CAMPAIGNS
The WI is an entirely member led organisation, and the resolutions process ensures that every WI member has the opportunity to set the direction of NFWI (National Federation of the WI) campaigns and policy, from the grassroots up. Every year WI members have the chance to put forward issues as 'resolutions' that they want to see the national body campaign on. Resolutions go through a yearlong debating and consultation process. Members then vote to shortlist resolutions for debate in Federations and WIs, before making a final selection of resolutions to take forward for discussion at the Annual Meeting in the summer. If passed, these then become mandates and form the basis of campaigning and awareness raising activities in the years ahead.
A prime example of a Resolution having a huge impact is the one passed at the AGM in 1954 proposing to start an anti-litter campaign. This was the start of the Keep Britain Tidy Group formed in 1955.
Examples of recent campaigns and projects are:
Women and Climate Change
Mission Milk
Packaging and Waste
Fair deal for dairy farmers
Love Your Libraries
You can find out more at: http://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns
Here is more detail on previous campaigns we have been actively involved in:-
The Great Food Debate
On Thursday 6th December 2012 the WI Great Food Debate was launched; a nationwide debate to raise awareness of food security, one of the most pressing challenges of the 21st Century. The Great Food Debate will explore some of the tests ahead and encourage debate on the role that we can all play.
The concept of food security has long been at the heart of the WI. Helping to feed a war-torn nation was central to the early activities of the growing WI movement in Britain during Second World War. Today, the battle is being fought on a different front. As fast-developing countries grow wealthier and their populations continue to expand, demand will grow ever-more pressing. Combined with more frequent extreme weather such as drought and floods, there are already signs that food shortages are becoming a very real issue. The impact can be severe: the recent civil unrest in the Middle East has been linked to increases in food prices, and rainforests are being cleared at a spectacular rate to make way for crops, leading to further climate chaos. Domestically, the number of people turning to food banks for assistance has doubled in the last year, while a survey by Which? magazine showed that British consumers are finding it increasingly difficult to sustain a healthy diet, as the price of fresh produce continues to rise.
The NFWI is one of a collective group of charities involved with the IF campaign, who were active at the G8 summit in Ireland in June. Take a look at their website and consider getting involved.
PAINTING STONEHOUSE PINK!
Nationally breast cancer rates are on the increase and one in eight women in the UK will develop breast cancer at some point in their lives. The good news is that more women than ever are surviving due to improved awareness, treatments and screening. However, research shows that the Stroud district has particularly high rates of breast cancer compared to the rest of England and survival rates are not increasing so rapidly.
Consequently, meetings were held by the NHS to encourage people to organise events to raise awareness in their communities and one of our members wondered if Stonehouse WI could help. Well, of course we could and we decided to sell tickets for an Afternoon Tea to be held in the Community Centre at which breast cancer experts would be invited to spread the message about the TLC (touch, look, check) campaign.
Due to herculean efforts by our members selling tickets, organising the event and providing a full afternoon tea, the event was an enormous success. About sixty people from the local community listened to Sue White from Cobalt Health explaining the importance of self-examination and presenting any symptoms of breast cancer to a GP as early as possible. A breast cancer survivor also shared her experiences with us and vital information was communicated in a warm and supportive atmosphere.
Evaluative comments on the day showed that those attending found the event extremely informative and worthwhile, and subsequent research by the University of the West of England shows that breast cancer awareness in the Stroud District is increasing. However, there is still work to be done as the research also shows that there is less awareness of risk factors, such as obesity and alcohol, and women over seventy are not as well informed as those in other age groups.
A video explaining more about the Painting Stroud Pink! campaign can be found at http://vimeo.com/35502320.
Consequently, meetings were held by the NHS to encourage people to organise events to raise awareness in their communities and one of our members wondered if Stonehouse WI could help. Well, of course we could and we decided to sell tickets for an Afternoon Tea to be held in the Community Centre at which breast cancer experts would be invited to spread the message about the TLC (touch, look, check) campaign.
Due to herculean efforts by our members selling tickets, organising the event and providing a full afternoon tea, the event was an enormous success. About sixty people from the local community listened to Sue White from Cobalt Health explaining the importance of self-examination and presenting any symptoms of breast cancer to a GP as early as possible. A breast cancer survivor also shared her experiences with us and vital information was communicated in a warm and supportive atmosphere.
Evaluative comments on the day showed that those attending found the event extremely informative and worthwhile, and subsequent research by the University of the West of England shows that breast cancer awareness in the Stroud District is increasing. However, there is still work to be done as the research also shows that there is less awareness of risk factors, such as obesity and alcohol, and women over seventy are not as well informed as those in other age groups.
A video explaining more about the Painting Stroud Pink! campaign can be found at http://vimeo.com/35502320.