Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland
Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland (SIGBI) is part of a leading global women’s voluntary organisation, founded in 1921. SIGBI is a charity registered in England and Wales and it has members in clubs in 21 countries including the British Isles, Asia, the Caribbean and Malta.
Our garden here at the National Memorial Arboretum was dedicated in 2000 and is part of our commitment to the United Nations and to the creation and maintenance of peaceful communities worldwide. It is also a place where we honour the memory of members who are no longer with us. Our Soroptimist International emblem includes oak and laurel leaves, which depicts oak leaves and acorns to represent the strength of our organization and the leaves of the laurel typify victory and achievement.
Our charitable objectives are: the advancement of education, the advancement of health and saving lives, the relief and/or prevention of poverty, the advancement of good citizenship and community development, the advancement of equality and diversity, the advancement of human rights throughout the world for the benefit of the public and in particular for the benefit of women and girls to advance their status, position and role in society where currently unequal or disadvantaged.
Soroptimists inspire action and create opportunities to transform the lives of women and girls locally, nationally and internationally through a global network of members and international partnerships who together work on education, empowerment and enabling initiatives that make a positive difference to the lives of more than half a million women and girls in the world every year. We are committed to a world where women and girls together achieve their individual and collective potential, realise aspirations and have an equal voice in creating strong and peaceful communities worldwide.
Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland is an organisation with Special Consultative status with the UN Economic and Social Council since July 2013, which is in addition to the General Consultative status held by the umbrella organisation Soroptimist International. Soroptimist International is a recognised Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) representing women from all over the world.
If you would like to find out more, please visit our website at sigbi.org
Thinking of becoming a Soroptimist? See the short video below.
This video below shows the installation of the memorial at the National Memorial Arboretum in 2021.
