For over 40 years, the Soirée Rotary Club- so called because they originally met in the evenings, after work - has brought together people who want to give back—locally, nationally, and globally. Today, the club has over 40 active members, with teams dedicated to community service, international outreach, and fundraising.
Linda says, “We’re very keen to support local charities. There are so many important organisations doing good work in Brighton. I think it was Robert Griffith—who used to be with Martlets—who first suggested we look into supporting RISE. When I started talking to people there, I realised the breadth of what RISE offered—especially the support on the phone lines, which really struck me.
Then, when the pandemic hit, it was clear RISE’s services would be in higher demand than ever. People were trapped at home with their abusers. We couldn’t fundraise in the usual ways, but we wanted to do something.
So the club launched the 28-Day Challenge in February 2021. Everyone picked their own challenge—running, knitting, painting—and raised money through sponsorship. One member even ran the distance from London to Paris over the course of the month! In the end, the Soirée Rotary Club raised around £4,000 for RISE that year.”
We asked Linda why the Club continues to support RISE
“It’s about helping people rebuild. RISE is there for families—women, children—who need help finding their feet again after experiencing domestic abuse. The services they offer—emotional support, information, advocacy—they’re all so vital. We’ve watched as, even after losing key funding in recent years, RISE pulled themselves back from a difficult place and they’re continuing to do amazing, important work with what they have.”
How do the Brighton and Hove Soirée Rotary Club support RISE?
Each year, the Soirée Rotary Club supports RISE’s 8K Run for Women. “We sponsor elements like the tote bags, and a group of us always goes along to help on the day—handing out medals, cheering people on. It’s one of the events we really love to support.
Seeing all those women running together—some of them might be survivors themselves, others might be running for friends or loved ones. It’s emotional. It’s uplifting. And it reminds you why the work matters.”
We asked Linda what it’s like to work with RISE
“Supporting RISE has been a smooth and rewarding experience. It’s always easy to communicate. We email, we’re asked if we’d like to help again, and we say yes. It’s all very easy.”
Would you like to support RISE like the Soirée Rotary Club does?
Whether you’re a business or a local group, or just someone with a big heart — donate or get in touch with us at RISE UK to learn how you can be part of the change.
