Campaigns |
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Our national campaigns tackle issues that matter to members. From equal pay to climate change, mental health and violence against women, over the past 101 years our members have embraced a diverse set of challenges. The WI has brought about real change - and we are just getting started."
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For more information on our current Mandates, click on an icon below
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This campaign seeks to promote registration to the aligned UK stem cell registry to enable more people to receive potentially life-saving stem cell transplants.
You can find out more via our NFWI website:
https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/make-a-match
For key facts on blood cancer and the need for more people to join the aligned stem cell registry, visit: www.anthonynolan.org/facts-and-stats
You can find out more via our NFWI website:
https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/make-a-match
For key facts on blood cancer and the need for more people to join the aligned stem cell registry, visit: www.anthonynolan.org/facts-and-stats
- To find out more about blood cancer, visit: www.dkms.org.uk/en/about-blood-cancer
- For more information on stem cells and the British Bone Marrow Registry, visit the NHS Blood and Transplant website: www.nhsbt.nhs.uk/what-we-do/transplantation-services/stem-cells/
- To learn more about how to become a potential blood stem cell donor, visit: www.dkms.org.uk/en/registration-donation-process-explained, or watch this video from DKMS: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QyB686Gnbbg
- For more information about the shortage of BAME donors, visit ACLT’s website: https://aclt.org/impact-of-our-work/
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion
The stated Mission of the Women’s Institute is this:
The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. We inspire women through experiences, knowledge and skills. These are passed down through generations and continually updated to reflect the lives of women today.
The WI was founded on democratic ideals over 100 years ago and this commitment to equality is still central to our ethos today. The WI is an inclusive, supportive and progressive organisation for all women with a diverse membership of over 200,000 members. The WI is open to all women. It welcomes and celebrates a diverse cross-section of women, offering a space where they can be themselves surrounded by other supportive women. We do not ask members any personal questions as part of the joining process and are committed to ensuring all members are treated fairly and equally whatever their background or individual circumstances, with equal access to all opportunities on a national and local level.
https://www.thewi.org.uk/about-us/wi-key-messages/equality-diversity-inclusion-policy
As a result of world events in 2020, the Buckinghamshire Federation of WIs stated that it stands in solidarity with all people of colour across our sector and around the world. We know that we have more work to do as an organisation to be effectively inclusive and representative. We continue to learn and reflect on our responsibilities and challenge inequality wherever we can, and take on the work needed to be truly diverse and inclusive.
The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities. We inspire women through experiences, knowledge and skills. These are passed down through generations and continually updated to reflect the lives of women today.
The WI was founded on democratic ideals over 100 years ago and this commitment to equality is still central to our ethos today. The WI is an inclusive, supportive and progressive organisation for all women with a diverse membership of over 200,000 members. The WI is open to all women. It welcomes and celebrates a diverse cross-section of women, offering a space where they can be themselves surrounded by other supportive women. We do not ask members any personal questions as part of the joining process and are committed to ensuring all members are treated fairly and equally whatever their background or individual circumstances, with equal access to all opportunities on a national and local level.
https://www.thewi.org.uk/about-us/wi-key-messages/equality-diversity-inclusion-policy
As a result of world events in 2020, the Buckinghamshire Federation of WIs stated that it stands in solidarity with all people of colour across our sector and around the world. We know that we have more work to do as an organisation to be effectively inclusive and representative. We continue to learn and reflect on our responsibilities and challenge inequality wherever we can, and take on the work needed to be truly diverse and inclusive.
As a member of the Climate Coalition the WI has been campaigning for action to reduce climate change since 2009.
In November 2021 the UK will be hosting a crucial climate conference, COP26. This UN conference will be attended by 196 countries and is a vital chance for us to get strong international action on climate change.
The WI needs your help to push the government to show leadership and make sure the conference delivers real progress.
BFWI has TWO very effective Climate Ambassadors who work with federations and members to raise awareness and provide training on climate issues.
In November 2021 the UK will be hosting a crucial climate conference, COP26. This UN conference will be attended by 196 countries and is a vital chance for us to get strong international action on climate change.
The WI needs your help to push the government to show leadership and make sure the conference delivers real progress.
BFWI has TWO very effective Climate Ambassadors who work with federations and members to raise awareness and provide training on climate issues.
The WI is calling on all members to work with our Climate Ambassadors to organise an event (or events), during Great Big Green Week during 18-26 September 2021.
This will be the largest event for climate and nature ever seen in the UK. Thousands of events will celebrate how communities are taking action to tackle climate change and protect green spaces.
The NFWI Public Affairs team has been working with The Climate Coalition to put together a range of resources to help you organise events. These can be found on the Great Big Green Week’s website.
The Whole Story- what you can do to support the WI’s COP26 plans
As the largest women’s voluntary organisation in England, Wales and the Islands, NFWI will lobby decision-makers before COP26 for strong international action on climate change, focusing on the links between gender inequality and the impacts of climate change.
New resources explaining how to get involved have been produced for members are available through MyWI. In addition we would encourage all members to read the WI – ‘Whole Story’ Action Pack. There is a link to this fantastic resource below.
These efforts will only be effective if the WI’s voice is heard. Please use your local influence to meet with your local MP and ask them to support action on climate change in your area. NFWI have provided the following resources for WIs and federations to use:
As the largest women’s voluntary organisation in England, Wales and the Islands, NFWI will lobby decision-makers before COP26 for strong international action on climate change, focusing on the links between gender inequality and the impacts of climate change.
New resources explaining how to get involved have been produced for members are available through MyWI. In addition we would encourage all members to read the WI – ‘Whole Story’ Action Pack. There is a link to this fantastic resource below.
These efforts will only be effective if the WI’s voice is heard. Please use your local influence to meet with your local MP and ask them to support action on climate change in your area. NFWI have provided the following resources for WIs and federations to use:
- A PowerPoint presentation, script and fact file
- Quizzes
- MP briefing to use to meet with your local MP
- ‘No More Loopholes’ craft bracelet template
| wi_cop26_thewholestory.pdf |
There are tens of thousands of victims of modern slavery hiding in plain sight in the UK. Modern slavery has severe consequences for the health and mental wellbeing of survivors. The NFWI calls on the Government to protect victims of modern slavery in the first instance and deliver longer term support to help them rebuild their lives. We call on our members to raise awareness of the prevalence of modern slavery throughout society and to campaign to defeat it.
https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/stop-modern-slavery
You may also wish to take a look at the work of Unseen on this issue: their website includes guidance on how to Spot the Signs of modern slavery.
https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/stop-modern-slavery
You may also wish to take a look at the work of Unseen on this issue: their website includes guidance on how to Spot the Signs of modern slavery.
The campaign action pack will be available to download soon. In the pack, you will find information and facts to help you understand the issue and debunk the myths, as well as suggestions for how to get involved in the campaign, key dates for the diary and information about contacting specialist organisations.
The Action Pack and a Spot the Signs Wallet cards will be included in the August Mailing.
To request your digital Action Pack, fill in the form here.
The Action Pack and a Spot the Signs Wallet cards will be included in the August Mailing.
To request your digital Action Pack, fill in the form here.
Our 5 Minutes that Matter campaign seeks to raise awareness of the importance of attending routine cervical screening, and support more women to make an informed decision about whether or not to take up their invitations. It also calls on WI members to help make cervical screening more accessible by tackling barriers to attendance. The campaign was launched at the NFWI Annual Meeting in June 2019.
Cervical screening programmes have been impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown period. If you have questions or concerns about what this means for you, visit Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trusts’ website for the latest information and to access support and advice: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/coronavirus/faqs
Take part in NFWI research on cervical screening
This study aims to explore a wide range of issues, including barriers to cervical screening attendance and personal attitudes towards strategies designed to improve uptake. Please note that this research is open to all women over the age of 25, regardless of whether they have attended cervical screening recently or at all.
Campaign Action Pack
If you would like to know more about the campaign and discover ways to participate, please download the action pack below.
Cervical screening programmes have been impacted by the Covid-19 lockdown period. If you have questions or concerns about what this means for you, visit Jo’s Cervical Cancer Trusts’ website for the latest information and to access support and advice: https://www.jostrust.org.uk/information/coronavirus/faqs
Take part in NFWI research on cervical screening
This study aims to explore a wide range of issues, including barriers to cervical screening attendance and personal attitudes towards strategies designed to improve uptake. Please note that this research is open to all women over the age of 25, regardless of whether they have attended cervical screening recently or at all.
Campaign Action Pack
If you would like to know more about the campaign and discover ways to participate, please download the action pack below.
| wi_actionpack_5minutes.pdf |
With bus services under threat across England, Wales and the Islands, our Get on Board for a Better Bus Service campaign calls on both local and national governments to take action.
We are seeking to raise awareness of the importance of local bus services and to empower members, WIs and federations to make the case for buses in their local communities.
Campaign Action Pack
If you would like to know more about the campaign and discover ways to participate, please download the action pack below.
We are seeking to raise awareness of the importance of local bus services and to empower members, WIs and federations to make the case for buses in their local communities.
Campaign Action Pack
If you would like to know more about the campaign and discover ways to participate, please download the action pack below.
| wi_actionpack_getonboard.pdf |
Since the Covid-19 lockdown, there has been an alarming rise in domestic abuse. NFWI Public Affairs Dept has been sharing sources of support so that members know what is available to them and where they can access it. Members are asked to share these with friends and family. The NFWI has united with 60+ organisations to call for immediate action from UK Government to protect women and girls during lockdown.
We encourage members to take action to end the scourge of violence against women by pledging to take part in 16 days of action each November with #WhiteRibbonDay and ending on Human Rights Day in December.
Many of Bucks WIs are in contact with their local Women’s Refuge and are providing financial and material support. During this difficult time if you wish to support the work and care that the Women’s Refuge provides then please make contact and find out what they need.
More information at https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/no-more-violence-against-women
We encourage members to take action to end the scourge of violence against women by pledging to take part in 16 days of action each November with #WhiteRibbonDay and ending on Human Rights Day in December.
Many of Bucks WIs are in contact with their local Women’s Refuge and are providing financial and material support. During this difficult time if you wish to support the work and care that the Women’s Refuge provides then please make contact and find out what they need.
More information at https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/key-and-current-campaigns/no-more-violence-against-women
Campaign Action Pack
If you would like to know more about the campaign and discover ways to participate, please download the action pack below.
If you would like to know more about the campaign and discover ways to participate, please download the action pack below.
Update on the new Domestic Abuse Bill
In July 2020, the Government’s Domestic Abuse Bill passed its final stage in the House of Commons. Whilst we are pleased to welcome this groundbreaking piece of legislation, the bill still fails to protect migrant women. No survivor should be left behind. We will continue to push for change so that all survivors have access to the support they need.
To find out more visit Southall Black Sisters page.
To find out more visit Southall Black Sisters page.
| wi_actionpack_nomoreviolenceagainstwomen.pdf |
"Microplastic fibres are shed from synthetic clothing with every wash and are the main contributors to microplastic contamination of the oceans. The NFWI calls on Government and industry to research and develop innovative solutions to this problem in order to stop the accumulation of microplastic fibres in our oceans"
Ashley Green WI, Buckinghamshire Federation
Due to the restrictions placed on meetings and community events, the NFWI has produced a ‘work from home’ fixing fast fashion toolkit which contains End Plastic Soup projects members can do from home. The NFWI will be releasing the full community event toolkit when the public health measures will allow public meetings.
Our work is continuing with the All-party Parliamentary group (APPG) on microplastics. The NFWI is continuing to work with partners including Friends of the Earth to see action to reduce and eliminate non-essential plastic use by 2025, and to the significantly reduce all types of plastic and plastic waste by 2042. Our main aim is to call on the government to set targets to cut plastic waste. We also want to see action to make sure that targets are robust, effective and evidence-based in order to avoid causing other social and environmental harms. You can find out more about this here. We have also been using this opportunity to do more digital campaigning work and undertook work on #PlasticFreeJuly in 2020.
Our Wash and Wear Well checklist outlines small ways you can make a difference in your own life. To find out more, download the checklist.
APPG on Microplastics- Virtual Roundtable on Microfibre Filtration
The latest meeting of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics was hosted on the 19th of January. The meeting explored the recent French legislative proposals on washing machine filters- requiring all new washing machines to include embedded microplastic fibre filters by 2025- and whether or not this could be feasible in the UK.
The APPG meeting was attended by 9 appliance and washing machine filter companies, world-leading academics specialising in microplastic fibre release, industry and retail groups, environmental organisations, MPs and Peers.
Following the meeting, all attending stakeholders have been asked to submit their policy positions on microfibre filters by the 5th of February 2021.
As the APPG's Secretariat, the NFWI will be analysing all responses received and will use these to produce a report on microfibre filtration.
The Chair of the APPG on Microplastics, Alberto Costa MP, also drew attention to the work of the APPG in a recent parliamentary business question.
You can watch the APPG roundtable here.
Throughout the WI’s 105 year history, members have sought to reach out to others in their communities and further afield, offering a chance for women to come together to make friends, learn new skills and work for change on the issues that matter to them.
While tackling loneliness has always been part of the WI’s ethos, members brought it to the forefront of WI’s national campaigning agenda with the launch of our Link Together campaign in 2017. To help ensure people get the support they need, the campaign calls on members to work alongside health and social care providers, and raise awareness of the causes and impacts of loneliness.
While tackling loneliness has always been part of the WI’s ethos, members brought it to the forefront of WI’s national campaigning agenda with the launch of our Link Together campaign in 2017. To help ensure people get the support they need, the campaign calls on members to work alongside health and social care providers, and raise awareness of the causes and impacts of loneliness.
COVID-19: staying connected while staying apart
During the coronavirus pandemic, it’s important to take steps to look after yourself and others if you can. With self-isolation and social distancing measures in place, more of us may now feel lonely and for those who are already vulnerable, existing feelings of loneliness may be exacerbated. Here are some ideas of things you can do to support your well-being and the people around you:
The British Red Cross Community Reserve Volunteers are also temporarily pausing their recruitment, but is also a network which is safely supporting people in any way needed. As long as you are 18 or above, anyone can sign up – no specialist skills are needed.
If you are clinically trained and would like to volunteer to help, contact your local hospital trust or visit the NHS website.
- Stay connected with others. Without the ability to meet face-to-face, think about how you can keep in touch with friends and family by phone, video calls, email or messaging.For advice and guidance on setting up online groups to keep your WI connected, and moving your meetings online, visit My WI.
It’s important to remember that not everyone has the same access to technology, so try to consider other ways you could reach out to them, such as posting a note through their letterbox. Alternatively, join the WI pen pal exchange programme, run by WI Member Valerie Hughes. Members can recommend friends who might not have access to a computer. Join the UWI Pen Pal Exchange Facebook group here. - Look out for people in your community. Government advice is that you should only leave the house for one of four reasons, which include providing care or help to a vulnerable person. WI members are well connected in their communities, so you may already know who might need the extra help in your area. If you are well and are not considered vulnerable, you could collect groceries, medication or other essential items for someone who is self-isolating or a key worker and leave them on their doorstep. Or, maybe you know of someone that could use your help placing an online order for groceries? Don’t forget to ask others for help as well if you need it.It’s important to remember that even when helping others, make sure you are doing this safely and in line with Government advice.
- Volunteer with local charities or national schemes. Lots of local organisations providing support are stretched and under pressure as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, but there are there plenty of ways you can help. To search for opportunities near you visit Do-it, the UK’s national volunteering database, or get in touch with your local volunteer centre in England or Wales. If you’d like to volunteer your professional skills from home, take a look at Reach Volunteering – an organisation linking charities to people with the expertise they need to support them through these challenging times.
The British Red Cross Community Reserve Volunteers are also temporarily pausing their recruitment, but is also a network which is safely supporting people in any way needed. As long as you are 18 or above, anyone can sign up – no specialist skills are needed.
If you are clinically trained and would like to volunteer to help, contact your local hospital trust or visit the NHS website.