Voices Female Networking and Social Club in Cape Town

Meet and collaborate with extraordinary women from diverse backgrounds through this inspiring new ladies-only clique

Finally.

That’s the first word that comes to mind when I think of Voices, a new ladies-only membership club that launched in Cape Town in April 2015. For as I sit with Shelley Webb, the UK-born founder of the unique association, to get an in-depth explanation of exactly what the initiative is all about, I find myself wishing, more and more, that something like this existed a long time ago.

While there are sororities of various types sprawled across the city, Voices, as Shelley explains, differs in that its main aim is to create a space where women from any background can come together to collaborate and network not only on a business level but also on a social one. So, the society helps to foster both corporate relationships and meaningful friendships and is thus the sort of all-round supportive platform that the Mother City’s female community has craved for years.

The Voices launch, which took place at the CBD-based Taj Hotel (the club’s official home), saw over 180 women gather under one roof in a union that could only be described as powerful. That’s what happens when a group of ladies find themselves in the same room because, according to Shelley, who has a background in psychology, “Women behave differently in the presence of men, especially in a business setting where we generally feel less confident. It’s a natural inclination we’re not even aware of.” So, needless to say, Voices was born to help facilitate the sort of magic that emerges when female minds meet uninhibited.

The club provides members with a colourful array of benefits, including access to a decked-out co-working space at the luxurious Taj Hotel, use of the property’s gym and pool (this depends on membership type), social nights at the on-site Twankey Bar, public relations and communications advice, the chance to participate in volunteer programmes, guided runs around the city at night, business breakfasts, wine tastings, supper clubs and inspirational speaker evenings. And all of the latter events are peppered throughout each month so that there is something for sisters to do almost every day.

This holistic offering reflects Shelley’s desire to make Voices so much more than just a club. Rather, she wants it to “become members’ friend, mentor and teacher and ultimately motivate and inspire them to grow stronger and wiser and feel more empowered in all spheres of their active and demanding lives.”

Any lady from any walk of life and of any age is welcome to sign up, so it goes without saying that the fellowship is helping to bring together many distinct perspectives and experiences. More than anything then, I’m excited to see that this club is finally giving volume to an assortment of voices that certainly deserve to be heard.

Tip: Voices hosts a wide range of monthly events, some of which are open to non-members too. For more information about these happenings, visit Voicesclub.com.

The Bill: There are currently two different membership options to choose from: Voices Connect (standard membership), which costs R395 per month to be a part of, and Voices Power (premium membership), which comes at a monthly fee of R995. The latter simply includes a few exclusive added extras. Do note, in both cases, a once-off registration fee of R795p/p must be paid. To sign up to be part of the club and to find out more about what each membership category includes, go to www.Voicesclub.com.