OUR MEMBERS
We are a local branch of a non religious, non political, world-wide organization which aims to improve the lives of women and children throughout the world.
Our membership is drawn from a wide range of professional and business backgrounds; including Education, Finance, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Retail and Social Services.
We meet once a month for dinner, where there is often a speaker, followed by our business meeting. Although we do have fund raising events for various projects, we try to give service, our time, to local people/organisations. This type of service can take many forms, this can involve gardening, making tea, knitting, reading or just company.
If you care about others and want to help, whilst meeting other ladies on a social basis, we would like to meet you. Click here, drop us an email and we will be in touch. We look forward to meeting you.
OUR HISTORY
Wolverhampton Club was founded in 1936 as a daughter club of SI Birmingham. Over the next 10 years we worked with our daughter clubs in Stafford, Walsall, Bilston and Stourbridge. In 1945 it was decided to find and equip a house to accomodate elderly people. In 1946 a house was purchased and in 1947 ‘The Wolverhampton Soroptimist Housing Society Limited’ was formed and by 1948 the house had been adapted for 17 residents. By 1973 the building required improvements which were not practical to implement and the home was run down. A piece of land was then purchased in order to have a purpose built home, which would be called Soroptimist House. Our aim was completed with the official opening on 28th September 1979.
Although over the years Wolverhampton Soroptimists have continued to support the Home they have also been involved in many other projects, local and international.
Locally we continue to support New Cross Hospital Premature Baby Unit, by knitting blankets and items of clothing. The Haven, a refuge for mothers and their children, by supplying toiletries and toys. The Well Foodbank by donating food, household cleaning items and toiletries. Our craft group makes syringe driver bags for Compton Hospice. In the past we have raised money for Help for Heroes, by giving a concert in conjunction with the Wolverhampton Comedy Musical Company. Multicare, by producing and selling a cookbook. Hearing Dogs for the Deaf benefited from the monies raised by Beetle Drives and themed evenings. Money was raised by a Tea Party and guided tour of the Wolverhampton combined courts, for Water Aid.
Internationally, we raise money for Footprints Orphanage in Kenya and have recently raised enough to enable them to purchase a greenhouse for growing their own crops to feed over 30 children. We have also provided them with funds to purchase a chicken coop and chickens and sent various items e.g. clothing, sanitary wear and educational items. We lobbied to ban Cluster Bombs and raised money for the Tibetan Education and Relief Association. Along with our sister clubs we have raised money to educate women and children in Namitembo and in Sierra Leone. As well as education in Sierra Leone, it has been important to try and keep families together, with support for girls and women trafficked in sex slavery.