A WOMEN’S group is celebrating 80 years of helping others around the world.

Soroptimist International of Great Britain and Ireland (SIBGI) brings together women of all ages and backgrounds to raise money for charities.

The Winchester and District branch is celebrating the milestone by expanding a project to make dresses for girls at their sister club, SI Banjul in The Gambia.

This year the 34 members worked with girls from Henry Beaufort, St Swithun’s and Test Valley schools to create 136 pillowcase dresses, and the scheme proved so popular the group now wants to involve more schools.

They hope to launch it as a competition over the coming months.

The branch also supports Winchester Nightshelter, Young Carers and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Air Ambulance.

SIGBI is hosting a conference in November in Harrogate to mark the anniversary, and members from Winchester will be attending.