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February 2026 – SI Woking, Fifty Years – Brigitte Trust – Climate Action

Published on: Published in: What we've been up to recently

Gorse is the golden flower illustrating our February news.

Active all year round and at home everywhere – just like Soroptimists!

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1978 saw the foundation of the South West Pacific Federation of Soroptimist International

1981 – SI Woking contributed to the stained glass window in Guildford Cathedral celebrating 60 years of Soroptimist action

1984: Soroptimist International gained consultative status at the United Nations

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The second wave of feminism continued up to the mid-80s, by which time gender differences between men and women – and their consequences –  had greater recognition. There were now laws protecting women’s rights, in relation to issues such as birth control and abortion, equal access to places of learning and discrimination at work.

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Since 1976 SI Woking has supported a wide range of projects and charities, including:

Woking Community First Responders, Woking NCT ‘Baby Bundles’, Motor Neurone Disease Association, North West Surrey Samaritans, Samber Riding for the Disabled, Face the Future, Woking Hospice, The Lighthouse, Women’s Support Centre, LinkAble (formerly Linkleisure), the Carr Gomm Society (Willow House), Leonard Cheshire Homes, White Lodge Centre, Shine Surrey 

 

What we learned this month:

Our monthly speakers teach us a lot.  This month Juliet Silvester, a volunteer with the Brigitte Trust  gave us a thought-provoking talk on the caring work of this charity.

How we communicated this month:

The winter newsletter highlighted our ongoing work.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our safety cards continue to be distributed through a variety of outlets.  And former Mayor Anne Ansell was interviewed on Woking Radio, talking about Shopmobility and Soroptimist International.

Climate Action Update

Our members are constantly encouraged to be environmentally aware, so we were pleased to see the opening of the Library of Things in Woking Library.  Local residents can now borrow tools, machines and other items for occasional use.

The Boots Store offers the opportunity to recycle medical blister packs, make-up, toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes.  These are very welcome initiatives to cut down on wastage and environmental pollution.