Swindon Soroptimists, inspired by our contribution to the Prison Reform Trust 2015 report “Transforming Lives: Reducing women’s imprisonment”, wanted to help local women who were vulnerable or at risk of offending, as one of our Soroptimist aims is ‘Transforming the Lives of Women and Girls’!
Delighted to discover the local The Nelson Trust Swindon Women’s Centre, after visiting the Gloucester centre, we started in 2015 by providing Christmas gift boxes and have made a tradition of giving 25 Christmas gifts every year to date! Discussions with staff made us realise our small club could best help the centre with clothes and food donations particularly, as well as home items and toiletries so have done this regularly every year since; including in lockdown.
Talking to friends, family and business contacts has widened the net for donations as well as advertising the great work the centre does. We have joined in fun events such as annually donating 25 Easter eggs, helping at International Women’s Day Afternoon Tea parties, Christmas lunches and provided hard graft in clearing out various store rooms!
We have also done fundraising events ranging from French Fashion evenings to Festive Chocolate Challenges and crafts events, with one event resulting in the new garden benches now in the courtyard at the centre.
We are heartened every time we visit by the dedication of the staff and the difference our small efforts can make!
FB – Swindon Soroptimists
