SI Nantwich and District Projects
Each Soroptimist International club identifies the needs of its community, then establishes specific projects to address these needs. All our projects relate to one or more of the six Programme Focus Areas: Economic and Social Development, Education, Environment, Health, Human Rights and the Status of Women, and International Goodwill and Understanding.
More information is available in the Our Work pages, where you can read more about the current Programme Focus aims and the Quadrennial Project, supported by all clubs in the Federation.
The projects listed below include some of the local and international issues we research and support in SI Nantwich and District:
SET Up Science
SET UP Science is a small charity based in South Cheshire and started in 1995 by Nantwich and District Soroptimist Club. The original idea was put forward by Claire Curtis Thomas and with two other members of Nantwich SI.
Our first programme was arranged for 1996. The aim was to engage children and young people with science, engineering and technology, to present these subjects in fun and exciting ways to engage the youngsters’ imagination and to show them how science influences our everyday living. We hoped to inspire them to consider taking up these subjects in their future careers, and also to encourage girls to follow what were previously male-dominated professions by presenting them with female role models during the programme. We have continued to put on this programme each year since, and 2007 will be our twelfth year. Our committee now consists of five Soroptimists, two Rotarians and one Soroptimister!
Each year we arrange a programme of events in schools and places of scientific interest during National Science Week, which is held in March every year under the auspices of the British Association for the Advancement of Science. The programme is offered to all primary and secondary schools in South Cheshire, and almost all the local schools participate. This year 12 out 14 Secondary Schools and 51 out of 55 Primary Schools took part. Presentations include visits to the Special Care Baby Unit at the local hospital, a whole-day workshop at British Gas in Stockport, a visit to a working flour mill, and visits to Connahs Quay Quarry, together with many sessions held in school. This year 120 different presentations were arranged and 3,700 children between the ages of 4-18 years took part.
The whole programme is entirely free to the participating schools, SET Up raises all the necessary funding, the greatest expense being the cost of providing coaches to the various outside venues. Many presenters leave follow-up work for the teachers to do after the week and some arrange to visit the schools again during the summer term.
In addition to the schools programme we also arrange one evening of scientific entertainment during National Science Week in the theatre of the local college, which seats 250 people. This is aimed at families and children who come with their parents and grandparents to enjoy the performance and to engage in quizzes and competitions. This year we are holding a competition for Junior school children (Key Stage 2). This will be judged by MMU in July.
We hope to continue to provide these events as they are valued highly by the schools as they broaden the experience of the children and students, and stimulate their interest in these important subjects.
Violet Pritchard
(Chair, SET Up Science) Nov 2006
(Updated June 2007)
Where have all the chairs gone?
At the June Regional Meeting held at Llandudno – 6 clubs competed for the next Regional Project. The project presented by Nantwich & District Club was chosen as the winner.
This cost effective and relatively simple project, was received by other regional clubs with enthusiasm.
Called “WHERE HAVE ALL THE CHAIRS GONE?” it aims to draw attention to the lack of seats in shops, offices (which have public access) and outside in town centres.
The guarantee of free seating enables many people of all ages and states of health to leave their homes and to come into the shopping areas and town centres.
Nantwich & District Club will work closely with the Regional Programme Action Committee and hope that this project will expand to other regions in the UK.