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Women who kill…their partners – the topic of last weeks club meeting

Women who kill…their partners – the topic of last weeks club meeting

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What good fortune we had as a club to be able to welcome Professor Susan Edwards to our club meeting in May. A long time friend of Mary she kindly agreed to attend our meeting to speak on the legal changes in the sentencing and treatment of “women who kill” following domestic abuse, coercive control and the constancy of fear. With over 20 at the meeting there was much discussion and surprise how a degree of relative leniency under common law from the 17th century cases has changed with wider judicial change and case law in more recent times.    Watch the Club Newsletter for more information. Susan would make a superb addition to any expert working party looking at the current bills and  future proposals for amending and lobbying via CSW, governments and local policy. Sincere thanks to Mary, Carlye and of course dear

#Soroptimists shone bright at Oatlands Village Fayre, Weybridge

#Soroptimists shone bright at Oatlands Village Fayre, Weybridge

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The sun may have been hiding much of the day but #Soroptimists from SI Weybridge and District shone bright at Oatlands Village Fayre on Saturday 13th May. Following the advert in the fayre booklet (very kindly inserted by Andrew) attendance at the booth was brisk. Handmade Maripula bags and cushion covers (from our SI sisters in South Africa), tomato/sunflower plants, home grown organic rhubarb, a book sale, a children’s competition and wonderful company attracted fayre goers to come along and chat. Brenda (and Paul..) created a fabulous showcase of our last years work in the club and worked hard to highlight and man the booth with Jeannie and Alexis. Mary and the team helped galvanise visitors and ensured the day went with panache; a good profit was made on the day for the club charity account and Alexis is summing up the sale profits to

Welcome our high profile and influential speaker on Thursday evening – Prof. Susan Edwards

Welcome our high profile and influential speaker on Thursday evening – Prof. Susan Edwards

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So delighted to confirm our speaker for Thursday. Huge thanks to Carlye for identifying such a high profile and influential woman who focuses widely on women and education in multicultural legal aspects; Susan will enlighten us on the dynamics of abusive relationships and focus on the case of women who kill their abusive partners.  Susan recently published insight into the matters surrounding the courts decision making on the return of Shamima Begum to Britain. (https://www.counselmagazine.co.uk/articles/shamima-begum-the-court-of-public-opinion). Prepare to take this opportunity to welcome Susan in person and discuss salient points which might impact our work with refugees and young women/DA services. Speaker: Prof Susan Edwards, Professor of Law Emerita, University of Buckingham BA (CNAA), MA, PhD (Manc), LLM (Reading); Barrister England and Wales, Practising Certificate; Member of the Expert Witness Institute (MEWI), formerly Editor Denning Law Journal 2005-2015 A barrister and a well-known writer and broadcaster on feminist

Soroptimists showcase their friendship and work in Weybridge in new Member Month

Soroptimists showcase their friendship and work in Weybridge in new Member Month

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May is Membership Month in Soroptimist Clubs in the SI GB&N.Ireland region We have been delighted to welcome 4 new club members in Elmbridge region this last year, Mary, Caroline, Jean and Hasina. At our AGM Mary welcomed most recent new Soroptimists Jean and Hasina who elected to join after joining in with some of our events and learning about the projects we do as a local club. We will be hosting regular monthly ‘Orange Cafes’ to meet women who’d like to hear more and join us as we attract more members. Get in touch at any time via the QR Code and Contact Us tab, we meet every month in Cobham. Meet on Saturday 13th May Soroptimists have a stand this Saturday at Oatlands Village Fayre, come along and meet us, buy organic rhubarb, sunflower plants, beautiful handmade Maripula tapestry items from South Africa,

Afghan Women’s Minster joins Soroptimists in Elmbridge

Afghan Women’s Minster joins Soroptimists in Elmbridge

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Former Afghan Women’s Minster Ms Hasina Safi was delighted to accept Honorary Membership of Weybridge & District Soroptimist Club yesterday. We have been so moved to hear from her first hand at recent meetings about the situation in country and her knowledge of women’s issues following Taliban rule. Hasina a refugee in our region brings in depth knowledge of the history of women’s rights in the troubled region. As a child refugee herself fleeing to Pakistan with her parents only to return as the Russians left, she now finds herself again displaced and working for women’s human rights and peace from another country, Britain. Hasina and the many refugees who arrived in Britain in 2021 and since experience and continue to have trauma associated with the sudden change  in situation and liberties arising from Taliban rule, the daily knowledge of suffering back ‘home’ and the consequences

A Soroptimist Year in Elmbridge & our 45th AGM

A Soroptimist Year in Elmbridge & our 45th AGM

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The Soroptimist 2022 – 2023 year finishes with our 45th AGM on April 20th. Members do look out for the Officer Reports and Agenda in your Inbox this week. We have Jean’s Induction and a Tribute to dear Marion please join in at The Fairmile. Summary to reflect on SIW&D Club Achievements in 2022 March – SISE region club donations/funding sent to SI Clubs in Ukraine and Moldova to enable local action April and June – Foodbank Donations of Easter Eggs and Children’s Sun Cream to support Walton & Hersham foodbank needs May – Booth at Oatlands Weybridge Village Fair for publicity and to sell beautiful craft items made in Maripela, South Africa who are supported by Soroptimists &  Tea & Temptations Fashion Show run in partnership with local boutiques and SI Woking, raised funding for Barbara Watts Volunteering in Pretoria Project July – Pink

Soroptimists EggXS at Easter!

Soroptimists EggXS at Easter!

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March 17th 2023 Nina and the great team at Walton & Hersham Foodbank (@waltonandhershamfb) in Surrey were very grateful to have SI Weybridge’s donation of 130 Easter eggs for local families. Thank you so much for the generous donations dear friends and especially to Brenda for navigating the big purchase (leaving Tesco speechless…) and to both Alison & Brenda local Super #Weybridge #Soroptimists for their speedy delivery last week. Great program community action at a tough time for local families. A small but valued act of kindness by women #standingupforwomenandgirls. Thank you for the Photo Eric Heininger on Unsplash

All women deserve a shout out – on IWD – act TODAY

All women deserve a shout out – on IWD – act TODAY

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Walking  though Charing Cross, London yesterday Soroptimist Caroline my friend could not help but notice the enormous electronic bill board over #CouttsBank.   Today is International Women’s Day. Well done @Coutts, great to see businesses heralding the successes of women leaders in a world dominated in business by men on IWD. Soroptimists  enable the celebration of this day joining with partners around the world to celebrate the successes and achievements of women, the empowerment and enablement of the many organisations striving to educate girls, women and work returners. It’s a day when we can cherish special women in our life, our bestie, a neighbour, a lonely relative who you don’t call up enough, teachers who inspire and educate girls to aim high, paramedics and nurses who cherish our loved ones when they are ill, our girls, our daughters who are striving to redress the losses caused

International Women’s Day started in Russia in 1913…it’s a National Holiday..

International Women’s Day started in Russia in 1913…it’s a National Holiday..

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International Women’s Day is a time for recognising women’s achievements and pushing for gender equality. But how do different countries mark the day? With celebration, with protest, with restrictions? Every year on 8 March, the world celebrates International Women’s Day. The event, which has its roots in the socialist feminist movements of the early 20th century, is now a United Nations-recognised celebration – a day designed to shine a spotlight on women’s achievements and bolster campaigns for gender equality. But while International Women’s Day is recognised around the world, the way it is celebrated looks different from one nation to the next. In some countries, the occasion is treated as an opportunity to praise and honour women – although often this admiration is reserved for women who fit within a narrow and traditional feminine ideal. In other countries, International Women’s Day is still a time for activism

Educate Girls – Access Prosperity & Reduce Gender Bias

Educate Girls – Access Prosperity & Reduce Gender Bias

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#IWD2023 is not just one day… Technology is way too important for women to be excluded from its development and use. Encourage all girls to study school subjects like mathematics, single sciences, technology, programming and keep doors open at ‘A’ level and for university access, it allows girls to access knowledge and exciting well paid STEM careers and prosper, enabling other women’s success in health, wealth and wisdom. Challenge stereotypes, girls should aim high and follow their dreams, so many don’t have the chance yet.  Educate,educate,educate to succeed. Soroptimist bywords. Our SIGBI Soroptimist Diamond Education Grant helps women work returners to retrain and update skills in technology. Club STEM Soroptimist bursaries and grants/prizes enable girls from disadvantaged background to access help and finances.https://sigbi.org/what-we-do/our-charities/deg/ Mary,  a teacher, a Trustee in education and a soroptimist bared the cold today to put up posters in Stoke D’Abernon ahead