​Spurred on by the Bucks Federation’s centenary challenge to ‘walk 100 miles for 100 years’, Beaconsfield WI asked me to form a walking group and lead it through the year. By the end of October, the official end to the challenge, 111 different walkers had participated in 13 walks. We averaged 3.5 miles – the shortest walk a gentle 1.5miles, the longest 7.5 miles, walking the perimeter roads of Beaconsfield as a grand finale to the challenge.  The total distance walked was 366.5 miles. 

​Our year started off with a four-mile walk from a coffee house in Beaconsfield, walking in woods, fields and an unused country lane, to finish where we started with a well-deserved coffee and the chance for everyone to catch up after the Christmas break.
 
We managed to get out on a regular basis thereafter, so that by 12 March we had successfully completed five walks – one being the wettest walk the walk leader had ever led. The alpacas we saw did not seem to mind the rain but we did, so the walk was shortened to get back to the protection of the pub, where a hot drink was very welcome. 

Written by Jane Cutler, Chair, Science and Society Team
The resolutions about Modern Slavery and Stem cell donation are now WI mandates.
 
Are you using slave labour?
I am sure that I have in the past. But am I using it now? What about the guy with an Eastern European accent who cleaned our windows on that hot sunny day last week? Okay I gave him an ice cream and tipped him but was it his own window cleaning business or was he a Modern Day Slave? And how do I find out? And what about those builders who put up extensions for a really good price and only the boss speaks English? And just how do we know if the staff at the local “really cheap car wash and they do a good job” are getting paid a decent wage?

Now getting more personal do you use nail bars? Here’s a more positive story. A WI member had suspicions that slave labour was used at her nail bar. She tipped off the police and a prostitution ring was uncovered and dealt with. You see this is a case where
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE!
The recent Centre for Social Justice and Justice for Social Care recent report states that at least 100,000 victims of slavery are being abused and exploited by traffickers and crime gangs in Britain today. This is 10 times higher than a Home Office assessment six years ago!

So how can we WI members tackle this problem?

• Be aware what is happening locally. (In Cheddington we were astonished to learn of slavery happening on our doorstep. Several people were arrested and given long sentences in 2012 in a high profile case.)
• When the price of new clothes is too cheap to be true ask yourself why. Were they made in a sweat shop?
• Read the NFWI website for updates on the campaign.
• Ask your WI Secretary to make the NFWI End Modern Slavery Briefing available to all members online. Here you may read advice on how to spot slavery from the Metropolitan Police
• Being socially distance aware, discuss what actions you and your WI will take in your community.

 
BE SLAVE AWARE!!