Organisations Directory

Soroptimist International of Poole is part of the global Soroptimist International organisation. A women's organisation - members are in management, the professions and business - its goal is to make the world a better place for women and children. Each club achieves this goal through awareness, advocacy and action projects within 6 different project areas that include education, the environment and human rights.

PURPLE TEARDROP CAMPAIGN
Poole Soroptimists began the Purple Teardrop Campaign against human trafficking. The purposes of the campaign are to raise public awareness to the facts and signs of human trafficking in order to keep Poole and Dorset a safer place.   They also fund-raise for organisations that provide safe accommodation for trafficked victims who are rescued.

If you suspect trafficking activity, just call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111 - any information you provide is totally confidential.

Funds are raised through the sale of our Purple Teardrop pinbadges as well as specific events e.g Poole Lions Annual Swimarathon. If you can help by selling pinbadges through outlets such as sports and other clubs, your workplace or shops/restaurants, please get in touch with us at enquiries@purpleteardrop.org.uk

POOLE SOROPTIMISTS IN THE COMMUNITY
SI Poole is represented at Civic events e.g. Remembrance Sunday Service and on local charities such as Friends of Dolphin, the Mayor of Poole's Christmas Parcels Fund and Save the Children. We support other various local and national UK charities through our fund-raising, and Poole Refuge through donations of toiletries, household items, toys and books.

Larger fund raising events include the musical extravaganza 'Entertainment Through the Ages' in September 2009 which raised £1500, a fashion evening 'Ex£hange & Smart' raising £1000 whilst our February 2010 'Silent Auction' at Hamworthy Engineering Social Club raised nearly £580.

Members of Soroptimist International Poole regularly take part in Dorset Wildlife Trust's Beach Cleans at Worbarrow or Kimmeridge Bays.

OUR GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE
Being part of a world-wide organisation, our work has a global as well as local perspective. All Soroptimists are raising awareness and funds for our international Project SIerra which, in partnership with Hope and Homes for Children, supports women, children and families in Sierra Leone.

Our International President's Appeal this year is for educating young women in Moldova about the deceptive tactics used by traffickers to lure them into forced prostitution or forced labour.

At a local level Poole Soroptimists are working towards lobbying on issues of both local and national interest, the club 'Grants for Girls' available only to women aged 17-25 years residing in the Borough of Poole, ensuring provision of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) within Dorset, raising awareness of the working conditions of 'sweatshops.'

MEMBERSHIP
If you're a woman in business, management or the professions and have found this article of interest, take a look at our website http://soroptimist-gbi.co.uk/poole/ where you'll find more information. We'd be very happy to hear from you if you feel you have both time and energy to help make a difference to the lives of others. Just get in touch on enquires@sipoole.org.uk and arrange to come to one of our meetings held on the second Monday of each month at the Salterns Harbourside Hotel, Lilliput, Poole, BH14 8JR