Programme Action

 
Programme Action is the reason for the existence of Soroptimism. It is the main focus and central idea on which all of our clubs actually function. It is the opportunity to provide service and fund raising which enables us to support various projects not only locally but nationally and internationally. Our new programme focus encompasses the education of women and girls. It is known as” Educate to lead”. We feel strongly that time and money invested in educating women and girls, will help to reduce poverty and exclusion along with health issues. Each year the president chooses which charities she wants to support locally, nationally and internationally.
 
Over the years we have given financial support to Clatterbridge breast care unit and Breakthrough breast cancer, were we raised over £39,000.00 for breast cancer research? Along with this we were able to buy two televisions which are in situ in Elm House Claterbridge breast care unit.  Stick & Step was another beneficiary along with the Sea scouts, McMillan nurses, Leukaemia research, Alzheimer’s centre in Birkenhead, Women’s refuge and The Zero centre (which deals with domestic violence) We celebrated our 75th year of service by planting 75 trees in Arrowe Park and Financial help has been given to Child Flight, Sundowners, Sure Start, Cavendish Centre and Book Aid. This is just a flavour of what we have given over the years and a full listing can be provided on request.
In Birkenhead we are a very busy club having lots of programme projects going on at any one time. We are committed to providing a pamper day twice yearly for young carers on Wirral. This helps to raise their esteem and provide them with time out.
We also provide resource boxes for Response which deals with homeless young people; each box contains toiletries, personnel items along with clothing and towels. We replenish these boxes twice a year and the club also provides resources for the Sure Start neo natal project. This box has the addition of new born baby clothes and is also provided twice a year. The club supports the homeless at Charles Thompson’s mission in Birkenhead and this could be by means of hampers of foodstuff or funding.
 
We have strong international connections with our friendship link SI Port Elisabeth in South Africa. Over many years we have raised funding for the HIV children’s hospice, the Street Children project, Khyaya Cheshire a project for severely disabled children in partnership with Cheshire homes. We actively support “Betchakoomb” which is a project for all women who are homeless, trafficked or ex prisoners; this is helping to raise esteem and educating/training them to give them job opportunities through horticulture. At present we are raising funds to provide breakfasts for HIV orphan girls in St James School. We are also providing financial support for one of the gifted girls which will enable her to go to realise her potential. We have also shipped ten sewing machines over to Port Elisabeth and they were used to enable women, who were victims of domestic violence to gain training and underpinning knowledge to provide a living for themselves.