Soroptimist International of Winchester took part in the Hat Fair from 2-4 July. This year was very different with 5 sessions of ticketed slots from Friday evening to Sunday evening. This took place at the North Walls Recreation ground and the School of Art in Winchester.
As part of a recruitment and membership strategy, it’s good to create awareness of what the club does do, and to be more a part of the Winchester community. We were also delighted to receive a development grant from SI Southern England region to support the registration.
Julie Blackwell, member of SIW said, ‘We were able to talk to several interested ladies and pass on our information. Most people had not heard of the organisation so we want to address this going forward, especially in this our centennial year. We felt it would be good to be part of this fun community and in doing so talking to people about who we are and what we do, in a different context’.
She continued, ‘We found it very successful from this point of view and will take forward the lessons learned for more Winchester events. Fun was had with the website frame and captured many of the performers as well as the stand and visitors, making visuals for social media’.
Also on the stand were charitable items for sale. WOW bags made from washed juice cartons made into bags, pencil cases, rucksacks, shoppers and stitched together by ladies from the Philippines and also ring pull items such as bags, belts, jewellery made in the Philippines through the charity Purple Community Fund.
Soroptimist International of Winchester & District support the women’s Refuge in Winchester and also the Trinity Centre, along with lobbying Government for women’s rights and many other projects in the UK and overseas, transforming the lives of women and girls. It is a global women’s organisation and celebrates 100 years in October 2021.
If you would like to know more, or consider membership then please contact us on winchestersoroptimists@gmail.com
