WOMEN from countries throughout the Commonwealth will gather in Harrogate for the 80th Federation Conference of Soroptimist International Great Britain and Ireland.

Delegates from the Caribbean, Sierra Leone, Sri Lanka, the Seychelles and the Gambia are among those who have already registered to attend the event at Harrogate International Centre in November.

Others who have registered include delegates from America, where the first Soroptimist club was founded in 1921 in California, India, Pakistan, Malta, the Channel Islands and many other places in the Commonwealth.

Soroptimist International is a global, women’s volunteer movement working to transform the lives of women and girls.

There are around 80,000 members in 130 countries and territories. The organisation works at a local, national and international level to educate, empower and enable opportunities for women and girls.

Soroptimist International Harrogate and District President Andrea Trimmer said: “The theme of the conference is Women Leading Change Together and we will be discussing many important issues that affect women and girls today.”

One of the speakers will be Dame Jenni Murray, who has been lead presenter of Woman’s Hour, one of the UK’s premier programmes for women, Patron of the Breast Cancer Campaign and writer on women’s issues for many years.

Other speakers include the founder of ‘Coffee Republic’ and ‘Skinny Candy’, Sahar Hashemi, and Professor Susan Vinnicombe, who is Director of the International Centre for Women Leaders. There will be question and answer sessions with each speaker.

President Andrea said: “Women who are interested in joining our club are very welcome to register for the conference and come to listen to Dame Jenni Murray and the other speakers.”

The conference will take place from November 6 to 8. The last day for registration is September 30.

To find out more about the conference and register, see http://sigbi.org/harrogate2014/

For information about Soroptimist International Harrogate and District, see www.siharrogateanddistrict.org.uk or find them on facebook.