Chester's Soroptimist Group have enjoyed an  ‘amazing’ impact in their first year.

They now have a core group of members who come from  a wide variety of backgrounds, ranging from women in  their 20s & 30s to the newly retired.

The group of dynamic volunteers who try to improve the  lives of women and girls by helping to enable, empower and  educate them, is certainly expanding.

The members have been busy informing themselves on a  range of local issues; enjoying speakers on Women’s  Services and the Educational Welfare System, as well as a  visit to Save the Family at Cotton Hall Farm.

Anne McDonald, Chairman of the Chester branch said:

“These have enabled us to support some of these services,  providing everything from toiletries to televisions for  women in the Refuge and also lobbying the council and our  MP about the pending closure of the local refuges. 

“We are delighted to report that our lobbying has contributed to the Chester Refuge being able to remain open for  another year.

“At Christmas time we also provided a Hamper and gifts  for vulnerable families supported by the Educational  Welfare Service.

“We have also lobbied our MP on relationship education  in schools; one of the biggest growth areas of domestic  abuse is amongst teenagers.

We have had a speaker on one of our own projects, The  BIG (Birthing in the Gambia) Project,” she added.

“This is a Soroptimist Project in which the organisation  is partnered with the charity MCAI (Maternal and Childhealth Advocacy International), and in July we supported  their Day of Action by having a sale of ‘vintage and  pre-loved’ handbags.

“We are delighted to report that this, our first public  venture, raised over £1,000! 

“We continue to support women in The Gambia and  collect unwanted and broken jewellery to raise funds for  them.”

Anne also explained their involvement with Mary’s  Meals, a charity who provide a simple meal each day to  enable a child to go to school and get an education.

“Mary’s Meals operate globally in 16 countries,” she  explained.

“We put together a collection of backpacks for our  speaker to take away with him, containing a child’s set of  simple clothes and basic school requirements – pencils,  erasers, notebooks etc.

“And In October we marked Anti-Slavery Day by holding  a Chester Literary Festival Fringe Event. 

“We heard from a Soroptimist member about the Purple  Teardrop Campaign – developed by soroptimists to raise  awareness of, and bring an end to, human trafficking and  all forms of violence against women and girls.

“Members and visitors signed the petition to ban advertisements which act as a front for exploitation.

“As you can see we have had an action packed year and  are now preparing our programme for the next one! 

“Our achievements are as diverse as our membership  and what brings us together is our belief in the aims of the  organisation -  to make a difference to the lives of other  women and girls by helping to educate, enable and empower them.”

Chester Soroptimists meet regularly on the second  Monday of each month at 7.30pm at The College of Law,  Pepper Street, Christleton.

They are keen to welcome new members who share our  passion whether on local or international projects.

For more information visit www.sigbi.org, email Soroptimistsinchester@gmail.com or find them on Facebook  at Soroptimist Chester.