Yorkshire

 With 26 clubs, the Yorkshire Region has the largest number of clubs in the UK.  The Region is actively involved in a range of Programme Action activities. For information on individual clubs, see the links at the foot of the page.

For more information on this Region, visit their website.

 

Trafficking

SI Yorkshire walked through the streets of York to the Minster in a protest against the trafficking of women for the sex trade. They wore purple and released purple balloons to demonstrate that their worldwide organisation regards modern day slavery as totally unacceptable.

The Anti-Slavery Committee of SI Yorkshire works with the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre in Sheffield to help women. As part of their campaign, members have targeted perpetrators, organised education pack for schools and produced 'comfort bags' for sex traffick victims.

There is little government funding for the support of women who have been rescued, so the Stop the Trafficking March was intended to raise money for the United Kingdom Human Trafficking Centre Victim Care Fund. A spokeswoman said: "We would like to see an end to the trade in trafficking women into this country for the sex trade.

"As an organisation we are concerned to improve the status and rights of women throughout the world by using our skills and networks to improve educational opportunities, health and human rights."

SI Yorkshire hopes to supply qualified linguists, counsellors, lawyers, medically qualified people and suitably experienced social workers.

It is estimated that 4,000 people are trafficking into the UK each year by criminal gangs who exploit impoverished communities worldwide. They buy and sell women and children as commodities.

The Soroptimists hope MPs will continue to urge the Government to redefine their legal status as victims rather than perpetrators of crime. Soroptimists believe they should be given short-term benefit entitlement.

Lobbying Group

This regional sub-group meets regularly as a discussion group on topical issues. The group prepared responses on behalf of SI Yorkshire, to government consultation initiatives such as the equality and diversity legislative framework. Current discussions centre on the problems of old age, and the need for a Minister for older people. The leader of the group, Sheila Miller, has already been interviewed on BBC Look North in this connection.

Tea Shops to savour

A guide to the region’s teashops has been published by the Yorkshire Region, and is on sale for £2.50 (inc. postage). Copies can be obtained from Sylvia Wilson.

Yorkshire has taken part in the national Soroptimist rail survey of stations in the region, and has been astonished at the poor levels of safety and security at most stations. The result of their survey has received publicity in the Yorkshire Post, a regional daily paper, and in the local press. Negotiations are now continuing with rail companies.

Current Club activities include:

Bradford Schools Drug Prevention Initiative
This is a long-standing project, which promotes a peer-led training programme in Bradford secondary schools. Training is given to students on practical skills to help them talk to younger pupils at their schools on drug issues. Soroptimists are recruited as volunteers trained to evaluate how far the schools have met external standards.

Dewsbury Pink Evenings
SI Dewsbury raised money for breast cancer research, by holding an annual 'pink' evening, when everything possible is pink, including the food and the raffle prizes.

Links with South Africa
Two clubs have continued their links with clubs in South Africa, forged at the Durban conference. Both relate to HIV/Aids projects with children. One club supports a family, to provide for their education and daily needs, in Mafeking. The other club supports a centre for children affected by HIV/aids in Pretoria.

Healthy Eating
SI Leeds is into healthy eating, and encouraging young school children into healthy eating habits. They provide 120 bowls of 5 items of fresh fruit for a local primary school on one day each week. SI Leeds received the Best Practice Award (Education) at the Federation Conference in 2004.

SI Keighley pursues the health theme by talking to groups of older people about minimising the risk of falls. A member of the club who works for the local Primary Care Trust undertakes to train her colleagues.

This is Your Life
Soroptimists have remarkable life histories, and this has been encapsulated by SI Ilkley in a This is Your Life book, which includes short biographies of members, showing how they managed demanding careers. This has contributed to a university study on the way in which women of all ages manage home life, work and voluntary work and how they cope with change.

Children's Home
A local charity which funds community-based care projects in Romania has benefited from the support of SI Bingley, who have collected money for the roof of a children’s home, and goods, from sewing machines and bicycles, to bulk supplies of disabled equipment and clothing from a local Damart factory. They have visited the projects in Romania and are working with one of the Romania Soroptimist Clubs.

Good Practice Award
And finally, SI Keighley have funded an annual award for Good Practice in Programme Action, which will be awarded at the Regional Council AGM. Watch this space!