This International Women’s Day (IWD), we’re excited to spotlight leading women’s charity Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) and its inspiring grassroots model which fuels sustained, community‑led impact all year round. At the same time, members – called Soroptimists – also unite around key global moments, such as IWD, to transform the lives of women and girls.
The Power of Grassroots Clubs
Grassroots movements have long been recognised as one of the most powerful drivers of meaningful and lasting social progress. Real change often begins within communities themselves through strong local voices, local leadership, and local action. When people come together to address the challenges they see around them, they create solutions that are responsive, sustainable, and deeply rooted in lived experience. This is the foundation on which SIGBI has built its legacy.
SIGBI’s mission is clear and compelling and that is to transform the lives and status of women and girls through education, empowerment, and enabling opportunities. This mission is carried forward by members who work collectively to ensure that women and girls can achieve their individual and collective potential and have an equal voice in shaping strong, peaceful communities.
Across Great Britain, Ireland, the Caribbean, Malta, and countries in Asia, SIGBI’s thousands of members participate through more than 250 local clubs operating in diverse cultural, economic, and social environments. Each club responds directly to the needs of its community while contributing to a global movement for gender equality.
SIGBI’s work spans many areas but, for example, members of the charity’s Rhyl club in Wales work with their local Women’s Centre to support women in their community who live in hostels, one room accommodation or generally do not have access to cooking facilities.
Soroptimists go into the Women’s Centre every two weeks where they batch cook food. This is then frozen before the women who use the centre can collect it, to allow them to more easily reheat it in their living areas. Emphasis is placed on freshly cooked nourishing food without artificial ingredients.
Without SIGBI’s support, many of these women would struggle to access meals that contribute not only to their health but also to their sense of dignity and stability. The project demonstrates how simple, consistent acts of care make a meaningful difference and how grassroots compassion remains at the heart of SIGBI’s work.
International Women’s Day 2026
With consultancy status at the UN, SIGBI’s grassroots community-led impact leads directly into higher level advocacy work, including international days like IWD, which the charity champions annually. This year the theme is ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls.’
Persistent inequalities continue to shape the lives of women and girls locally and globally, from unequal access to education and economic opportunity to ongoing discrimination and gender‑based violence. These are issues that demand visible, collective activism to influence public awareness and policy change.
In response, SIGBI’s grassroots network mobilises around IWD through club‑led events that amplify women’s voices and highlight ongoing gender disparities. Many clubs host local IWD events, gatherings, and awareness activities as part of their annual programme.
In London, SIGBI’s club in Chilterns will be marking IWD on March 14 at the Lancaster Hall Hotel (10am-3.30pm) – and all are welcome. Keynote speakers include Soroptimists Barbara Jeremiah – past President of the London Chilterns Region, and Kay Linnell – who was Treasurer for many years. They will talk about: ‘A Hobby That Got Out of Hand: our part in getting justice for the Sub Postmasters in the scandal of the Post Office fraud.’
In the afternoon, attendees will hear from Lidia Put who will talk about ‘Resilient by Choice: Ukrainian Women and the Power of Hope’. She will speak about women and children remaining in Ukraine and the difficulties they suffer.
Similarly, in Glasgow, on March 6, Soroptimists from across Scotland will head to Glasgow City Chambers for their IWD event. Attendees will listen to inspiring speakers including:
- The Lord Provost Jacqueline McLaren.
- Shirley Anne Somerville MSP, the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice.
- Demet Kayaoglu, Turkish consulate.
- Monica Lennon MSP.
- Nicola Sturgeon MSP.
- Pam Gosal MSP.
- Soryia Siddique, a Glasgow City Councillor.
Other clubs throughout SIGBI’s geographies will also be hosting their own IWD events. Through these locally driven but equally globally connected efforts, Soroptimists ensure IWD becomes not just a day to mark, but a launchpad for advocacy, community dialogue, and sustained year-round engagement, ensuring women’s voices are loud and that their lived experience is seen.
Year‑Round Gender‑Based Violence Prevention and Support Work
An example of the sustained year-round engagement SIGBI is proud of includes its work to support Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG) – this remains a major global and local challenge.
As part of this, the charity recently welcomed the Government’s VAWG strategy. SIGBI President, Gillie O’Rourke, said:
“While declaring VAWG a national emergency was an important step forward, we have consistently emphasised that meaningful progress depends on moving beyond rhetoric to sustained, practical action – and avoiding the mistakes of the past where ambition was not matched by delivery. Now that the strategy has been published, we are encouraged to see a clear focus on tangible, real-world measures, with a modern approach that reflects the realities women and girls face today.”
“We look forward to seeing how the commitments set out in the strategy – which span early intervention in education to dedicated specialist investigators at a criminal justice level – translate into sustained action, adequate resourcing and meaningful outcomes for women and girls, particularly those most at risk.”
The Government’s strategy, backed by a multi million‑pound investment, seeks to shift attitudes among boys and young men. It is built around three key pillars: early intervention, tackling perpetrators, and increasing financial support for victims.
Soroptimists particularly welcome the emphasis on early intervention and school-based education. The proposal includes lessons on coercive behaviour, peer pressure, pornography awareness, healthy relationships, and stalking, designed to enhance the current Relationships, Sex, and Health Education curriculum.
Gillie said:
“This is an issue which resonates across all our membership – Soroptimists have been working hard to educate boys and young men in appropriate behaviours over the past few years. As Safeguarding Minister Jess Phillips MP has said, ‘what matters is action,’ and that’s why we champion initiatives that encourage noticeable change.”
One example of this work involved regional Soroptimist President and former Detective Superintendent Jennifer McLelland QPM who partnered with Lichfield Football Academy.
Together with the Academy’s management team, Jennifer and local Soroptimists have delivered sessions to boys covering the impacts of unhealthy relationships, the consequences of domestic abuse, the legal definition of consent, online safety, and the risks associated with sexting and online pornography, among other topics. Around 60 boys take part in this programme each year, and Soroptimists report that it is already influencing positive changes in behaviour.
The initiative has inspired Soroptimists in other regions to deliver similar programmes. It will also be a major focus at an upcoming Joint Regional Conference in May, where men’s groups will contribute to discussions on the importance of early intervention.
Together, these initiatives show how SIGBI’s grassroots activism turns awareness into action – engaging communities, educating young people, and driving cultural change. By combining year‑round commitment with focused efforts around IWD, Soroptimists continue to build momentum toward a safer, more equal future for women and girls.
An Enduring Legacy of Grassroots Change
SIGBI’s strength lies in local women taking local action but with global purpose. Grassroots activism, whether tied to IWD or embedded in year-round programmes, like with VAWG, creates meaningful and measurable change in local communities.
Ultimately, grassroots movements, particularly those which are women-led, will continue to shape a more equitable and sustainable future, driving change from the ground up. This will empower communities and inspire the next generation to build a world where not just every woman, but every person can thrive.
Want to become a Soroptimist and spark change in your community, find out more here: https://sigbi.org/
