ways on Monument Green, Weybridge and in Stoke d’Abernon to highlight the UN messaging for global action and progress under the UNiTE program. Soroptimists are advocating to reduce online and IT tech-led actions and increased use of private information which impacts women and girls well being and safety adversely and to encourage everyone to harness technology to enable safety, respect and dignity in every situation, every country and every online media. Progress is steady, nothing is impossible. “We are hopeful not hopeless” in the words of an Afghan women’s advocate speaking at the recent SIGBI conference about the challenges women and girls face every day in country. Amplify the messaging share on

River Thames at Cowey Sale is ORANGE!

River Thames at Cowey Sale is ORANGE!

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  Following on from the success of our monthly #OrangeCafes, this year we upped the scale of our activities to mark the start of #16days of activism. Saturday November 25th was a cold but bright winter’s morning. A group of club members met up for a ‘Walk & Talk’ Café Crawl along the Thames towpath between Walton & Weybridge. Our aim was to raise awareness of #16Days and the UN Day for the elimination of violence against Women. We were joined by Soroptimist sisters from the region as well as family members & the Outreach team from #Northsurreydomesticabuse. We  met at the Cowey Sale café then we all walked & talked all the way to D’Oyly’s Café. The island setting offered a great photo opportunity on the bridge across the river. Even the tree in the background was orange! We were all wearing orange &

Soroptimists ‘Remember’ in Weybridge

Soroptimists ‘Remember’ in Weybridge

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Just a month on from meeting as a club with family, friends and retired members to remember Dorothy Clarke MBE at a memorial service in Hersham, we were honoured to lay a club poppy wreath in remembrance of the many who have fallen for our freedoms over the decades since WW1. Joining members and friends Alexis was welcomed on Sunday for the first time to represent the many soroptimists in Weybridge.   Sincere thanks to Alexis Past Club President for arranging the wreath and representing the club.      

Elfing around..Elmbridge..

Elfing around..Elmbridge..

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Last week we approved fund allocation to fill 40 elf hats for gifting to @RunnymedeandWeybridgefoodbank and @Walton&HershamFoodbank. Packed by Santa’s elves and labelled ‘For Mum from Santa” soroptimists in @weybridge, @waltononthames and @molesey hope to spread some joy and goodwill to the hard pressed families in our district on Christmas day. Our Women against Violence (WAV) team are really busy hoisting flags, putting up posters and arranging the #orangetheworld cafe crawl on the Thames from Cowey Sale, Walton to amplify the  Surrey clubs work in the southern England region to end violence against women over #16daysofactivism each and every year. Show your solidarity with orange ribbons, posters and share our posts to widen the information sharing and impact action.   Save the date  – 25th November start of club activism to unite in solidarity with women and girls suffering violence.     

#16Days of Activism get ready..

#16Days of Activism get ready..

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The global 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence is a key international moment to call for an end to violence against women and girls. It runs from 25th November (the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) until 10th December, Human Rights Day. In support of this campaign, the United Nations Secretary-General’s “UNiTE by 2030” initiative calls for global action to increase awareness, galvanise advocacy efforts and share knowledge and innovations to help end all types of violence against women and girls. In 2023, the UNiTE campaign theme is Invest to Prevent Violence against Women & Girls. Soroptimists and UNWomen’s focus is on Tech-facilitated gender based violence against women and girls. What is that? Technology-facilitated gender-based violence is any act that is committed or amplified using digital tools or technologies causing physical, sexual, psychological, social, political, or economic harm to women and girls because