Welcome to the website of Soroptimist International, Sunderland. We are always looking for new members so please contact us for more information. Please also let us know what you think of our website.

Welcome to SI Sunderland

Welcome to our website!

SI Sunderland is a vibrant, growing women’s club with members of all ages and skills. We’re part of an international network of women who get together regularly to give their time and skills to help improve the lives of girls and women around the world.

We get involved with a wide range of activities to support local, national and international projects and charities, plus we organise lots of social activities to meet new friends and enjoy ourselves too!

Please enjoy looking around our website to find out more about what we do. We’re always keen to welcome new members so if you’re interested in fun and friendship, and would like to get involved with like-minded women to ‘give something back’ to your local community, why not join us?

Pat Suckley
Club President 2011-12

What is a Soroptimist?

Often the first question we are asked about Soroptimists is: “but what does it mean?”

The name Soroptimist was coined from the Latin soror meaning 'sister' and optima meaning ‘best’. From the founding of the first Soroptimist club in Oakland, California, in 1921, through to the present day where more than 3,000 clubs are flourishing throughout the world, Soroptimists have continued to strive to achieve ‘the best for women’ in every sphere of their lives.

We come from a wide variety of cultures and circumstances and we are dedicated to the following ideals:

the advancement of the status of women
high ethical standards
equal rights for all
equality, development and peace – through international goodwill, understanding and friendship

We use our expertise, talents and skills to act as a global voice for women by volunteering within our local, national and international communities to advance the status of women and make the world a better place.

:: What we do

:: Become a member

:: Soroptimist International

We volunteer our time and services to support campaigns across the world which help women and girls, such as promoting Fairtrade, campaigning for clean drinking water, stopping domestic violence, abolishing landmines, ending human trafficking and tackling poverty. We do this through a range of projects (called 'Programme Action') in partnership with many different organisations and through our UK Programme Action Committee (UKPAC).

If you care about helping your local community, have a few hours to spare and want to meet women from different walks of life who are all ‘making a difference’, why not join SI Sunderland?

You’ll find friendship, fun and a real sense of achievement and satisfaction as you help us make the world a better place for women and girls.

Soroptimist International is the world’s largest women’s service organisation with more than 100,000 members in 124 countries.

We are part of a network of approximately 270 clubs which form Soroptimist International of Great Britain & Ireland.