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January 2022 – Climate Change – CRY – Woking Park – Gender

January 2022 – Climate Change – CRY – Woking Park – Gender

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Happy New Year We have said goodbye to our year of looking back at our Bright Past. 2022 is the first year of our Brilliant Future! Gender Debate Woking Debates recently organised an excellent session on  Gender.  Watch it on the Woking Debates YouTube channel. A Winter Journey through Woking Park We took a walk through Woking Park and discovered much about Woking’s past and present: The innovative fuel cell that powers the Pool in the Park. The bandstand used to be in central Woking where the new towers are now The rose is a symbol of the Woking Town Twinning experience The statue commemorates the Ockenden Venture.  This global refugee charity started in Woking. It was supported for many years by Woking Soroptimists. “Sit a while and dream a bit” –  Woking Park has many benches where you can do just that.  The invitation

December 2021 – #16DaysofActivism – National Tree Week – Centenary Tree – Your Sanctuary – anti-FGM campaign – Women’s Health

December 2021 – #16DaysofActivism – National Tree Week – Centenary Tree – Your Sanctuary – anti-FGM campaign – Women’s Health

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Women’s Health In the last few years, we have realised that the healthcare women get is not as good as it should be. Now the UK government has published a policy paper about women’s health.  It is called ‘Our Vision for the Women’s Health Strategy for England‘.   The government will publish its strategy to improve women’s health in 2022. It’s a positive first step.  Now we must follow developments and lobby for a good result from these first intentions! Anti-FGM campaign We have followed the actions of Hope for Girls and Women since Rhobi Samwelly came to tell us about it some years ago.  Rhobi, herself a survivor of FGM, leads this campaign in Tanzania to help girls who do not want to be cut.  This month, we again made a donation to this cause. In Britain, we spend December preparing for Christmas and New

November 2021 – National Conference – Marriage – Remembrance Sunday

November 2021 – National Conference – Marriage – Remembrance Sunday

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14 November : Remembrance Sunday Our President laid a wreath at the Cenotaph in Woking National Conference We all enjoyed the Soroptimist International GBI Federation conference at the end of October.  We would have loved to visit the original venue, Llandudno, but Covid did not let us do that.  But all our speakers were so informative and entertaining that the virtual version was a huge success.  We’re already looking forward to the next edition.  It’s theme is ‘Climate for Change’ and it will be in Belfast.  Fingers crossed,  we will all be able to meet for real next time. Virginity Testing (Prohibition) Bill This month, Members of Parliament voted to ban virginity tests.  More in this BBC report. Marriage and Civil Partnership (Minimum Age) Bill Parliament is debating the second reading of this proposed change to the law.  MP Pauline Latham wants the minimum age

October 2021 – 100 years – Modern Slavery – Friendship Link – Women in Prison – Brigitte Trust – Exhibition

October 2021 – 100 years – Modern Slavery – Friendship Link – Women in Prison – Brigitte Trust – Exhibition

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2011-2021 Soroptimist Movement We know that the impact of major issues affecting the world – climate change, Covid-19 are just two examples – is mostly much greater for women and girls. Since 2011, Soroptimist International has affirmed its commitment to mitigating the effects of these global issues on women and girls.   Giving all girls a proper education is a great way to help the women they become to face the challenges the world gives them.  So the SI President’s Appeal, beginning in October 2021, is  ‘Opening Doors to a Bright Future’ .  During the next two years, Soroptimist Clubs around the world will be contributing to an Appeal project in each of the five Soroptimist International Federations.   Soroptimist International of GB & Ireland will have a stand at the forthcoming COP 26 Conference on climate change. 2016 – SI Woking won the Love your Club

September 2021 – 100 years – Woking Great Big Green Week – Black History Month – Stalking

September 2021 – 100 years – Woking Great Big Green Week – Black History Month – Stalking

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2001-2011 Soroptimist Movement 2001 marked the 80th anniversary of Soroptimist International. It was time to review the movement and ensure it was fit for purpose in the new millennium. Women and girls were definitely becoming a focus for global action.   Soroptimist International’s knowledge, views and ability to reflect the lived experience of women and girls globally were increasingly appreciated in the United Nations community.  Soroptimist International conferences renewed the commitment to the Beijing Declaration. By the end of the decade, the new focus on women and girls was enshrined in the updated Vision and Mission statements. And 2010, the Federation of Great Britain & Ireland (Sigbi) adopted a new logo, symbolising its entry into the new millennium with renewed dynamism. 2006 saw SI Woking celebrate its Pearl Anniversary. To mark the occasion, Woking Soroptimists donated a bench to Woking Park. Mission and values Work began

August 2021 – 100 years – Famous women

August 2021 – 100 years – Famous women

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1991-2001 Soroptimist Movement   In 1996, when Soroptimist International celebrated its 75th anniversary, it had consolidated its position on the global stage,  Soroptimists were part of the global movement campaigning for gender equality. They spoke up for women at the 4th World Conference on Women in Beijing.  They lobbied especially for women and girls to have access to basic education and equal access to higher education. By the 1990s Soroptimist International had well-run international programmes of work and assistance.  The 4-year Federation projects launched in 1978 were now a regular feature.   Their worth is demonstrated by the 1995-9 SIAM (Soroptimist International AIDS Mediation) project, which was still producing good results in 2012.   With these projects, and with the Soroptimist President’s Biennial Project (since 1982), Soroptimist Clubs across the world raise funds to achieve the common goal. Mission and values Soroptimist International began as a movement

July 2021 – 100 years – Period dignity – Mental health – Violence against women – EdUKaid award

July 2021 – 100 years – Period dignity – Mental health – Violence against women – EdUKaid award

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1981-1991 Soroptimist Movement 1981 saw the Diamond Jubilee of Soroptimist International.   The Clubs in Southern England commissioned a stained glass window for Guildford Cathedral.  It was dedicated on 6 September 1981.               1984 saw the launch of the Soroptimist International  President’s Biennial Appeal. Clubs around the world contribute to the chosen campaign for two years.  The results are always impressive in terms of the funds raised and results on the ground. The current appeal targets the elimination of female genital mutilation – more about the Road to Equality here  Mission and values Projects and appeals come and go, but the fundamental mission and values of Soroptimist International remain the same: At the SIGBI Federation Conference in 1991, President Jane Dowell of SI Taunton reminded members that the best way for Soroptimists  to reach their goals is to serve

June 2021 – 100 years – Women’s health – Suffragette – Queen’s Award – Woking – Period dignity – Women in prison

June 2021 – 100 years – Women’s health – Suffragette – Queen’s Award – Woking – Period dignity – Women in prison

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100 years of Soroptimism 1971-1981 Soroptimist Movement The main event of the decade was the chartering of the Woking Club in 1976!  Surrey had several Soroptimist International Clubs by the 1970s – in Reigate, Epsom, Kingston, Elmbridge, Guildford…. For several Guildford members, Woking was a better place to meet. So they began to look for additional members and a suitable meeting venue in 1975.   For a brand new Club, a brand new venue: Centre Halls, part of the extensive redevelopment of Woking in the early 1970s (photo: Surrey Advertiser Archive).   The new club was formally chartered in April 1976.  Sheila Jerred was elected first President during the Chartering Ceremony and wore the newly-created chain of office.  Another new tradition:  a blue tablecloth embroidered with the names of all members – which we still do today.   Woking was not the only place to start

May 2021 – 100 years – Woking Street Angels – basketball – Chernobyl – marriage certificates – environment – India Covid crisis – Domestic abuse – #WhoIsShe –

May 2021 – 100 years – Woking Street Angels – basketball – Chernobyl – marriage certificates – environment – India Covid crisis – Domestic abuse – #WhoIsShe –

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100 years of Soroptimism 1961-1971 Soroptimist Movement The Sixties may have been swinging when everything was thrown into flux.  Soroptimist International did not follow that trend! It had become a well-established – and a global – organisation.  In 1960, the Governing Body of Soroptimist International wanted to mark its status as a recognised worldwide body.  So it recommended that December 10  – the day on which the UN Charter was signed – become Soroptimist International Day.  10 December has been a special day for Soroptimists since then.  SI Woking marks the occasion by making a donation to the International President’s Special Charity. By the end of the 1960s, there were several SI Clubs in Surrey, including in Guildford and Reigate…but not in Woking, not yet. But the Golden Jubilee  of Soroptimist International  in 1971 was an opportunity to look back on the past and forward

April 2021 – 100 years – Modest fashion – Women’s Centre – St Vincent volcano – Domestic Abuse Bill – HeForShe – Surrey Women’s safety survey – Girls and sexual abuse at school – Changing the Perfect Picture – Woking Debate

April 2021 – 100 years – Modest fashion – Women’s Centre – St Vincent volcano – Domestic Abuse Bill – HeForShe – Surrey Women’s safety survey – Girls and sexual abuse at school – Changing the Perfect Picture – Woking Debate

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100 years of Soroptimism 1951-1961 Soroptimist Movement International Headquarters The Soroptimist movement began as a network of clubs.  As the years went by, the Clubs were loosely gathered into geographical Federations. But there was no single governing body leading the Association – the headquarters simply changed with each President.  This changed in 1952 when a governing body was established.  Soroptimist International Headquarters are now in Cambridge, UK. National Federation headquarters The Great Britain and Ireland Federation (SIGBI) bought a property in Bayswater Road, London in 1952.  No. 63 became the Federation’s headquarters for many years, as well as residential Club for members living outside London. Eventually, the Federation’s headquarters moved out of London and No 63  became a hotel open to all.   It is still a special place for Soroptimists to stay and meet sisters from other Clubs – and sample the special No. 63