Yorkshire Soroptimists had a two pronged attack on litter for World Environment Day.  Seventeen members from six Yorkshire clubs, Leeds, Ilkley, Dewsbury, Selby, Scarborough, Malton & District and Wakefield met in Scarborough for the beach clean.  Ana from the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust explained the importance of picking up cigarette ends and small pieces of plastic and polystyrene.  In Sheffield, members of SI Sheffield and SI Hallamshire joined forces to tackle the litter at Forge Dam.

All across the region Yorkshire Soroptimists were involved in a number of activities, here are just a few.  Bingley at their Community Kitchen.  Dewsbury, Garforth Elmet and Wakefield plus other community groups rallied together  through Dewsbury.   Harrogate held a 'Young Woman & Woman in the Community' awards.  Keighley held a careers event.  Richmond held a 'Women of Richmond' event.  Scarborough & Malton gave a number of talks on the History of Soroptimism.  Sheffield impersonated Emily Pankhurst on the Town Hall steps.

March has been a busy month! It was very appropriate that my first Charter Event should be my own Club’s 90th Celebration. At the Inaugural Dinner in 1934 members from Bradford, Halifax, Harrogate, Leeds and Sheffield had been present. It was fitting that these Clubs were in attendance again at the recent celebrations in addition to several other clubs from around the Region. SIGBI President Ruth Healey was also able to be there.   On the evening of International Women’s Day, I had the privilege of attending Harrogate and District’s Young Woman and Woman in the Community Awards. The nominees were truly inspirational. Presentations from Ruth Healey and Ruth Smith   (High Sheriff in Nomination North Yorkshire) were followed by a stirring performance from the Stray Notes Choir. During the daytime I had joined SI Dewsbury and District walking from Dewsbury Railway station to the Town

  The UNiTE campaign has proclaimed the 25th of each month as “Orange Day”, a day to raise awareness and take action to end violence against women and girls. As a bright and optimistic colour, orange represents a future free from violence against women and girls. Orange Day calls upon activists, to mobilize people and highlight issues relevant to preventing and ending violence against women and girls, not only once a year on 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, but every month.  We asked members to wear Orange when they are out and about on the 25th.   And they did!   Have you seen them in a cafe near you? To find out more click on the link here.   

Thank you for taking the time to view our website. As you are looking, I am sure that you are interested in making a difference. Soroptimist International is a Worldwide Women’s Service Organisation with 66,000 global members who aim to improve the lives of women and girls through giving service locally, nationally and internationally to educate, enable and empower. Soroptimist means “the best of sisters” and to be a Yorkshire Soroptimist also means to be part of an amazing group of passionate, motivated and proactive women who have an important identity. We also have a lot of fun. In July 2023 over 40 members travelled together by coach to the International Convention in Dublin where 1500 Soroptimists gathered from all over the world to be inspired by the presentations and talks and to chat with like minded people from some of the 120 countries with

SIGBI Director of Programme Action and Yorkshire Soroptimist Lindsay Green chats to Terry King, President of SI Leeds about her travels earlier in the year. Lindsay visited clubs in Asia and traveled on to the UN in New York. Of course you knew what CSW stood for – not all your communications group colleagues did! To find out more  click here