MORE than 1100 members of the world-wide women's organisation, Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIGBI) came together in Liverpool from October 25-27 to stand up for women across the world.

The SIGBI 84th Annual Conference took place at the Liverpool ACC, on the Waterfront where delegates were treated to an action-packed programme with a focus on empowering women and girls across the world to be enabled for a better future.

Enablement and empowerment takes many forms, education, suffrage as well as the ability to make your own decisions. Regrettably this is still not always achievable for so many people.

Speakers include Sir Ranulph Fiennes OBE, Terry Waite CBE and Professor Helen Pankhurst and Sally Kettle who rowed the Atlantic to raise monies for those left fortunate than herself. All the speakers had challenged barriers and succeeded against the odds.

SI Hereford & District were honoured to take part at the Incoming Ceremony when member Dr Catherine Chima-Obereke accompanied the Nigerian flag at the event.

Soroptimist International Great Britain & Ireland is an organisation in Special Consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (UN ECOSOC) since July 2013. This 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.

Members in Hereford meet monthly and are always happy to welcome new members from all walks of life. For more information about Soroptimist International please call on 0161 480 7686, email hq@sigbi.org website sigbi.org