Wigan Soroptimists meet each month to support the Orange Cafes campaign. The UNiTE campaign has proclaimed the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls. Orange Day calls upon activists, to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, but every month. Join us for coffee, a chat, some laughter and contribute to raising awareness of this important issue.  

The Annual Young Achiever Award was established in September 2013 to recognise and celebrate the academic, sporting, artistic, charitable or service to the community achievements of girls and young women aged 14 – 21 years in the Wigan Borough. Each year nominations are sought either via the website or by post from teachers, guide leaders, family members and others for girls that have excelled in the relevant areas. The successful girl receives an engraved plaque and gift token which is presented by the Mayor of Wigan and the President of SI Wigan at the Town Hall. In addition she receives the recognition of the community for the effort and commitment that she has shown. The form can be accessed vis this link:YAA Application Form 23_v2  

A very enjoyable lunch was enjoyed at Statham Lodge Lymm when ninety four members from all clubs in SI South Lancashire region joined together to celebrate the New Members from the various clubs. Pictured above are some new members from SI Wigan , including Jacquie , Kathleen , Mel and Chelsea. The members listened to a talk by Dr Margaret Emsley about her life as a Soroptimist and how it has helped to enrich her life with friendship in addition to making a difference to the lives of women. All new members received a card from Angela Holmes to welcome them into the Soroptimists and we look forward to working with them in the future.  

May is Membership Month for Soroptimists and we are hoping to bring you the views of some of our members and the reason they joined the Soroptimists. Below is our first member who has risen to the challenge of why ! I became a Soroptimist because I was inspired by their mission to support and empower women and girls, locally and internationally.  In the 18 months I’ve been a member, I have been involved in a project scrutinising the way victims of domestic violence are supported in our courts, as well as fundraising for our chosen charities and increasing my knowledge of the groups supporting women in the Wigan area. I am looking forward to being involved in more projects and learning more about what it is to be a soroptimist. We are hoping to meet in a local cafe where people can come and

Three of the Wigan Soroptimist Group, Angela, Marianne and Kathleen met with Becky from Beauty for Ashes. The Charity was presented with a cheque for £250.00. This money will buy ten lots of bedding. This Charity group supports migrant women with insecure immigration status. These women have come into this country on a Spousal Visa and have for some reason or another been rejected by their husbands and find themselves without any support from any organisation or the Government. The Charity is in the process of setting up two refuges to support these women and their children and to prevent them being separated from their children. In the next two months two refuges will be set up in the local area. One for six women with up to two children and another as a refuge for a woman with up to five children. They are

Wigan Soroptimists and Winstanley College Early in December, Angela Holmes, President of Soroptimist International Wigan Club and Kathleen Moran, met with Personal Tutor Amanda Asbridge to plan for the continuation of the partnership to support girls at Winstanley College through the well-established Avril Fishwick Mentoring Scheme. Avril Fishwick OBE was a high profile Soroptimist in Wigan. She was a well-known Wigan solicitor, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester and was awarded the Freedom of Wigan Borough. The mentoring scheme was set up to mentor potential professionals towards successful outcomes. Topics such as interview tips, personal statement writing and well-being have been explored. There are nearly 72,000 Soroptimists worldwide working on projects that help improve the lives of women and girls locally and internationally. Our Wigan club has recently planted 100 trees in the borough. We support Wigan’s Domestic Abuse Service through DIAS and Wigan and