MOTHERS UNION & SOROPTIMISTS WALK FOR INTERNATIONAL WOMENS DAY  Brayton Mothers’ Union and Selby Soroptimists walked together to mark International Womens Day on Wednesday 8 March. They were joined by other women, some men and two dogs !  The walks were circular from and back to St Wilfrid’s Church, with a shorter and longer version. Refreshments followed in the Parish Hall. Before the walk, a photograph was taken of everybody hugging themselves to #EmbraceEquity. SI Scarborough, Malton and District stewarded in Inspiring Women event at the Scarborough Stephen Joseph Theatre and provided a workshop SIGBI Programme Action Director and SI Selby member Lindsay celebrated at the UN in New York and told us: The celebration at the UN today for IWD was amazing, music, dance and superb speakers. We all came away uplifted and energised. We were told to #actintime   SI Keighley (above) publicised

Thank you for taking time to look at the website of SI Yorkshire. I hope that you find it informative and inspiring. As you will probably know already, we have 19 clubs across the region, a membership just short of 400 and two Associate Members. Our purpose as a service organisation is to improve the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally. Soroptimist translates as ‘the best of sisters.’ We support those who are vulnerable, and we support each other in times of need. Become a Soroptimist and you will never be without a friend or a reason to have fun or eat and drink well. Be heard and be listened to. We can guarantee you never ending opportunities to feel the warm glow that comes from knowing that you have made a difference at the very time a difference was needed by

March Newsletter from President Jane. Having successfully submitted a design for a poster for the Convention (thanks to the technical help and skills of Linda Gerraghty) I have experienced a quiet yet informative February. Membership Standing Committee Zooms continue. Part of the ongoing work has been to look at different website areas within SIGBI. Our Yorkshire one compared favourably against the ones I was given to consider. A huge THANK YOU to Sue Butler for all the work she is doing on our behalf. Please ensure that you send her any information and photographs that would reflect the work taking place across the region. On the 13th I attended the Zoom organised by SI Scarborough and listened to the articulate views of Divya Alya. The journalist spoke about violence against woman and girls in India and painted a knowledgeable and frank picture of life in

Online safety bookmarks It was agreed in 2021 that bookmarks were needed for 10 to 14 year old, and that young people should be involved in their design. An invitation was put out to all clubs who had involvement with local schools, to work with a group of students on developing a bookmark. A member of SI Dewsbury & District, who is a teacher at Heckmondwike Grammar School, took this up with her students, and following training on online safety, they were asked to design a bookmark as a house competition. The entries were assessed at the school, and the four winning hand-drawn designs were forwarded to SIYAMS. After much discussion, two were chosen. These were then taken to a printer, and we subsequently had 2,500 of each printed.  They were officially launched at the school, where all four students were awarded a certificate, and

This video was launched and much enjoyed at President Jane’s first RCM last November. You can watch it by clicking here. While you are watching you can copy the Youtube link so that you can add the video to your own club website. Now SI Yorkshire has a Youtube channel we’d be delighted to share your videos too. Contact communicationssiyorkshire@gmail.com to share your work across the region.

            Below is a photograph of part of my kitchen window sill which includes the tiny delicate crocus I was given at the Harrogate Lunch. Thank you for this sign of spring to come. At the beginning of January I attended a talk arranged by SI Keighley looking at the initiatives taking place throughout Bradford and designed to reduce the health inequalities, improve health and well being and create a secure and sustainable food supply chain that strengthens the local economy. Some of the statistics given were shocking. I want to share only one message with you, however.  That was, that if a person wants to be fitter/healthier. The one thing they can do is not to sit for more than 20 minutes at any one time. Get up. Move about or stand instead of sitting. Your body will be

  December was delightful. We were still turning the region orange and becoming ever more creative in doing so. I am thinking of SI Keighley with their large television screen showing the slide show of information in the shop window of the town. There are other examples too many to mention. THANK YOU to all those involved in lighting up, dressing up, leaflet distributing, hanging up and speaking out. On Sunday the 4th December I found myself singing at the Carol Service organised by SI Dewsbury. My husband Chris and I thoroughly enjoyed galloping through the carols to the sound of the brass band. On Monday the 5th December I was singing at a more gentle pace in the castle with SI Skipton. Thursday 8th December brought me the honour of sharing the 90th birthday celebration of Elizabeth Hughes. We were entertained by a group

RCM held at Rogerthorpe Manor on Saturday 26th November As people arrived in the Conference room at Rogerthorpe Manor on Saturday morning, the room took on the appearance of a sea of orange; dresses, jumpers, scarves, cardigans and badges, all in recognition that it was the second day of the 16 Days of Activism campaign of the Elimination of Violence Against Women.  President Jane said that she felt that it was a wonderful time to be Regional President as there were new initiatives to look forward to. She hoped that we would leave today’s meeting with enthusiasm and a sense of pride in our achievements.  A member of Soroptimist International Wakefield & District gave an outline of the programme Action projects and events in their club over the last year. These included no less than 9 worthy causes spanning all ages and including the planting

To read all the conference blogs click here    

  President Jane’s year November 26th 2022    RCM and Yorkshire Lunch at Rogerthorpe Manor March 8th 2023              International Womens Day Event March 18th 2023            RCM at the Holiday Inn Barnsley May 14th 2023                New/Incoming Presidents Lunch May 17th                           Trip to Newby Hall, North Yorkshire June 17th 2023               RCM at Askham Grange Prison September 23rd 2023   RCM at the Bridge Inn Walshford   President Elect Susie’s year November 25th 2023    RCM and Yorkshire Lunch February 25th 2024      Sunday Visit to Rhubarb Sheds at Westwoods Farm followed by meal at Bella Roma Wakefield March 9th2024              RCM May 12th