Soroptimists clubs are found all over the world and members work to help improve the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally, using their networks to deliver projects. Our special status at the United Nations helps us to engage with UN entities as well as soroptimists worldwide.
Many of the problems facing women and girls are the same everywhere, for example gender inequality, but there are particular problems in each continent, country, region and locality.
We call our activities Programme Action and they are grouped into the UN’s 5 Ps.
- People – SDGs 1-5
- Prosperity – SDGs7-11
- Planet – SDG6 and 12-15
- Peace – SDG 16
- Partnership – SDG17.
We work through Education, Empowerment and Enablement (3Es) supported by Awareness (raising), Advocacy and Action (3As) and fundraising.
Our current focus is helping to implement projects which work toward achievement of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs – https://sdgs.un.org/goals) and we do this through our own projects and by working in partnership with others at home and abroad.
SI Whitstable & District members are involved in projects in the local community and are developing links and projects further afield.
We have developed a partnership with Maya’s Community Support Centre in Herne Bay. Founded by the wonderful Maya this centre supports those who are disadvantaged through a community cafe, free shop, food bank, furniture bank and support clinics. Maya and her team are inspirational. She serves others selflessly and with great passion and has created an ethos which celebrates giving, kindness and a community that cares . Her hashtag says it all #togetherwecanmakeadifference
Our members are currently supporting her through donations, fundraising, collecting and delivering waste food from one of our local supermarkets and some members are volunteering within her community. We have been humbled by the work we observe and are enthusiastic with our support.
Whitstable Soroptimists have a strong partnership with the Rising Sun. This focuses on fundraising/donations and volunteer support. Some of our members volunteer at the Herne Bay One Stop Shop as well as offer ad hoc support for one-off events organise by the service.
Based in Canterbury, the service aims to help individuals make their own choices, regain their freedom and take control of their lives. It provides a range of services for adults and children who have experienced domestic abuse.
One Stop Shops
Based in Canterbury, Herne Bay, Folkestone and Ashford these offer free advice, information and support from a range of agencies all under one roof, to help victims. Open to anyone affected by abuse, men or women, no appointment is required. Click here to view One Stop Shop times and locations.
Support for Adults
Individual support and group programmes for women who have experienced domestic abuse. Click here for information about the adult services.
Support for Children and Young People
Individual support and group programmes for children and young people who have witnessed domestic abuse. Click here for information about children’s services and here for information about young people’s services.
We are passionate about improving our local environment and support Plastic Free Whitstable and Surfers Against Sewage.
Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) operate an accreditation system by which communities can be designated as Plastic Free towns https://www.sas.org.uk/plastic-pollution/plastic-free-communities/The aim is to tackle plastic pollution at source right back to the businesses which create it. Across the UK there are currently 914 communities signed up.
Our club is a PF Community ally and is helping to revive Whitstable’s Plastic Free status alongside the CT5 Peoples Forum’s Eco Group, by leading initial scoping meetings with local organisations including the eco-churchesLabour and Green parties, Canterbury City Council Foreshore Service.
These included an eco-church, Labour and Green parties, CCC Foreshore Services and Soroptimists. Other local organisations such as SOS Whitstable and several businesses were unable to attend but gave their commitment.
Fundraising – for local Domestic Abuse services, Water Aid, Maya’s Community Support Centre
To further support the UN sustainable development goal around our planet we:
Carry out regular beach cleans on Seasalter beach and support the Great British Spring Clean within our locality.
Support SOS Whitstable, http://www.soswhitstable.com by attending protests and advocating against the release of raw sewage into our seas, to our MP’s and Southern Water.
National and International Projects
We support national initiatives such as Walk for Water to raise funds for Wateraid.
We are making plans to support a midwifery project in Bangladesh made possible through a contact of one of our members.
We support international disaster appeals eg supporting SI Kathmandu in their efforts to raise funds to support victims of the 2023 earthquake in their country.