Dedicated group works to change lives of women and girls for the better all over Milton Keynes

Soroptimist International: Milton Keynes is planning a year of projects and action to educate, empower and enable opportunities for local women and girls,

The group is part of Soroptimist International (SI), a worldwide volunteer service organisation for women who work for peace, and in particular to improve the lives of women and girls all over the world.

It has nearly 80,000 members in 124 countries and 2021 marks its Centenary year.

A pledge to break the cycle of abuse, poverty and neglect for women and girls in Milton Keynes is one mission for the Milton Keynes group.

It has linked with four local front-line charities The British Red Cross, Works for Us, MK ACT and YMCA, to empower women across Milton Keynes through support, training and resources.

One of its missions will be to work with MK ACT’s domestic violence intervention service on a training programme aimed at empowering teenage girls to escape the trap of relationship abuse.

The group plans to make 2021 the year of kind and caring acts.

"We want to spread kindness far and wide. We are asking families and friends to make a #Pledge2021 of kindness," said a spokesman.

As well as its ongoing charity events and fundraisers, the group is planning to host a regional conference, an arts and crafts event, music event, virtual balloon race, and friendship lunches. Members plan to plant trees of hope for the future.

It will also highlight 'invisible' women heroes of inspirational work in the city. Each month the group will be posting a bio of an MK Woman and how she has quietly made a difference to the community.

The name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin soror meaning sister, and optima meaning best.

A spokesman said: "Soroptimist is perhaps best interpreted as ‘the best for women’. From the founding of the first Soroptimist club in Oakland, California, in 1921, 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."

Branch meetings are currently held on Tuesdays at 6pm, via Zoom.

To learn more about the group visit https://sigbi.org/milton-keynes/ or twitter.com/SIMiltonKeynes.