TAUNTON members of an organisation which pushes for equal rights for women are celebrating its 80th anniversary.

This year marks the 80 years since the formation of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), of which SI Taunton is a member.

The group says that eight decades later, today's members share the same goals as their forebears - working to achieve equal rights through the education, empowerment and enabling of women. Sally Williams, joint president of SI Taunton, added: “As well as contributing to international projects such as the Solar Lights appeal, and supporting a young school girl in Ghana, local members are active in the community, individually and as a club.

“Our most recent project is a science, technology, engineering and maths initiative for year nine school girls called Skirting Science.

“The first event was held in spring at Taunton School when 220 girls from schools in the Taunton and Bridgwater area spent the day taking part in interactive science workshops.”

SI Taunton is well-known for its swimathon which the club organises every February – it has now been running 26 years.

The clubs was joined at its September meeting by Taunton Deane Mayoress Renee Durdan, when the guest speakers were Justin Sargent and Mary Hancock, of Somerset Community Foundation.

They told how people had generously donated to the Somerset Flood Relief Fund run by the foundation to help stricken communities in the county earlier this year. SI Taunton donated £500 to the fund.

• The 2015 swimathon is on February 21 and 22 at Taunton School when the charities benefitting will be St Margaret's Hospice, Benchmark, Ups and Downs South West and School in a Bag.

Swimathon entry forms will be available soon from taunton.swimathon@outlook.com - email to register your interest or call 01823-423187.

• To join the Soroptimists, email sitaunton@outlook.com.

 

SOROPTOMIST FACTS

• Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI), of which SI Taunton is a member, was founded 80 years ago.

• The organisation has 80,000 members worldwide.

• SI says it is the largest and most influential women's voluntary organisation in the world. • SI has consultative status with the United Nations and ensures women's views are taken into account.

• The Taunton branch has raised £650,000 for charities through its annual swimathon.