Soroptimist Stafford

A summer's day, a member's hospitality, sisterhood, friendship, families, priceless! Thanks to Judith for hosting our summer garden party, an opportunity to come together, to chat, to rest, to enjoy the company and enjoy being in the moment.

We will be there to support our partner and the individuals they support.

🕯️ CANDLELIT VIGIL | WEDNESDAY 25 NOVEMBER 2026 🕯️

On Wednesday 25 November, join us in Market Square, Stafford for a candlelit vigil marking The International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women and Girls.

We will read aloud the names of women killed by male violence in the UK over the past year, followed by a minute’s silence to remember and honour them.

Behind every statistic is a woman who was loved, valued and mattered.

📍 Market Square, Stafford, ST16 2BD
📅 25 November 2026
⏰ 4.30pm

Please bring a candle if you are able and join us as we stand together to say no more to violence against women and girls. 💜

Looking good! Our Penkridge Fashion Show and pop-up Shop in support of Penkridge Girlguiding is on Friday 13th November. At £10 per ticket for a fabulous evening of entertainment and refreshments, why not join us? We're supporting the development of young women and girls in our community. Tickets available in advance via the email or phone number on the poster. See you there.

Know your stuff. If it doesn't feel like you then seek professional advice from your GP. https://www.facebook.com/share/1BmozTKfxt/

September is Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month 💗

There are five gynaecological cancers to know:
🌸 Ovarian
🌸 Cervical
🌸 Vaginal
🌸 Vulval
🌸 Womb

Know the five. Know your normal.

If something doesn’t feel right, don’t ignore it. Get to know what is normal for your body, and speak to your GP if you notice a change that is unusual for you.

Learn the signs and symptoms via the link in our bio.

Vital services, which provide support and protection at the most important times. Shape the services you require and those that can help others. Survey closes at 5p.m. on Bank Holiday Monday. https://www.facebook.com/share/1DQfmvaupC/

Last chance to have your say. Help shape domestic abuse services across Stoke-on-Trent and Staffordshire.

If you have accessed support from a domestic abuse service, your experiences and views matter.

A new anonymous survey is now open, giving service users the opportunity to share their feedback. The information gathered will help shape future domestic abuse services in Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent and inform a new Representation and Involvement Delivery Plan.

📝 Complete the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/TJXFFW6

📅 The survey closes at 5:00pm on Monday 31 August 2026.

By sharing your experiences, you can help improve support for others affected by domestic abuse in the future.

Please share this post with anyone who may wish to take part. Staffordshire County Council Stoke-on-Trent City Council

Whatever you do, do this.
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Today the NHS and Department of Health and Social Care - DHSC have announced they will be rolling out HPV self-testing kits in England to those who have not attended their cervical screening when previously invited.

We know that this will be welcome news for many who find attending cervical screening difficult due to a range of barriers.

The self-test checks for high-risk HPV. High-risk HPV may cause cervical cell changes. These cells aren’t cancer but could lead to cervical cancer in the future if they are not monitored or treated. If your test results show you have high-risk HPV, you will be invited to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment at your GP surgery so your cervical cells can be checked for signs of cell changes.

Cervical cancer is almost entirely preventable through HPV vaccination, cervical screening and timely treatment. In the UK we already have a very successful cervical screening programme that saves over 5,000 lives each year. NHS England has committed to the delivery of cervical cancer elimination by 2040. Having more options and reaching those who currently face barriers to screening are important steps towards achieving that goal.

We have more information about the roll out, and have answered some of your frequently asked questions, on our website: https://eveappeal.org.uk/news/nhs-england-rolls-out-hpv-self-testing-kits/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18W9Vk13yV/

Millions of women in England are to be offered HPV self-testing kits as the new service rolls out from today.

The kits will be offered to those who haven’t attended cervical screening following previous invitations, providing a discreet and convenient way to test for high-risk HPV at home.

➡️ https://www.england.nhs.uk/2026/08/nhs-rolls-out-discreet-home-testing-kits-against-cervical-cancer-for-millions-of-women/

Orange the World. On the 25th of each month Soroptimists renew their resolve to stop men's violence against women. It's not every man, we know, but which ones? We need to work together, to challenge misogyny and toxic masculinity, so that no one feels endangered and no one is harmed, just because they're female. Violence against women and girls is a men's issue too, for their grandmothers, mothers, sisters, daughters, partners, friends, they're all at risk and we all have a role in prevention. Everyone should feel safe to carry on their lives without risk, fear and harm. We need to move from fear to freedom, that's why the 25th of each month is so important.

Prevention is as important as a cure. Know your body, know how to treat it best. https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1L8SvDv5zk/

Things we didn’t learn about in school: dos and don’ts of how to clean your v***a and va**na.

It’s never too late to learn about our bodies, and how we can look after our health.

Top things to remember:
1. Vulvas are supposed to smell like guess what, v***as.
2. The va**na is self-cleaning.

For more information about looking after your gynae health, go to: eveappeal.org.uk/looking-after-your-gynae-health

It is so important that we get to know our own normal and if it's not our own normal you're experiencing we know how to represent that fact clearly and unambiguously. Every day is a school day, so here's today's lesson. Listen to your body. Speak up.
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