Soroptimist International works through a global network of members and international partners at local national and international level to educate, empower and enable women and girls.
Programme Action is one of the key components of Soroptimism in which members can work to address these issues:-
- To ensure that women and girls enjoy equity and equality
- Live in safe and healthy environments
- Have access to education
- Have leadership and practical skills.
Key Objectives are to:-
- Elimination of poverty
- End human trafficking
- Ensure healthcare for women and girls, including policies to eliminate HIV/AIDS, malaria,TB and other major diseases
- Improve access to clean water, sanitation and essential food resources
- Mitigate effects of climate change and integrate sustainability into government policies
2021-2022 Programme Action undertaken by Soroptimist International Wigan
Programme Action Report: Kathleen Moran
Once again it has been a very full year but it has been wonderful to see that despite how difficult things have been because of Covid we have still managed to raise money and fulfil our charitable commitments
Tea at the Farm
This was a Social event with a purpose! The money raised at this event helped us to support the Hospice and meant we could give above and beyond the £1000.00 we originally pledged to give them. Other events supporting the Hospice included the selling of Easter Chicks and baskets that were made by our members. By supporting the Hospice we know that we are making a difference to people and their families.
Young Achiever Award
This returned this year and it was good to see the young lady enjoying her time in the Mayor’s Parlour. The Mayor was very gracious and a good time was had by all who attended.
Partnership with SI Leigh
We continued to meet the needs regarding ‘P for Planet’ by in partnership with Leigh we planted 100 trees in Bickershaw Country Park. The sun shone , the ground was soft and the trees were soon planted with only two members getting slightly lost. I have since checked on them and the trees are flourishing.
The signage for the trees on site was provided by Councillor Paul Maiden who donated £800.00 out if his Brighter Borough Funding. Paul had severe health issues and the club was sad to hear about his death last Autumn.
The Partnership also included working with Bickershaw CR Primary School who supported us in our endeavours to design the signage and in planting the trees. We also had a competition across all age groups in the school. Prizes were donated by one of the Soroptimists from Wigan and a ceremony was held to award the worthy winners. The sign is still to be completed and will be installed this year with members of Leigh and Wigan and Bickershaw CE in attendance.
DIAS
This remains. along with the Hospice, as one of our specific charities. We are still supporting the Life after project and providing monthly refreshments too. Oue members have continued to show their unstinting support and generosity in this area. A recent meeting with the DIAS Manager , Gemma, confirmed the need and she expressed her gratitude for this. We provided Pamper packs for the DIAS clients at Christmas and also raised money in lieu of Christmas cards. Our work with DIAS also ensures that we remain focused on ‘People. Peace, Prosperity and Partnership.
Planet
We continued to support the Planet by recycling blister packs, stamps, ink cartridges and used spectacles. This supports Cancer Research , RNIB, The Hospice and the charity Sightsavers.
The Brick
The Brick also received a donation from us and Christmas gifts in the form of shoe boxes filled with essentials and treats. We are supporting the reduction of poverty, giving a safe place to sleep and reducing hunger.
Avril Fishwick Mentoring Scheme
Unfortunately we have not been able to carry on with this scheme yet because of Covid restrictions. It is intended that we will start up again once restrictions are fully lifted.
Royal Osteoporosis Society
Sue Doyle , one of our members gave a talk to our members. She is a well respected professional in this field. It is hoped that we can seriously consider , as a club, engaging with this group in a wider capacity, supporting their work and continuing in partnership with SI Leigh in the work of this excellent group.
2018-2019 Programme Action undertaken by Soroptimist International Wigan
Programme Action Report: Kathleen Moran
Once again it has been a very full year.
The Avril Fishwick Mentoring Scheme
The Avril Fishwick mentoring scheme has continued and has gone well. We have supported a group of girls chosen by their College Mentor. We again participated in an Open Evening, where we believe the Soroptimist Brand was given prominence. Four meetings are held per year and are to continue before the summer break to allow us to meet a new group of girls.
The Brick
The Brick has continued to receive our support from the cash donation of £500, the gifting of sleeping bags with Rotary and our Christmas shoe boxes.
Poppies
Poppies were once again knitted by our members and gratefully received by the British Legion and sold by them.
Easter Chicks
Once again thank you to all our knitters and finishers of chicks. Again we had a stall at the Regional Meeting in March when the chicks and other items were sold. More chicks were sold at the Hospice who also provided the chocolate eggs.
Young Achiever Award
Once again we had a very worthy winner Beatrice, a pupil at St John Fisher School. She has overcome long term illness and many hospital admissions, but this has not let this daunt her and she works and plays hard. All members of SI Wigan who attended her award ceremony at the Town Hall enjoyed the ceremony and the graciousness of the Mayor made the vent very special.
DIAS
We are continuing our partnership with DIAS. We are funding their “Life After” Project and have supported them during the year with other gifts of money and the Christmas Pamper Boxes.
Other projects
Money has been raised over the year via our social events e.g. Meals at the Wheel Restaurant, Equalitea, the Christmas meal, Walk the Memorable Mile also supported by Helen Pat’s daughter who raised money for cancer research , the January Quiz, the Christmas card donation and the wonderful bike ride to Paris undertaken by Phil.
SI Wigan and SI Leigh continue to support the Ashton Leigh and Wigan Osteoporosis Support Group and members from both clubs are on the Committee.
Stamps continue to be collected to support Stamps for Lepers.
Regional PAC
Members of SI Wigan continue to support the Regional PAC meetings four times per year. Where there are opportunities for friendship and to hear about regional and national PAC projects from excellent speakers.
2017-2018 Programme Action undertaken by Soroptimist International Wigan
Program Action Report: by Kathleen Moran
Once again we had a very full year
The Avril Fishwick Mentoring Scheme
The project has developed and grown in 2017 /18. Winstanley College have been very accommodating and at every meeting have provided lunch for members and the girls.
Meetings are to continue in 2018 /19 starting with a meeting next month with a new set of girls chosen by the tutors from this year’s Lower Sixth. the topics over the year will be as follows:
- Career Ideas – what they plan to do after Winstanley
- Career planning and writing CVs / Personal Statements
- Interview and networking skills
- Stress in all it guises
- Meeting with a new group of girls where we talk about Soroptimism and introduce ourselves and hear about the girls plans for university or other careers straight from college
A new venture this year was to attend one of the College Open Day on 8th February 2018. Six of our members were able to attend. We were made very welcome by the Principal, Vice Principal, other staff and students. Our display was much appreciated and the evening went well. We hope to do this again next year.
The Brick Centre (support for the homeless)
We have continued to support the Brick with donations of food, sleeping bags and of courde Christmas Shoe Boxes. This year the bought their own sleeping bags and twelve bags of good quality were bought jointly with Wigan Rotary who were our partners in this aspect of the project. It is hoped to further develop our links with the Brick in the future.
Poppies
Once again our members have knitted poppies for Remembrance to raise money for the British Legion and members attended the local Armistice Service in Wigan.
Easter Chicks
This year we knitted Easter Chicks (and 4 bunnies) most for sale at the Hospice but this year we also sold some at the March Regional PAC and Council Meetings in Leigh. A total of £259.00 was raised.
World Food Day
We raised £170.00 in support for World Food Day
Young Achiever Award
This year the award has been assimilated into the Programme Action Committee. Once again it was successful with a new flyer and publicity being produced. This year we decided to a young achiever and runner up. The winner was Olivia from Winstanley College and the runner up was Olivia from John Rigby, a talented musician who sang at our Annual Ball. The girls received the awards from the Mayor in December. Members of the Club, and the girls’ parents and friends supported them on this occasion.
We entered the Regional Rose bowl Challenge this year basing our entry on the Young Achiever Award.
This year has seen changes to the PAC. Programme action is the main focus of Soroptimist International . PAC is not just fund raising: it is much more. It is catering for the needs of women and girls both globally and in our own Wigan Borough. Every member by becoming a member is signing up to be part of Programme Action.
We are also very keen to continue to support Wigan and Leigh Hospice. Part of our Hospice support this year will come via our support of Louise and Elaine as they ride their bikes from London to Paris. They will fly the flag for Soroptimism as they ride.
Regional PAC
The Regional PAC meets 4 times a year at Leigh Sports Village. The meeting is in two halves. The first half is were visiting speakers come to tell us about various SI projects in the Region, for example Zoe’s Place, (a children’s hospice in Liverpool), FairTrade, Trafficking etc. SI Wigan do well for attenance at the Regional PAC with 6 – 8 members at each meeting, we learn a great deal and always go away informed and enriched. It is good to meet with friends from all across the Region and realise what a high profile Programme Action has.
After lunch there is Regional council meeting where we hear reports from various members of the SI Council both in this country and internationally.
Kathleen Moran PAC Chair.
2016 -2017 Programme Action undertaken by Soroptimist International Wigan
PAC meetings have been held as a continuation of our Business Meetings this year, this change has been positively received by members.
- The Avril Fishwick Mentoring Scheme has continued at Winstanley 6th Form College, Four lunchtime meetings have been held with the girls on “Careers ideas and planning for the future after College”, “Career planning and CV’s”, “Interview and networking skills” and “Planning career options and personal statements” with Lower 6th girls
- Following a widespread publicity campaign The Young Achiever Award was awarded to Jennifer Myles who has achieved sporting success in women’s football and helps encourage and coach others.
- Marys Meals in July we provided 15 bags for Mary’s Meals containing clothes and equipment to enable children to attend school. In addition in September Malcolm Ross from the charity accepted a cheque at the Awards Night (- this was the previous President’s charity) and he also spoke at a Business Meeting about the work of the charity.
- The Brick Homeless Centre. We continued to provide food for the Brick, concentrating this year on the summer months when donations from other sources are reduced. 40 sleeping bags were again provided jointly with Wigan Rotary. In addition 50 Christmas shoe boxes were donated by members and friends for those using the Brick Centre at Christmas.
- Sponsorship: Emily a young Guide was supported in 2016 with some financial help to attend a Guide expedition to Iceland where community work was undertaken. Emily came to a Business Meeting to speak about her experiences
- In 2017 Sponsorship is being given to help Kathleen who is taking part in the Raleigh Challenge. She will attend a meeting to talk about her work helping women and girls in Africa on her return.
- Support for the British Legion members and friends knitted and crocheted 300 poppies for Remembrance Sunday.
- Support for Wigan and Leigh Hospice Easter chicks and rabbits were also made and sold at Easter to support the Hospice.
- Other individual members support the Local Osteoporosis Support Group, collect used stamps for the Leprosy Mission and are on the committee of DIAS (Domestic Violence Support )
2015 – 2016 Programme Action undertaken by SI Wigan
- Support of the Brick Homeless Centre – 39 Shoeboxes for the Homeless, Sleeping bags for the Homeless jointly with Rotary International Wigan, food collections for the food bank.
- Birthing in Gambia (BIG) – £1,016 total raised in collaboration with Tower College Rainhill by:- fundraising and business projects in school supported by SI Wigan members, a fundraising meal, treasure hunt and raffle, home cooked Indian Meals, a BIG quiz.
- Young Achiever Award give annually in December to a woman or girl in Wigan who has excelled in an area of service, sporting or academic achievement, has been a carer or overcome adversity.
- An anti-Slavery Petition signed by club members and sent to support a national project that was then presented to Downing Street.
- Support for the Forgotten 10 Campaign – stand and petition in Wigan Library to raise awareness of those injured by land mines.
- Support for DIAS ( Domestic Violence Support ) members are on the Committee
- Support for the Local Osteoporosis Support Group members are on the Committee
- Knitted Poppies for the British Legion made by members and sold by the British Legion in November to support their work
- Easter knitted chicks – made by members and sold to support Wigan and Leigh Hospice.