Soroptimist International of Dewsbury and District

Soroptimist International of Dewsbury and District Dewsbury Soroptimists make a difference to the lives of women & girls. Join us now! DM for info. We achieve this through awareness, fundraising and service.

During the First World War, because of a shortage of men, women began to do jobs that were normally associated with men, and in the post war year’s women found it easier to get jobs in business and the professions. Around the same time in the UK, Venture women’s clubs were being formed. An American, called Stuart Morrow, a professional organiser of men’s clubs, called on a secretarial school in Oa

kland, California and found its head to be a woman. Following on from this and realising women were becoming leaders in their professions, he installed the first Soroptimist club on on 3rd October 1921 in California. The name Soroptimist comes from the Latin soror meaning sister and optimum meaning best, hence ‘the best of women”. Soroptimism spread quickly and came to the UK in 1924 and in 1930 the 11 Venture clubs merged with the Soroptimist clubs. From the founding of the first Soroptimist club, through to the present day where over 3000 clubs are flourishing throughout the world, Soroptimists have continued to strive to achieve ‘the best for women’ in every sphere of their lives
The first official meeting of SI Dewsbury took place on Thursday 9th April 1942 at the Templefield Senior Girls School. Then, the club, along with all the other Soroptimists clubs, was quite an exclusive one, only ladies from the most well to do in society were invited to join and it had a strict ‘hats and gloves’ policy. Over 80 years on, the hats and gloves are no more, as is the formal invitations and the restriction to only professional women. SI Dewsbury & District is an active, fun loving organisation helping to improve the lives of women and girls. We currently meet every 2nd & 4th Thursday at the Oakwell Centre, Dewsbury & District Hospital from 7.30pm for business and speaker meetings. At the latter we have varied speakers to keep our members informed of issues relating to women in local, national and global communities. We hold many varied fund raising events, from musical evenings to quizzes to fun runs, fashion shows and themed evenings. Over the years, through fun and friendship, we have supported numerous local and international charities. We look after a small part of a walled garden in Crow Nest Park
We support a young girl in her education in Thika, Kenya. We help to organise a Macmillan Coffee Morning and a Christmas party at Tentercroft Court, Dewsbury
We have painted Dewsbury & Ossett Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign. We lay a wreath on Remembrance Day in Mirfield. Organise our annual Carol service at local Churches
For more info www.sigbi.org/dewsbury Find us on Fb and Twitter

Ossett Gala on SIGBI day of Action raising money for Kirkwood Hospital. We also gave out information about our organisa...
16/07/2025

Ossett Gala on SIGBI day of Action raising money for Kirkwood Hospital. We also gave out information about our organisation, safe relationship bookmarks and cervical cancer screen information

Dewsbury Soroptimists at Ossett Gala to raise awareness of SIGBI Day of Action, raising money for Kirkwood Hospice. We ...
16/07/2025

Dewsbury Soroptimists at Ossett Gala to raise awareness of SIGBI Day of Action, raising money for Kirkwood Hospice. We also gave out information about our organisation, bookmarks to help form safe relationships and cards to raise awareness of cervical cancer screening

Litter picking in Ossett Town Centre with members of Trinity Belles WI Ossett
02/06/2025

Litter picking in Ossett Town Centre with members of Trinity Belles WI Ossett

Members Elaine and Julie at the Kirklees Mayoral fundraising event at Huddersfield Town Hall
26/04/2025

Members Elaine and Julie at the Kirklees Mayoral fundraising event at Huddersfield Town Hall

Collections and delivery of tea, coffee, long life milk, soup, pot noodles and warm clothes for Dewsbury Cares Community...
16/03/2025

Collections and delivery of tea, coffee, long life milk, soup, pot noodles and warm clothes for Dewsbury Cares Community.

Soroptimists from around our region attended the International Women's Day event at the National Coal Mining Museum. Gue...
12/03/2025

Soroptimists from around our region attended the International Women's Day event at the National Coal Mining Museum. Guest speakers included the Leader of Wakefield Council, the CEO of the Coal Mining Museum and an inspirational Girl Guide Ambassador.

Razan Alsous came to Yorkshire with her husband and three young children after the war in Syria in 2012. They had lost ...
03/03/2025

Razan Alsous came to Yorkshire with her husband and three young children after the war in Syria in 2012. They had lost everything. Initially she began searching for a job but despite having a pharmacy degree and a scientific background her lack of references and work history in the UK made it extremely difficult. As she couldn’t find a great tasting quality squeaky cheese in our supermarkets or farm shops, she decided to create her own business and founded Yorkshire Dama Cheese, starting production in 2014. Nowadays the Syrian cheese (a squeaky semi -hard cheese) that she ate for breakfast in Syria is very popular in the UK!SI
SI Dewsbury & District were invited to see Razan at SI Wakefield on Thursday 27 February 2025

24/01/2025
31/12/2024

DUE TO THE INCLEMENT WEATHER, WE HAVE DECIDED TO ERR ON THE SIDE OF CAUTION AND CANCEL TOMORROW.

Looking forward to meeting up next Monday
Happy New Year

With Stamp Out Spiking – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉
24/12/2024

With Stamp Out Spiking – I just made it onto their weekly engagement list by being one of their top engagers! 🎉

24/12/2024

🎄 This Festive Season, Let’s Keep Each Other Safe 🎉

Make sure a fun night out doesn’t turn into a nightmare:
✅ Watch your drink being prepared.
✅ Keep your drink in sight at all times.
✅ Don’t accept drinks from strangers—no matter how charming or friendly they seem.

🚨 If you see someone spiking a drink, call it out—it’s your shout!

For more information, visit stampoutspiking.org.

Address

Dewsbury

Website

http://sigbi.org/Yorkshire

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