tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-76282347190980255192024-03-19T04:29:06.899+00:00Behind the door of 104A look behind the scenes at 104 New Kings Road - the National Federation of Women's Institutes (NFWI) head officeThe NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.comBlogger137125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-42101720409849167942019-11-29T11:23:00.001+00:002019-11-29T11:27:13.968+00:00Get together this winter to tackle loneliness!<br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Although
loneliness can affect anyone at any time, the winter months can bring specific
challenges. Christmas can be a reminder of loved ones who have passed away and,
for those with reduced mobility, poor weather conditions can make it difficult
to visit friends and family. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">Small
acts of kindness, such as visiting a neighbour, can make a big difference to
others, which is why we’ve been supporting the Great Get Together since the
launch of our Link Together campaign to alleviate loneliness in 2017. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span lang="EN">This guest blog has been written by Eleanor Harrison, Partnerships and External Affairs Manager at the Jo
Cox Foundation, about this year’s Winter Great Get Together and how WI members
can get involved. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span lang="EN">Following the incredible success of this
summer’s Great Get Together, it’s time to bring our communities together again
this winter to tackle loneliness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Loneliness is an issue that was close to Jo
Cox’s heart, expressed in her memorable words: “I will not live in a country
where thousands of people are living lonely lives forgotten by the rest of us.”
Jo recognised that loneliness is an issue that doesn’t discriminate. It can
affect anyone, from the elderly and those with health and mobility issues to
new mums, refugees and the recently bereaved. The scale of the issue is huge,
with a landmark report from the British Red Cross in 2016 finding that over 9
million people are affected by loneliness in the UK.</div>
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<span lang="EN">At The Jo Cox Foundation, we are committed to
continuing Jo’s legacy and building stronger communities where everyone has a
sense of belonging. We are so grateful to all of the WI members who
participated in the Great Get Together this summer to help make this vision a
reality. You were part of an amazing movement of 720,000 people who took part
in over 11,000 events over the June weekend! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Our CEO, Catherine Anderson, would like to
express her thanks: “The WI has long been at the heart of so many communities,
and we are so grateful to have your support. The year on year commitment of WI
members to Jo’s legacy and values of kindness and compassion is an inspiration
to all of us at the Foundation and our wider community of organisers. We can’t
wait to see how you’ll get involved in the Great Get Together again this
winter!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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We would love you to take part in the Great
Get Together again this December and help to tackle loneliness in your
community. There are so many ways to get involved, from hosting a festive feast
for elderly people in your area, to rallying a group of carol singers to visit
those who are unable to leave their homes, to simply knocking on a neighbour’s
door with a mince pie. Whatever you decide to do, you can be sure to make a
real difference in the life of someone who might be feeling lonely this winter.</div>
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<span lang="EN">To find more inspiration, ideas and resources,
visit our <a href="https://www.greatgettogether.org/winter-get-together/">website</a>.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">We’d love to hear your stories of how you Get
Together this winter! Don’t forget to tag us on social media at @great_together
and if you have any questions, feel free to get in touch with our team by
contacting info@jocoxfoundation.org.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN">Have a Great Get Together this Winter!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-51543571807807698722019-07-02T15:19:00.000+01:002019-07-02T15:19:41.113+01:00Nutfield Gals WI continues work with Reigate and Banstead Women's Aid<br />
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Guest blog written by Jan Cornwell, Nutfield Gals WI Secretary</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It’s been a busy couple of months for Nutfield Gals WI, we
held our May fundraiser for the women’s refuge. We also invited Emma, the
Refuge Manager and Play Therapist to join us for our meeting and update us on
what’s been happening over the last year. May brought some amazing news for
Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid (RBWA) and all other women’s refuges around
the country, but more of that later! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">There was as always a good attendance for our fundraiser
evening, we had a raffle with some great prizes, we sold cakes (my goodness our
girls can bake!), Ruth sold young plants and her homemade jams and pickles,
yum! Angie, another of our members makes jewellery and donated her sales,
Barbara sold handmade cards and we had a bring and buy stall. In all we raised
a magnificent £650 on the night with more money coming in from those that were
unable to attend, so proud of our girls their generosity and kindness is heart-warming!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Emma gave us her update and had some shocking statistics to
tell us with regards to suicide and murders of women suffering domestic
abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Three women a week take their own
lives and two women a week are murdered by the perpetrator, utterly horrifying!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also told us they’ve been forced to
reduce the hours of one the women’s advocates due to funding issues, it’s a
constant and unrelenting battle to find more funding from other sources to top
up their budget and pay for all of the vital services they offer the women and
their children. Counselling for the women, play therapy for the children, the
massive cost involved in running the house, paying their rent, maintenance and
replacing furniture etc, this takes a huge chunk of their budget each and every
year!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The refuge employs two women’s advocates who help the women
through any police, legal, medical, financial and housing issues they may
encounter after escaping the perpetrator; they also oversee any counselling the
woman may need.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are two play
therapists who work with the children who can often be affected mentally and
emotionally as a result of the abuse they’ve witnessed or experienced. They
have a CEO who oversees everything and has done television and radio interviews
to help raise awareness of the work RBWA do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Emma, the full time play therapist is also the Services Manager
and is involved with seeking additional funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> V</span>ery few, if any other refuges offer this
level of care and support, RBWA is exceptional in this regard but have a very
strong and proven belief that this is the level of care that’s needed and that
brings about successful and long-lasting results.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of this there is an accounts person
who also deals with donations, a person who looks after basic maintenance
of the rooms and common areas of the house and additionally a number of
volunteers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone at the very least
doubles up on their actual job and deals with anything that might need dealing
with. The roll up your sleeves and get on with it mentality is alive and well
here and in spite of what you might think, it’s a joyful and happy place!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Some great news has been announced that could change the
future of refuges and give them at least some of the financial security they so
badly need. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The government has set out proposals to place a new legal
duty on local authorities to provide support in ‘secure accommodation’ for
survivors of domestic abuse and their children, creating a new statutory system
for the funding of refuges and other services within the community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This is fabulous news and provided everything goes ahead and the money local authorities provide is a reasonable and sensible amount, it will help to make life a little more secure for women and their children who are fleeing domestic abuse, it's not the whole answer but it's a good start!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Further information on these proposals can be found <a href="https://www.womensaid.org.uk/womens-aid-responds-to-the-prime-ministers-announcement-on-future-funding-for-refuges/">here</a>.</span></b></div>
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The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-4371337839980193382019-05-30T13:57:00.000+01:002019-05-30T15:38:19.233+01:00WI members in Wales take action to preserve, protect and plant urban trees<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since
September 2017, NFWI-Wales has been engaging members in taking action to
address the decline in urban trees. Currently 200 WIs throughout Wales are involved in activities such as surveying,
observing, protecting and planting trees and are spreading the word about the
value of trees to the wider public.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgu_j4qwdyz50QG2KA8dTkunTf681CguPuVEHhwzDkIYOiuOWx1-E925J1xnkKMJKBTuyl0R8-odhDpB526Rt_Pl7f9KmmH5oncOxwiNbCZCxPrrRYy1rbyd9QpW7-V1Tqo1txrrZzcQ/s1600/Carmarthenshire+Llansaint+planting+.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIgu_j4qwdyz50QG2KA8dTkunTf681CguPuVEHhwzDkIYOiuOWx1-E925J1xnkKMJKBTuyl0R8-odhDpB526Rt_Pl7f9KmmH5oncOxwiNbCZCxPrrRYy1rbyd9QpW7-V1Tqo1txrrZzcQ/s400/Carmarthenshire+Llansaint+planting+.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Llansaint WI planting trees</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Urban
trees are among the most versatile natural assets that can be used to
effectively raise the quality of Welsh towns and cities. Research shows us that trees in Wales’ towns and
cities deliver many social benefits as well as mitigating the effects of
climate change. Urban trees make a key
contribution to our health and wellbeing by reducing air pollution and creating
green spaces as well as reducing the risk of flooding, capturing and storing
carbon from the atmosphere and helping to mitigate excessive warming. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yet
urban trees are under continuous threat from factors such as pests and
diseases, an ageing tree population, climate change, the demand for new
building development and a lack of understanding on the benefits that trees
bring to society. Most recent studies
show that 73% of urban areas in Wales have lost trees since 2010 and 7,000 trees
were lost between 2006 and 2013.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJ16SF6naS-zuK1ds_lwuQyiopKKQUHcBgvH5AQZ1vX9N2WfGWCvFLh_AGHMGCwJiUveY09pTkRjFTlIJPmDIvtS17bYTRjw96VUMhyphenhyphenH5Jq1o04AdP_n0AFpZgS_296FG3O7QtqL-1Kg0/s400/Carmarthenshire+Birds+resize+.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="300" /></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birds crafted by Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire Federation members</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
WI has a proud and rich history of standing up for the natural environment
which has been a key theme for many WI campaigns and projects, with members
dedicated to protecting and promoting the countryside, limiting their own
environmental footprints and taking action on climate change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Through
this project, WI members have been using their passion for improving the
environment to conserve trees for future generations. Many WIs have been involved in local tree
planting. Some have been holding woodland walks to identify, measure and survey
trees whilst others have been in contact with their local authority about tree
issues in their local community.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Members
have also been inspired to create craft items to promote the value of trees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Below are some
project highlights:</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over 1000 trees have been planted by
members from Sir Gâr/Carmarthenshire Federation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Federation has held two competitions where
members crafted birds and animals. WIs all over the county have engaged in
guided walks to identify, measure and survey trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Members from WIs in Gwent have been
surveying trees in the grounds of Caldicot Castle. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykK1bdpBt4mLwC3zc3FMXGJrQ6ba_tCTAAMc3OWiYvw616X3BmHbtHQ9_rSOZXGHgob9-XqVoYPNJ9qnalt0K6WI27cNGOoAy8cLRGHzJwPOBJot8as2CdeFIOFfa0E2YwWQgrgV74jg/s1600/Powys+Radnor+Blanket+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="480" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgykK1bdpBt4mLwC3zc3FMXGJrQ6ba_tCTAAMc3OWiYvw616X3BmHbtHQ9_rSOZXGHgob9-XqVoYPNJ9qnalt0K6WI27cNGOoAy8cLRGHzJwPOBJot8as2CdeFIOFfa0E2YwWQgrgV74jg/s400/Powys+Radnor+Blanket+1.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: small;">Powys Radnor Federation blanket</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Using the OPAL Tree surveys they
have been measuring the height, girth and general condition of the trees.
Members have also surveyed trees at Cwmbran Boating Lake. The group will
revisit the lake during the summer to record visual changes and wildlife on or
near the trees.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
Powys Radnor Federation, members have been surveying and yarn bombing trees in
their local community. Some have written to their local authority in relation
to tree issues whilst others have been involved in creating a blanket to
promote trees.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ysbyty Ifan WI in Clwyd Denbigh
Federation has been involved planting trees in the community in partnership
with the National Trust and a local school.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WIs with an interest in getting involved
can find out more <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/wi-in-wales/current-projects/natural-heritage-tree-project">here. </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To find out about the federation
activities taking place across Wales, please visit <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/wi-in-wales/current-projects/natural-heritage-tree-project/urban-tree-project-federation-activities">our website.</a></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-29388140307456821402019-05-07T11:46:00.000+01:002019-05-07T11:50:41.788+01:00NFWI-Wales Recruitment Award winners share the secrets of their success<br />
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To inspire WIs to increase their
membership, NFWI-Wales runs an annual Recruitment Award competition. The competition comprises of 2 categories
namely ‘WIs with fewer than 25 members’ and ‘WIs with 25 members and over’. The winners are announced each year at the
Wales Conference and presented with a certificate and bursary to attend a
course at Denman. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDuknhFSfMLPlRzKtYdE3CIYem-5BKG0YcEvugXg2w8l4VUtSz_g6N4bnOQjFLbVDC7YeUGSZEWotJn4C2aceXYc5BuH0n-8w4F2TAOMyR0Mx5Q8r4KgdbJLISCdfdL9gT-PrVUtC8tQ/s1600/Skewen+WI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1172" data-original-width="1600" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNDuknhFSfMLPlRzKtYdE3CIYem-5BKG0YcEvugXg2w8l4VUtSz_g6N4bnOQjFLbVDC7YeUGSZEWotJn4C2aceXYc5BuH0n-8w4F2TAOMyR0Mx5Q8r4KgdbJLISCdfdL9gT-PrVUtC8tQ/s400/Skewen+WI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skewen WI is presented with its award </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">Last month </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Skewen WI, Glamorgan Federation</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> was announced the 2018 Recruitment
Award winner of the category for WIs with fewer than 25 members.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The WI had increased its membership from 24 to
46 members, an increase of 92%.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">The winner of the category for WIs
with 25 members and over was announced as </span><b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif; font-size: 12pt;">Portskewett
& Sudbrook WI, Gwent Federation</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">. During 2018, the WI succeeded in
increasing its membership from 32 to 52 members, an increase of 62.5%.</span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Eleanor Griffiths, </span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">a member
of <b>Skewen WI</b> shares the secrets of
the WI’s success in recruiting new members:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Skewen WI were so surprised and
delighted to receive the recruitment award for 2018 and of course the bursary
award for Denman.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our journey started in 2013 when
Skewen WI was formed with a membership of 23 ladies, but fell to 17 within two
years or so. Five years on we have a membership of 70 and it appears to be rising!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So the big question is <b>how?</b><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Well the bottom line or cynical
answer could be money!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Yes, we have been awarded two
lottery grants, but it’s no use having a lot of money if it’s not used wisely
and effectively.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are committed and we have a
passion for creating a WI that is fun, informative, educational, interesting
and above all sociable. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A recent edition of <i>WI Life
</i>contained an article on the benefits of being a committee member. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It describes the three officer roles of
President, Treasurer and Secretary as the Holy Trinity. Well - we are not like
that!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are a large and dynamic
committee, who have good ideas, energy and the ability to make things happen.
There is no better committee meeting when ideas thrown into the pot are
creative, fun and sometimes daring! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our main duty is to provide an
interesting programme of monthly meetings and we have used questionnaires to
seek members’ views on the kind of speakers and events they would like to
happen.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This is just a small part of Skewen
WI. We run an array of clubs and workshops, as we want to appeal to a range of
members. These include a monthly Craft Club where quality work is produced. Our
monthly Book Club encourages vigorous debate and extends our love of reading.
The IT Club has amazed and excited us, because, at last we learned to use our
mobile phones and tablets properly!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In addition we love workshops, from
willow weaving, painting, pottery and wreath making. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY8wDxusqFjqK1Qdl93Gyn32yusNogI7WP031QxVrAcjQOd21gSOP4lWQ0NLKzzJOkLJKHZrCzzpRPynAXZ-WOTZqSIu-SvXl3z9361RRhumzUwyK6Vd4EEAsMLFGrs-NVDIii2MKzQE/s1600/IMG_5361+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1102" data-original-width="1084" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnY8wDxusqFjqK1Qdl93Gyn32yusNogI7WP031QxVrAcjQOd21gSOP4lWQ0NLKzzJOkLJKHZrCzzpRPynAXZ-WOTZqSIu-SvXl3z9361RRhumzUwyK6Vd4EEAsMLFGrs-NVDIii2MKzQE/s400/IMG_5361+%25282%2529.jpg" width="392" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Skewen WI crafts</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;">We currently have weekly Walking
Netball, we will be learning to sing as a choir in the summer and have a series
of Samba Drumming workshop booked for the autumn. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We travel together on monthly
visits, to places such as Denman College, Stratford Upon Avon, Oxford, historic
houses near and far and places closer to home such as Penderyn Distillery,
Llanelli House and the Gwili Railway, to name but a few.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We never let a good opportunity pass
us by, such as the Glamorgan Show. We have entered many classes and achieved gratifying
results both as a small and medium WI - in this year’s show we will be classed
as a large WI.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Above all we strongly believe that
clear lines of communication are essential. All members receive frequent texts
and emails, to remind them of meetings, events, or any other useful
information. Boy-oh-boy our IT Club has paid dividends in that area!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So it’s not just about having the
money to spend on the things mentioned so far- it’s about the leadership of the
committee. In other words a committee that constantly looks for ways and means
to bring together a community of women to learn share and laugh together. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We firmly believe that leadership is
not about title or designation. It’s all about Impact, Influence and
Inspiration:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Impact</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> involves getting
results like a healthy membership;<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Influence</span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> is
about spreading the passion you have for achieving a dynamic WI; and<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Inspiration </span></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;">is the
ability to make people want to be part of our very special organisation. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc3wTGYuIT0k-dlkQrELCQJEFD9BUyAVAP96kxH1ih7e3J4byXXPEuZ6kuSS4VUk6v80LwZrA_kD8TkIz0zjOezLJPCJijZXh9A-JelM2ElkHUuN4ZA8wM2n1Fz67fkIdi0lc0Jc1nOw/s1600/Portskewett++Sudbrook+WI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibc3wTGYuIT0k-dlkQrELCQJEFD9BUyAVAP96kxH1ih7e3J4byXXPEuZ6kuSS4VUk6v80LwZrA_kD8TkIz0zjOezLJPCJijZXh9A-JelM2ElkHUuN4ZA8wM2n1Fz67fkIdi0lc0Jc1nOw/s400/Portskewett++Sudbrook+WI.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Portskewett & Sudbrook WI is presented with its award </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">Val Robinson</span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 12pt;"> shares the
success of <b>Portskewett & Sudbrook WI</b>
in increasing its membership:</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The WI
saw a large increase in our membership over the course of the year. The January
2018 meeting was an adult ballet lesson. One of<span style="font-variant: small-caps;">
</span>the members invited others from the class in Chepstow to<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> </span>attend that meeting, so that the
teacher had some ladies<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> </span>there who
knew a little about ballet and could confidently do<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> </span>some of the positions. Many of the visitors that evening
went<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"> </span>on to become members of
Portskewett & Sudbrook WI.<span style="font-variant: small-caps;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There
were several new ladies who attended our “Dough at Home” evening, having seen
posters advertising the meeting in the village, with a local baker, who teaches
people to make artisan breads in their own homes. They not only sampled the<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">bread at
that meeting but, having sampled the WI, became members.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Members
brought friends along and others came and joined, having heard how interesting,
friendly and fun the WI is.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Broadcast
your WI proudly, invite any ladies you meet in exercise classes, choirs, at the
school gate, on the local bus, to come and try your varied programme for
themselves.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-55975319182793900882019-04-04T16:12:00.002+01:002019-04-04T16:24:44.985+01:00Norfolk Federation celebrates 100 years <br />
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<o:p><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Guest blog written by Margaret Collingwood, Norfolk Federation Chairman</i></span></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4f3ERPN5HcM-vAHGVrHgXeV1BfBLzREEvQ_1LQWPFi-isaAu6bBPueh-yImCopJ3qoKL434v559PUr6_qH_IhYjksfw_Fb7pHI_TLwu5Kssf_Jp0ckB_CobUPQpcZ5Wi4AlrHCpptSM/s1600/Margaret+Collingwood+byline.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="618" data-original-width="636" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEha4f3ERPN5HcM-vAHGVrHgXeV1BfBLzREEvQ_1LQWPFi-isaAu6bBPueh-yImCopJ3qoKL434v559PUr6_qH_IhYjksfw_Fb7pHI_TLwu5Kssf_Jp0ckB_CobUPQpcZ5Wi4AlrHCpptSM/s320/Margaret+Collingwood+byline.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We're still
in a daze from our hundredth Annual Meeting. We filled the Norwich Theatre
Royal, with over a thousand WI members. It was an unforgettable occasion. We
combined serious business with serious fun.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What did this
remind us about the WI and what it is all about? The WI has three key messages.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">First
message: <i>The WI is here to inspire you</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So, how is
the WI inspiring? Our meeting gave one answer - every one of us felt inspired.
By the mass singing of <i>Jerusalem </i>(of course!); by the poems, stories and
jokes from the incomparable Pam Ayres; by the theatrical atmosphere and feeling
of occasion; by the sense of purpose and fellowship; and not least by the
important business of the day: work of all those committees, the resolutions
considered, the reports of our latest achievements.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiQhD0ZJebCW4DGsko1tspCA_zz6eZXZRRM36iBrObkNnQqAQCd6j0wCm3uOi0rKfTOlOwqlhcYWth6Hd6W9uYliXy2IxX3rYiWvS2aQBMYnXibOXdyYwfOPWI-B3rdKqglurmtFRKVs/s1600/act+801.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1154" data-original-width="1600" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwiQhD0ZJebCW4DGsko1tspCA_zz6eZXZRRM36iBrObkNnQqAQCd6j0wCm3uOi0rKfTOlOwqlhcYWth6Hd6W9uYliXy2IxX3rYiWvS2aQBMYnXibOXdyYwfOPWI-B3rdKqglurmtFRKVs/s400/act+801.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Those
achievements are nothing new. Already in 1919 the WI was working to take teachers
out into the villages and bring education to the women. Women wanted to do more
for themselves. The new Women's Institutes were there to help: teaching about
food production and preservation, about keeping children healthy and safe, by
better nutrition and by hygiene in the home. Soon there were lessons on glove
making and toy making, on upholstery and tinkering - the list is fascinating.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Today's WI
has the same message, though the activities have subtly changed. Just one
example: we now have a Digital Team, running workshops to get WI members
comfortable with today’s technology and at home with their laptop, pad and
smart phone. We still want to inspire you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKScf6FU-5CuuS7r1QjDZbNeYL04QVoqwEJcc_xzkEq667_yeP65h2FYcJmQ89C-YSHP09K4TVLZj2GOuZxiceKEAHCQvNmhfdbEVE-hrDwiMSBDXFIF2yqq8X4MeCYdOgKFa3hsv5Wjw/s1600/Get+Comfortable+Online+January+2019.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKScf6FU-5CuuS7r1QjDZbNeYL04QVoqwEJcc_xzkEq667_yeP65h2FYcJmQ89C-YSHP09K4TVLZj2GOuZxiceKEAHCQvNmhfdbEVE-hrDwiMSBDXFIF2yqq8X4MeCYdOgKFa3hsv5Wjw/s400/Get+Comfortable+Online+January+2019.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Get Comfortable Online - January 2019</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Second
message: </span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The WI is everything you want it to be.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What do women
want from their WI today? Is it so very different from what they wanted in
1919? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Women of all
ages and backgrounds need somewhere they can be themselves. Many members join
the WI simply to make friends. Maybe the children have started school, or
they've moved to a new area, or they've retired and need something to do. The
WI is the place where women can find others with shared interests and, at the
same time, learn more about themselves. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Throughout
these hundred years our members have been given the chance to shine. There's
been a continuous WI presence at the Royal Norfolk Show, often with pageants,
processions, exhibitions and sales of crafts and produce. Members have joined a
choir or theatre group, taken a watercolour course, or discovered the science
behind a cream tea. There are book clubs, rambling groups, lunch clubs, cinema
clubs. New interests spring up while old ones fade away. Poetry reciting
competitions, folk dancing sessions were popular in the 1930s but alas don’t
have the same following in 2019. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUd2-gwMm3sT7du7WA6zZsDSqU4R8V-eObocBzsMAGxd99ZQ0Ze_fesH2j84P8gMlYcryIphe3upvUiLD0JlGhae9TLXc0UwHmpAwsirOFiUiMlhwjDOMau7_lD4Rb3lfxYOf5txqFo0/s1600/Keep+Fit+Medau+Rally+1963.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjiUd2-gwMm3sT7du7WA6zZsDSqU4R8V-eObocBzsMAGxd99ZQ0Ze_fesH2j84P8gMlYcryIphe3upvUiLD0JlGhae9TLXc0UwHmpAwsirOFiUiMlhwjDOMau7_lD4Rb3lfxYOf5txqFo0/s400/Keep+Fit+Medau+Rally+1963.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Keep Fit Medau Rally 1963</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Third message:
</span><i style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">The WI is what you make of it.</i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What can you
make of the WI? That’s completely up to you. Once a month, a couple of hours
spent with friends, listening to an interesting speaker and sharing a cup of
tea and a piece of cake ... for many members that's all they ask. But the WI
can be so much more. We have Denman College, our own residential education
centre, with courses on cookery, crafts, lifestyle, history, literature...
anything the members show interest in. The WI has a proud history of
campaigning. Our resolution process gives every member a chance to express her
views and to be heard. We try to change things for the better and to tackle
issues that matter to each of us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All members
are encouraged to help run their own WI. Every WI needs its committee, as well
practical help such as meeting and greeting and of course making the tea. Our
Federation office is always looking for volunteers to work in our committees or
help with all those tasks that keep the WI engine running. Truly, the WI is
what its members make of it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-5891794598735284302019-03-26T13:42:00.000+00:002019-03-27T09:13:09.650+00:00 Reigate and Banstead Womens Aid: A women’s refuge for women and their children fleeing domestic control, abuse and violence<br />
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Guest blog written
by Jan Cornwell, Secretary of Nutfield Gals WI<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<b><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This blog is about the beginning of mine and Nutfield Gals
WI’s involvement with Reigate and Banstead Women’s Aid (RBWA), the amazing
women who run the Women’s Refuge and the women and children who find themselves
needing this massively underfunded and at risk resource. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By pure chance in late 2017 I became involved with my local
Women’s Refuge firstly by just donating mine, my sister and daughter’s unwanted
clothes and kid’s clothes and then quite soon afterwards as a volunteer. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In 2018 I spoke to my fellow committee members to see if we
could invite Emma who manages the refuge to come and speak about what the
refuge does at one of our meetings, they liked the idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thankfully she agreed to come and talk about,
the challenges involved and also spoke generally about the kinds of cases they
have to deal with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also for the very
first time in public, agreed to tell her own personal story of escaping an
abusive and dangerous relationship.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To say the story she told of her own experience was
powerful, shocking, heart breaking and utterly appalling is a massive
understatement, the emotion and empathy in the room was tangible, we were
stunned into silence by what this 29 year-old woman had endured and
survived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She was and continues to be,
an inspiration to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The financial challenges of running the refuge are constant
and unrelenting, the CEO and staff spend far too much of their precious time
trying to find ways of saving money and securing funding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Nutfield Gals decided they wanted to
help, so we do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We regularly make donations of female toiletries and
baby/toddler items such as nappies and wipes. We also make donations of non-perishable
foodstuffs. The refuge provide a welcome box for all new clients which contains
toiletries and some starter foodstuffs - pasta, rice, tinned tomatoes, beans etc.,
which helps the women have a measure of independence to feed their family until
such time as they have money to shop for themselves. They also have new bedding
and towels in their room and if they have children, a toy and book, however,
all of this has to be donated or funds raised to finance it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All these things are desperately needed by the women and
their children, as they usually arrive at the refuge with nothing, just the
clothes they stand up in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you
imagine being so afraid for your life that you have to leave your home, your
friends and family, your belongings, your children’s toys and clothes and flee
hundreds of miles away from everything that’s familiar in order to be safe, not
a comfortable thought is it?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I’m going to be blogging regularly about mine and Nutfield
Gals experiences of being involved with such an incredibly worthwhile and vital
resource.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope you find it interesting
and informative and that it stirs something in you to make you and your WI want
to get involved with your local women’s refuge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I really hope so, because this hideous abuse and control is going on
everywhere, in your town, your village, your street, maybe in your WI or worse
still, in your own family!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><b>Did you know your WI can support your local women's refuge under the NFWI's violence against women mandate? </b></span></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-34426905302963378802018-12-06T10:36:00.000+00:002018-12-06T13:05:24.308+00:00#AskHerToStand: Report on 50:50 Parliament event <br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Bucks Federation</b> member Deb Sanders was fortunate enough to receive an invitation from her MP to
attend the 21st November 2018 #AskHerToStand
event organised with the Fawcett
Society, <a href="https://5050parliament.co.uk/" target="_blank">50:50 Parliament</a>
in partnership with the <a href="https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Jo Cox</a> <a href="https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/" target="_blank">Foundation</a>, and <a href="https://www.centenaryaction.org.uk/" target="_blank">the Centenary Action
Group</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The reception, exhibition and
panel discussion was to mark the centenary of the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Parliament (Qualification of Women) Act </i>1918 when women were first
able to stand for Parliament. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide8TlFazhdHKpx-k7QVjvo4NeEwK7HKN4hPVg1drUnDsD194ZqHiNhZxLpUNGmND00HVUivZQlZeZ0opGzpWulXEvLi3MJrIEhYKujlCjHx6ZjFVYbz0s4KHM_7AOFNG3Q-ry8KPILZw/s1600/Deb+Sanders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1300" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEide8TlFazhdHKpx-k7QVjvo4NeEwK7HKN4hPVg1drUnDsD194ZqHiNhZxLpUNGmND00HVUivZQlZeZ0opGzpWulXEvLi3MJrIEhYKujlCjHx6ZjFVYbz0s4KHM_7AOFNG3Q-ry8KPILZw/s400/Deb+Sanders.jpg" width="323" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Photo credit: Deb Sanders</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here she recounts her experiences during her day at Westminster.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It’s amazing where your WI membership can lead you! I’d never have thought I’d be going to a conference
aiming for 50/50 gender representation in Parliament. After asking my MP, Dominic Grieve, for a
formal invitation, within 48hrs I had an appointment to have coffee with him in
Portcullis House, Westminster, even though I was a non-political delegate.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As I only found out about the opportunity to go on the event
late in the day I missed applying for tickets for Prime Minister’s Question Time
and the Women’s Equality Select committee but nonetheless my day was really
interesting. I did make a complaint, as
I had climbed up the two flights of stairs to register at the start of the day,
and there was no provision for people with mobility issues. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In the exhibition all the political parties had a stand
including the Women’s Equality Party.
The Fawcett Society was advertising itself as “the largest women’s
campaigning organisation in the UK” so I reminded them of the nearly quarter
million WI members nationwide!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The next port of call was Portcullis House by Westminster
station. 213 MPs have their offices in
this impressive building so security is key. Once inside I waited in a communal area to be
allowed in by my MP. We passed Laura Kuenssberg
from the BBC holding a media interview. The meeting with Dominic Grieve was around
thirty minutes – definitely not long enough to discuss either local or national
politics but it was a good opportunity to ‘flag wave’ for the WI. We had an interesting discussion about the
intense workload of MPs and how this can be so disruptive to family life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mr Grieve then escorted me through the tunnel that links
Portcullis House to the Palace of Westminster and into Westminster Hall. What an impressive building, you could feel
the years of history around you. A full
size Lego model of Emily Pankhurst is currently on display (see photo). After thirty minutes to take in the splendour
of this building, all participants gathered for a group photo with many female
MPs including Harriet Harman, Penny Mordaunt and Amber Rudd.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Then back to Portcullis House and the dreaded security
checks. This took so long that I missed
a buffet lunch! However I made it in
time for the keynote conference: ‘Ask Her to Stand’. The Rt.Hon Harriet Harman QC MP, Mother of the
House, was the keynote speaker. Other
women MP speakers included Vicky Ford, MP - Chair of the APPG on Women in
Parliament, Layla Moran, Rosena Allin-Khan, Mhairi Black, Penny Mordaunt, Maria
Miller and Helen Whately. The Q&A
session was much more positive and friendly than BBC Question Time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All spoke passionately about the rewards of being in Parliament
and having the opportunity to make a difference. Despite the pressures and long hours, the job <i>is</i> rewarding was the unanimous
thread. There are a few disadvantages: Penny
Mordaunt had to turn down an evening with Hugh Grant so that a committee of
which she was a member was quorate! Other threads were that women take years to
make the decision to stand for Parliament and often lack the confidence to do
so but that the collaborative nature of working together in Parliament was
rewarding, and women seem to be more compassionate. ‘Women network together to communicate, men
work together to gain information and power’ was another statement. ‘The dynamics of Westminster, and all other
levels of local government change when there is a fairer representation of
women’ was another thought. This was a
powerful and uplifting session which left me with much to think about.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The final part of the day was a seminar event back in Church
House where we’d registered. Delegates
were looking at the problems of ‘hard to reach’ women in the community. It was suggested that the term used should be
‘Easy to Ignore Women’. I sat at a table
with a group of women from a variety of backgrounds which included councillors
from a very deprived area of the country. We all faced similar problems but I was
impressed with the energy and compassion of these councillors who really
understood their area and were so committed to action. Discussions ranged around measures that
government can take and practical local solutions for these women with no
‘voice’. We all agreed that austerity
has made social isolation a bigger issue and especially in adult education. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was a fascinating day and I returned home with more
questions than answers. Why was I there
as a WI representative and what can we do to improve 50/50 representation at
all levels of public life? The political
parties are making great efforts to train and
support women who wish to stand for election. This, however, creates a body of women who owe
their allegiance to a party and less to a community. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I joined the WI thirty years ago. With the mentoring and friendship I received
from local members I have chaired a number of committees, been a school
governor, been a town councillor, and gained a Diploma in Stitched Textiles. The founding members of the WI were not afraid
to campaign in public. The WI is in a
unique position to encourage and train women to get involved in all levels of
public life without the mantra of party politics. Are we doing enough? Have we got a little
fluffy at the edges and concentrate too much on the craft and baking skills? It’s really hard to get local members inspired
to campaign for our resolutions, should we be doing more to boost the
confidence of members to speak in public and thus have the tools to be able to
campaign?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is time we had equal representation in all levels of
local and national government but this requires giving women confidence and the
tools to do the job. What can we as WI
members do to facilitate this?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Further reading:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/Pages/Category/what-we-do">https://www.fawcettsociety.org.uk/Pages/Category/what-we-do</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.centenaryaction.org.uk/">https://www.centenaryaction.org.uk/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/">https://www.jocoxfoundation.org/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://www.womensequality.org.uk/about">http://www.womensequality.org.uk/about</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://5050parliament.co.uk/">https://5050parliament.co.uk/</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-54045331648112694932018-11-29T16:08:00.000+00:002018-11-29T16:08:32.375+00:00Say ‘Not in my Name’ to Violence Against Women<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Written by Sarah Thomas, Public Affairs Officer at NFWI-Wales</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The National Federation of Women’s Institutes
(NFWI)-Wales is calling on WI members to recruit male ambassadors to make a
stand against Violence Against Women (VAW). The 16 Days of Activism against
Gender-based Violence started on 25 November (International Day for the
Elimination of VAW and White Ribbon Day) and ends of 10 December (Human Rights
Day). <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Last Tuesday (20 November), we held a Candlelight
Vigil, sponsored by Joyce Watson AM, outside the Senedd to show solidarity with
victims of VAW across the world and send out a powerful message that VAW is
unacceptable and will not be tolerated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbM8YmsLVY-XbIzHNb9lI6Jm8ITCmXTlJm0l7c78aZKfilkpRN-bK1G8k5o04Ciw4-SVi1jKkbvO0yep08eCJ406Mgs6zVzNYuCtESwv88FlRb2mfezk9kAJFBdPiAzCKXyhkh6QRT7sE/s1600/Candlelight+Vigil+group+photo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1224" height="426" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbM8YmsLVY-XbIzHNb9lI6Jm8ITCmXTlJm0l7c78aZKfilkpRN-bK1G8k5o04Ciw4-SVi1jKkbvO0yep08eCJ406Mgs6zVzNYuCtESwv88FlRb2mfezk9kAJFBdPiAzCKXyhkh6QRT7sE/s640/Candlelight+Vigil+group+photo.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Candlelight Vigil outside the Senedd</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Since
2012, NFWI-Wales has engaged WI members in the Not in my Name Campaign which
was established in 2012 with Joyce Watson AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West
Wales.The campaign has seen WI members use their strong community links to
recruit male ambassadors from their communities in speaking out against VAW and
making a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about VAW.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">During the 7 years of the campaign, we have
seen groups across Wales, including male choirs, farming unions and sports
clubs making a pledge to never commit, condone or remain silent about VAW.
Campaign supporters have included Christian Malcolm, the WRU, Glamorgan
Cricket, Cricket Wales, Newport County Football Club, Wrexham Football Club,
Only Men Aloud, Cardiff Blues and the Cardiff Devils.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The prevalence of VAW is shocking and unacceptable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is estimated that, every year, around
three million women across the UK experience VAW, which includes domestic
violence but also rape, forced marriage, sexual exploitation and other forms of
abuse and harassment. Over the last year, reports of sexual harassment and
abuse have been endemic as we have seen women mobilised to speak up about their
experiences through the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whilst women are disproportionately the
victims of violence, we should not underestimate the role of men in the
prevention and elimination of VAW. We must inspire more men to speak up
publicly to challenge the attitudes, behaviours and gender inequalities that
contribute to this violation of women’s rights. Men can be agents of change and
play a crucial part as positive role models to help us achieve a culture change
where VAW is not tolerated by society.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoU9JCdh4nuT3-FCpcQQDh8TUtoVJrm22LA_84M5i0xFYDxVq96bjU8YlkSVxY9GXBpISYGFDguTY6ieA3dUagVm9Z4AG3Cbat9YuN1xGMZVU_jShENHh1Mq8EOzsXNCzEJm0jxQmilg/s1600/South+Wales+Fire++Rescue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="816" data-original-width="1224" height="425" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivoU9JCdh4nuT3-FCpcQQDh8TUtoVJrm22LA_84M5i0xFYDxVq96bjU8YlkSVxY9GXBpISYGFDguTY6ieA3dUagVm9Z4AG3Cbat9YuN1xGMZVU_jShENHh1Mq8EOzsXNCzEJm0jxQmilg/s640/South+Wales+Fire++Rescue.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">South Wales Fire and Rescue pledging support for the White Ribbon Campaign</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">It is encouraging to note that more and more
public bodies are achieving the White Ribbon UK accreditation status in
recognition of their commitment in involving men in speaking out and
challenging male violence against women and girls. In October this year, Carmarthenshire County Council, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, and
Dyfed Powys Police were awarded White Ribbon accreditation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We should also celebrate the fact that South
Wales Fire and Rescue Service was the first fire and rescue service in the UK
and the world to achieve the White Ribbon status in 2014.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Whilst it is positive to note the commitment
being shown to ending VAW, we know that the pace of progress has been slow and
much further action, and at a faster pace, is needed if we are to achieve a
society where women are treated equally to men and consequently a society where
women are free from the fear of violence and abuse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was reinforced last month when the WI
marked 100 years of campaigning and reflected the progress made over the last
100 years through WI campaigns as well as what still needs to change.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It was interesting to look back at the early
campaigns which from the beginning focussed on achieving equal rights for women
and in addressing what was referred to as ‘the unequal moral standard’ or what
we would call today ‘the double standard’. Domestic violence was a key concern
for WI members in the 1970s and 1980s and saw the WI campaigning for marital
rape to be recognised under the law; for funding of refuges for survivors of
domestic violence and their children in every county; to increase the severity
of rape sentences, to adequately define domestic violence under the law so that
women and children in the home were protected, and to make sure that survivors
of domestic violence were able to access justice through the courts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Revisiting these resolutions has brought home
how relevant some of these resolutions are today as we continue to campaign for
gender equality and the provision of sustainable specialist support services
that women, wherever they live, can access.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Gender inequality is a cause and
consequence of VAW and we all have a part to play in challenging attitudes and
behaviours that persist in our society - be it in the home, community,
workplace or school. In Wales, we are fortunate
to have the ground-breaking Violence Against Women, Domestic Abuse and Sexual
Violence Act in place which focuses on protecting and supporting victims. We
must now ensure that the Government delivers on its commitments and that the
implementation of the Act does truly make a difference to women’s lives.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-76869097676628176982018-11-21T14:58:00.001+00:002018-11-21T14:58:27.470+00:00Margaret Wintringham: ‘Our Institute MP’ <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">2018 has been an
important year for celebrating women’s suffrage and rights. In February we
celebrated the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which
gave women over 30 with a property qualification the right to vote for the
first time. Many of the earliest members of the WI including Lady Denman and
Grace Hadow were involved in the suffrage movement and we are proud to
recognise their contribution. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Today we mark
another milestone as it is 100 years since the Parliament (Qualification of
Women) Act passed, enabling women to stand for Parliament for the first time.
While the WI is non-party political, this anniversary is also special to the
organisation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB1daUUqQQIfAf_51caUw0IVWlJRCiaCd9jDMzSv0aiYocNngC-odXupmgj4kqIQrrbTR4phdg-QeSOItBbU_Ag0BLAUBdOShqDd06_Mn_KDgJ-bgZW4MqpjNYrQD_rFLiQV4vXAFuOI/s1600/Margaret+Wintringham+1930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="422" data-original-width="253" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQB1daUUqQQIfAf_51caUw0IVWlJRCiaCd9jDMzSv0aiYocNngC-odXupmgj4kqIQrrbTR4phdg-QeSOItBbU_Ag0BLAUBdOShqDd06_Mn_KDgJ-bgZW4MqpjNYrQD_rFLiQV4vXAFuOI/s400/Margaret+Wintringham+1930.jpg" width="238" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Margaret Wintringham 1930</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Margaret
Wintringham was the second female MP to take her seat in the House of Commons
and a very active WI member. Margaret was supported by the NFWI in her career
and was known as ‘our Institute MP’ by other WI members.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Margaret’s role
in Parliament was celebrated in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Home
& Country, </i>the WI’s membership magazine,<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> </i>which reported:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">‘The election of Mrs Wintringham to
Parliament is a matter for rejoicing among Institute members, not only because
she is a well-known Institute worker, but also because she is the first woman
to represent a rural constituency’. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Margaret was
elected MP for Louth, Lincolnshire in 1921, three years after the law changed
to allow women to stand and two years after her close friend, Lady Nancy Astor,
the first female MP, took her seat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Margaret
Wintringham and Nancy Astor worked closely together in Parliament and it is
believed Nancy Astor was also a member of the WI, although this is unconfirmed.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">The two
politicians campaigned in Parliament to maintain the numbers of women police
after the First World War, an issue that was also the subject of two WI
resolutions passed in 1922 and 1924. With Margaret elected to the NFWI
Executive Committee in 1922, it gave the WI a direct line of communication into
the House of Commons.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv5GDjAc8h6OytVTXRnRgkiy_VwcHHU3jpj_z6MCn-Fd4HRcskE3SckZs_pkHdDTAJFNsZQ9Qin9RCbaLMgxhkPNF6puvPwAQixYsX7WvCiSZtvGYxCpkKx7Kz8PSzLhTnHsadf55DP0/s1600/Margaret+Wintringham+and+Nancy+Astor+1922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1038" data-original-width="798" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGv5GDjAc8h6OytVTXRnRgkiy_VwcHHU3jpj_z6MCn-Fd4HRcskE3SckZs_pkHdDTAJFNsZQ9Qin9RCbaLMgxhkPNF6puvPwAQixYsX7WvCiSZtvGYxCpkKx7Kz8PSzLhTnHsadf55DP0/s400/Margaret+Wintringham+and+Nancy+Astor+1922.jpg" width="307" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Margaret Wintringham and Nancy Astor 1922</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif;">Throughout her
three years in office, Margaret Wintringham continued to assist the NFWI with
parliamentary matters. She spoke about her work at the NFWI’s Annual General
Meeting (AGM) on numerous occasions and invited members in attendance at the
London AGM for a tour around the Houses of Parliament. While on this tour,
Margaret told her fellow members that her many years in the WI was the best
training she could have had for her work as an MP.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";">Margaret
Wintringham was succeeded in the House of Commons by Arthur Heneage in 1924.
She remained part of many social and political women’s organisations for the
rest of her life including her role as President of the Women’s Liberal
Federation. Margaret Wintringham died in 1955, aged 75. We are proud of the
lasting legacy she has left for women in politics and the WI. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif";"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-12970353695854775412018-11-09T14:43:00.002+00:002018-11-12T13:42:09.879+00:00Disley WI commemorates the forgotten women of the First World War<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Guest blog written by Sue Boothby, member of Disley WI</span></i><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">When I learned that not a single poppy in the </span><b style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif; text-align: justify;">'</b><span style="color: black; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red' installation at the </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Tower of
London in 2014 was in commemoration of a woman, I set out to put things right.</span></div>
<div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Paul Cummins and Tom Piper’s
display of 888,426 ceramic poppies was undeniable poignant and a fitting
dedication to the fallen British and Colonial soldiers of the First World War,
however the number provided to them by the War Graves Commission excluded any
female casualties.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Disley WI wanted to remember and
commemorate these forgotten women and so set out to try to find out how many
women lost their lives in service. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltOVgujFifX8eA0Xabn0R52bzXy8t9_eFkeJ-hqsoCg591XvXJtwxWyLRhX0_28WoNMQ_wZslE_ZVd8PX9x6LTRW9fI5Msi7tK_k9e0apRZUavNm-_8LfopsfyNfbIG5yqyL9X5y4ufk/s1600/poppy+group.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhltOVgujFifX8eA0Xabn0R52bzXy8t9_eFkeJ-hqsoCg591XvXJtwxWyLRhX0_28WoNMQ_wZslE_ZVd8PX9x6LTRW9fI5Msi7tK_k9e0apRZUavNm-_8LfopsfyNfbIG5yqyL9X5y4ufk/s400/poppy+group.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This was not an easy task – the
Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) does maintain a database of
casualties of the First World War however they acknowledged this could contain
inaccuracies due to omissions in original information provided by the Military
Authorities, or gaps as a result of computerisation and scanning of original
texts. Their list also only included women who died whilst serving with, or
attached to, a Commonwealth force.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This meant that women who died
whilst working in a civilian capacity, such as ambulance drivers, munitions
workers, spies, linguists etc, were not included. It was quickly realised the
real number of female casualties will never be known.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We resolved to create a
fitting memorial to commemorate these overlooked women. The CWGC were able to
identify 818 individual women in the UK, and so our members decided to craft a unique
poppy for each named individual. An additional poppy was created for Edith
Cavell, who made a significant contribution to saving the lives of soldiers
from both sides but was not included on the CWGC list as she was in occupied
Belgium in WW1. Finally, a special black poppy was made to commemorate all the
civilian casualties that were not recorded.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All 820 poppies will be on
display at Disley’s Fountain Square on Sunday 11</span><sup style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">th</sup><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> November, with
Disley’s annual Armistice Day Service taking place at the adjacent War Memorial
at 11am.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">We hope this will be a
fitting commemoration to pay tribute to the sacrifices made by the women of
WW1.</span></div>
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The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-47015770847787285592018-10-29T14:11:00.000+00:002018-10-29T14:11:47.145+00:00Transforming the NHS through people power: why we’re working with NFWI Wales<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i>Guest blog written by <span style="line-height: 107%;">Helen Howson, Director, Bevan Commission</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></i></span>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">100 years ago, the Women’s Institute was founded to improve
the lives of communities and contribute to the war effort. The first WI meeting
in the UK took place in Llanfairpwll on Anglesey, establishing a strong Welsh
voice for an organisation that has since become the largest women’s voluntary
organisation in the UK.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The ‘jam and Jerusalem’ image of the WI fails to honour
their serious role in campaigning for a wide variety of social issues in their
100-year history. WI members have a strong history of campaigning on important
health matters – sometimes many years before these issues became mainstream.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The WI first campaigned against smoking in public places
in 1964, and was an early voice for providing accurate information around the
AIDS epidemic and removing its stigma. Its work to improve the health and
wellbeing of women and communities across the UK continues through campaigns to
increase the number of midwives in the NHS and to reduce domestic violence. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">WI members work tirelessly to improve their local
communities and have a strong social conscience. I have seen first-hand through
my Mother, who is a long-standing member of the WI Glamorgan Federation, how
supportive this network is within its communities and how powerful it can be in
bringing about real change. Therefore, when it came to transforming the future
of the NHS through people power, NFWI Wales was my first call. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The Bevan Commission is Wales’ leading think tank for
health and care, established in 2008. We bring together 22 Bevan Commissioners
– eminent experts in the NHS, academia and industry – to provide independent,
authoritative advice on health and care to leaders in Welsh Government, NHS
Wales and beyond. We identify and share best practice from healthcare systems
around the world, building on the principles of the NHS as first articulated by
Aneurin Bevan in 1948. Our aim is to ensure that we have a health and care
system which is fit for the future not just the past.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We translate this thinking into action on the frontline
of the NHS, by supporting health professionals to trial and test out their new
ideas in their own hospitals, GP surgeries and care homes through our Bevan
Exemplar scheme. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">As important as it is to inspire change through
policymakers and NHS workers, we believe that we can only truly transform the
future of the health system by also working with people, patients and
communities. That is why we want WI members across Wales to join discussions
and take action to make good health and care everyone’s responsibility. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The NHS, which turned 70 earlier this year, faces real challenges
in terms of limited resources, rising demands and a shrinking workforce. We all
have to ensure that we use the health system responsibly and act as change
agents in our own towns, villages and cities. Do you sometimes see the GP when
you could see a pharmacist? Do you help others in your community who may need
non-medical care? Do you provide feedback on health services in your area?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">These are some of the questions we will be asking WI
members to discuss in their meetings, and we will also provide a comprehensive
resource pack for those that want explore this issue in more detail, including
inspirational case studies of wellbeing champions in their workplaces and
communities. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We know that people in Wales and WI
members are passionate about the NHS and its Welsh origins, and we would like
to capture and use this passion to create a ‘social movement for change’. We want
to change the dependency on medical solutions when other simple solutions may
be more effective and cause less harm. We want to make sure we use these important
skills and resources wisely and help everyone to take care of themselves <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>and others in ways which may not need drugs, tests
or other interventions - when maybe a cup of tea and a chat will do the trick
instead. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We hope that you will join us in 2019
to have conversations and together take actions which transform our NHS through
people power, just as we did when it as created. By working together, using all
our wisdom, skills and connections, we can make sure we maintain the very best health
and NHS - our ’jewel in the crown’ - for future generations to come<span class="MsoCommentReference">.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><i><span style="line-height: 107%;"></span></i></span>The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-26088519747644238932018-10-12T14:43:00.000+01:002018-10-12T14:43:07.401+01:00Manchester WI’s ‘Lady Grey IPA’ <br />
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<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Love British Food’s
‘British Food Fortnight’ runs from 22 September to 7 October 2018. It is the
biggest, annual celebration of British food and drink. The following guest blog
has been written by Manchester WI about a special beer that it brewed in
partnership with a local brewery in Manchester, to celebrate 100 years since
some women were given the vote for the first time. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">President Shelly shares how members created ‘Lady Grey IPA’, why British independent produce is important to them and how the beer has been received in the local community…</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zpeYVS6_Hi_sLWthAc6RVE1E3zlhkDG6l-Ra5PBd9q2dnSaTs6TpX-OL-jO8gzQT2CGr1a_0XnEGSdBgHRbFl2p-HCdd038R3jSCqLU4Qs7Tl3rGaQYkcb3xfeYENvMTP-p96_wr7Aw/s1600/28468063_1663549840392108_5449606215021581775_n.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="596" data-original-width="597" height="398" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-zpeYVS6_Hi_sLWthAc6RVE1E3zlhkDG6l-Ra5PBd9q2dnSaTs6TpX-OL-jO8gzQT2CGr1a_0XnEGSdBgHRbFl2p-HCdd038R3jSCqLU4Qs7Tl3rGaQYkcb3xfeYENvMTP-p96_wr7Aw/s400/28468063_1663549840392108_5449606215021581775_n.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Manchester WI and Runaway Brewery celebrated the 100th
anniversary of the Representation of the People Act 1918, which granted some
women the vote for the first time, and International Women’s Day 2018 by
brewing a limited edition beer called ‘Lady Grey IPA’.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We wanted to celebrate votes for women by doing something a
little out of the ordinary that lots of people across Manchester could enjoy. Brewing
a beer 100 years on from the first women being granted the vote shows one small
way how far women have come in the last 100 years – it’s about demonstrating
equality in a fun way that other people can join in with.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All of our members voted on the flavour of the beer and
tried testers at our Christmas party last year. The final product was infused
with Lady Grey Tea, Bergamot and citrus zest for a delicately perfumed, fruity
IPA.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We had decided to launch the beer at the beginning of March,
to coincide with International Women’s Day (8 March). During the week in
February that marked the centenary of the Representation of the People Act 1918,
members spent a day at The Runaway Brewery, getting stuck into the start of the
brewing process.</span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvfwPcRay1U0PhWCRJTPQauqJHRDmzXq6UhM6xNHu8wIbO9kG9Zlc3hLk_k4-JYlfIm2QjU7t7GvC0owhjwBne39_U78w_YB5gjJ9P2a3hyTnHm5FARfq7SQXXgRXqnCQRFcjTCZctSA/s1600/27907182_10159866153690307_157984616_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="900" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkvfwPcRay1U0PhWCRJTPQauqJHRDmzXq6UhM6xNHu8wIbO9kG9Zlc3hLk_k4-JYlfIm2QjU7t7GvC0owhjwBne39_U78w_YB5gjJ9P2a3hyTnHm5FARfq7SQXXgRXqnCQRFcjTCZctSA/s400/27907182_10159866153690307_157984616_o.jpg" width="223" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Working on the brewing process!</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As a local community group, supporting independent businesses
in our community is very important to Manchester WI. We wanted to work with a
local brewery that we could really get to know and become friends with, it’s
been a great experience and Mark and his team from Runaway are definitely
honorary WI members!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">On Saturday 10 March Runaway opened its doors for the Lady
Grey IPA Launch Party and there was an open invite to beer lovers across
Manchester to come and raise a celebratory pint. Seven other beers all brewed on site were
available, plus we were joined by Steep Soda serving locally made, all natural
soda on their pop-up gin bar - so something for every taste! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Lady Grey IPA Launch Party soundtrack was an eclectic and
celebratory mix of female led bands and artists with recommendations from
across the decades suggested by Manchester WI members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3uLzg9AY2F1q1yeLefrNeBjCpVcxWNJOd0-jPNApmYocS4gY7r7bq_6i2W2You7Vo9q9D8-YKE07JI-7PNUW7xAvWMEbM24y8dnj30knuOYRna1HjgluJuhDjOHolHkYSbgNzVJdwTw/s1600/27946314_10159866151840307_1176364133_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1471" data-original-width="1600" height="367" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB3uLzg9AY2F1q1yeLefrNeBjCpVcxWNJOd0-jPNApmYocS4gY7r7bq_6i2W2You7Vo9q9D8-YKE07JI-7PNUW7xAvWMEbM24y8dnj30knuOYRna1HjgluJuhDjOHolHkYSbgNzVJdwTw/s400/27946314_10159866151840307_1176364133_o.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Members of Manchester WI at Runaway Brewery</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mark Welsby, the owner of Runaway kept back two kegs of Lady
Grey IPA for the launch – which were all drank before the end of the day! The
rest of the beer was distributed around pubs and restaurants in Manchester and
sold out in record time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A percentage of the price of each bottle and pint went into
the Manchester WI bursary fund, supporting the WI’s original purpose of
education for women. This raised us over £200, giving us a fantastic boost to
the bursary fund available for our members this year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We’re thinking about brewing another beer for International
Women’s Day 2019 following the success of the Lady Grey IPA!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-81769411831533005722018-07-20T16:21:00.000+01:002018-07-23T10:34:02.395+01:00It’s time for the Government to commit to a proper measure of food insecurity<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Written by Lynne Stubbings, NFWI Chair </i></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFNTh1kl_vIBT-8BNLdOCq6dMVfAVzN2dBzY-kmTaur8haQ-DZMvDE268-62O93V9_MER1sWhxAiCmcVGM384wdRpxOPgzwZUe9laLszgeC0CTN58PlcQRBuEkrwMpMDSOS9FE5bEPz9Q/s1600/letter+to+PM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; text-align: justify;">Today I have written to the Prime Minister,
asking her to commit to measuring the prevalence of food insecurity in the UK. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">The
work that has been done on this so far in the UK is patchy at best; I have
urged her to commit instead to ongoing and robust measurement. Without it, we
cannot hope to find proper solutions to the problem of hunger in this country.</span><br />
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As the largest women’s organisation in the
UK, the Women’s Institute (WI) retains a strong grassroots ethos at the core of
all policy and campaigning work. Over its 103 year history, the WI has worked
across a wide-ranging portfolio of issues. As Chair of the National Federation
of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), I am proud to say that all WI campaigns are
member-led. The issues we work on reflect the concerns of nearly 220,000
members who are committed to realising the potential of an active and informed
civic society. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In
2016 a resolution was passed by the membership which calls for the WI to work
to tackle the issue of food insecurity. WI members across the country are
organising discussion events to learn about the issue of food insecurity, and
to learn how this can be tackled at the local and systemic levels. Through this
work WI members have been disappointed at both the lack and quality of
statistics available which measure the extent of the problem. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There
are easy and validated tools for collecting data on food insecurity which are
already in use in other countries. For example in the United States, the
Department of Agriculture operates the Household Food Insecurity Survey Module.
At the United Nations the Food and Agricultural Organisation has developed a Food
Insecurity Experience Scale. Proper implementation of these tools in existing surveys
would allow robust and effective measurement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">By
committing to measure household food insecurity in the UK, the government would
also be working towards meeting its obligations under the United Nations
Sustainable Development Goals – especially Goal Two, which calls for an end to
hunger, achieving food security and improving nutrition, and promoting
sustainable agriculture.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Without
proper measurement it is clear that both the Government and civil society are
ill-equipped to understand the full extent of food insecurity. Only once the true
scale of the problem is known do we stand a chance of responding effectively,
and ensuring that no-one goes hungry in the UK.</span><o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">You can read the full letter <a href="http://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/311995/Dear-Mrs-May_final.pdf">here.</a></span></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 12.0pt;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "arial" , "sans-serif"; font-size: 9.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-38360781172404727542018-07-17T11:37:00.001+01:002018-07-17T11:37:43.345+01:00Craftivism and the WI <i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Guest blog written by Claire Wade, President of Swallowtail WI in Norfolk Federation. This article was originally published in the Eastern Daily Press on 11 July 2018.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></i>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zzsETSRiJ10fL1oW3OPOeSXDL4xdk2iWe1Yq7RTOONWHcfTre3G0ObDoX0nk_zrgWBdqjq8vyIBAqgvqSoUcRe8yhg5pH8MjjIPU3kW0rMy2UcnUd_osAo60tjozlmom41LUqddBu0k/s1600/EDP+-+Show+Entry+DSCF0286+%25281%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-zzsETSRiJ10fL1oW3OPOeSXDL4xdk2iWe1Yq7RTOONWHcfTre3G0ObDoX0nk_zrgWBdqjq8vyIBAqgvqSoUcRe8yhg5pH8MjjIPU3kW0rMy2UcnUd_osAo60tjozlmom41LUqddBu0k/s400/EDP+-+Show+Entry+DSCF0286+%25281%2529.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Swallowtail WI's craft entry for the Norfolk Show </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Political
activism is often seen as radical and potentially aggressive. The term conjures
up images of petitions, protests and rallies, but these are not the only ways
to raise awareness of important issues. Not everybody can or wants to take to
the streets to march, but that doesn’t mean they don’t care or are unwilling to
get involved. Fortunately there are alternatives, ways to use your skills and
experience to demonstrate in a form that’s right for you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
WI is known for its campaigning, it introduced the initial plan for Keep
Britain Tidy in 1954 and passed a resolution to ban smoking in public places
in 1964. The WI has a voice and it’s not afraid to use it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The
problem with some forms of protest is that if people feel they’re being
preached to or shouted at, they can shut down and stop listening. Global
warming, domestic abuse or mental health are all subjects that are often met
with a cool reaction, especially when the person doesn’t realise that the
issues affect them or those they know.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<br />
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">That’s
why the WI uses craftivism to raise awareness in a subtler, but no less powerful
way. Craftivism combines craft with activism; it’s a way of voicing your
opinion through the use of crafts and creativity to influence long-term change.
It can be easy to dismiss it as unimportant or “airy-fairy” but the WI is
successfully leveraging its members’ skills to create stunning works of art and
start important conversations. With craftivism it doesn’t matter your
background, your political party or religion, everyone can get involved because
the issues cross party lines, they affect us all.</span><span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;"> </span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZMC1_XShJMa7Qp4sY2JbY9x13bgzBK6mW8AIyyVvVFRTtwnF8quxEfyvgO0IqYbLLrCBmsWD2l3qOZtqZVBsUUG4W676XxmrQcQiNEoDQAotGWZVjfEHPIreRCnRdRe28vBZoFG69U/s1600/EDP+-+White+Ribbon++++15109450_622916331243515_7923328729785338862_n+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1TZMC1_XShJMa7Qp4sY2JbY9x13bgzBK6mW8AIyyVvVFRTtwnF8quxEfyvgO0IqYbLLrCBmsWD2l3qOZtqZVBsUUG4W676XxmrQcQiNEoDQAotGWZVjfEHPIreRCnRdRe28vBZoFG69U/s400/EDP+-+White+Ribbon++++15109450_622916331243515_7923328729785338862_n+%25281%2529.jpg" width="300" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Norfolk
WI members have been involved in numerous craftivism projects. As part of our
long running campaign, No More Violence Against Women, we created a giant white
ribbon, because wearing a white ribbon demonstrates your pledge to never
commit, condone or remain silent about violence against women. Our ribbon stood
ten feet tall and was inscribed with messages of support from people across the
county.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdnkDE2D0411qoMUnnfGFxYWND3SfUEQ1WUeFhBoKQFAlVZeWbML2XwZJGoDYdtqemQRTaLl8uC85AYO5LYgGKPDSivNLeRRcvihdj59epCxWDaks8iV86wdQGWguORG8wFF7FnznGUA/s1600/EDP+-+Green+Hearts+Display++++20180214_121035++%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEdnkDE2D0411qoMUnnfGFxYWND3SfUEQ1WUeFhBoKQFAlVZeWbML2XwZJGoDYdtqemQRTaLl8uC85AYO5LYgGKPDSivNLeRRcvihdj59epCxWDaks8iV86wdQGWguORG8wFF7FnznGUA/s400/EDP+-+Green+Hearts+Display++++20180214_121035++%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Every
February, WIs craft green hearts to raise awareness of climate change and “Show
the Love” for the places we want to protect. This year the hearts formed a
display on the railings outside St Peter Mancroft.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfID5B9R6kLnSab3j6PzSmx26lpVAvzW9ffdnhJ7Sibskkk384zAJf8-8M87s5wclMFpn0Nhp753t59rOxmTfWaPrIqOHiUMdZ5VJ9WQ9aGksarYWpXUjag1T5S1KKYcj4iizTA-NcOVo/s1600/EDP+-+Erpingham+with+Calthorpe+WI++++quilt+RIMG0333-1024x768.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfID5B9R6kLnSab3j6PzSmx26lpVAvzW9ffdnhJ7Sibskkk384zAJf8-8M87s5wclMFpn0Nhp753t59rOxmTfWaPrIqOHiUMdZ5VJ9WQ9aGksarYWpXUjag1T5S1KKYcj4iizTA-NcOVo/s400/EDP+-+Erpingham+with+Calthorpe+WI++++quilt+RIMG0333-1024x768.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">For
International Women’s Day 2016, Erpingham with Calthorpe WI encouraged visitors
to the Forum to sew inspirational words onto patches to make a quilt for Leeway,
a domestic abuse charity.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQXiue7UQUs8EUVON6UCWDw6yLLIeA85-TUH9g5PsTYL1FDd33ejDTA9ylxY5oFYyGpZmjynhHdB4WMbFDijcQhC9FI2Dheli6-quMZOuod5IW8P9qpdJQ6gp2PTruvsk3m9cDc_gN0Y/s1600/EDP+-+Yarn+Bombing+630++b+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="480" data-original-width="589" height="325" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQXiue7UQUs8EUVON6UCWDw6yLLIeA85-TUH9g5PsTYL1FDd33ejDTA9ylxY5oFYyGpZmjynhHdB4WMbFDijcQhC9FI2Dheli6-quMZOuod5IW8P9qpdJQ6gp2PTruvsk3m9cDc_gN0Y/s400/EDP+-+Yarn+Bombing+630++b+%25281%2529.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">In
October, Buxton & District WI celebrated its 90th birthday by yarn bombing
their village, to bring the community together.</span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">This
year, Swallowtail WI paid tribute to the centenary of some women in the UK getting
the vote. Members incorporated suffragettes and the colours Green, White and Violet
(Give Women Votes) into their Norfolk Show craft entry.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">Norwich
All Saints WI (NASWI) made sensory bands and lap blankets for people with
Alzheimer’s and dementia, and crocheted red triangles to raise awareness of Female
Genital Mutilation. Members also help run Crafternoons at The Millennium
Library on the first Saturday of every month. The sessions are free to
attend, open to everyone and help to alleviate loneliness, which was last
year’s WI resolution.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">“If
people can wear a brooch, make a creative display, paint a rock, hang a piece
of bunting they are able to let people know how they feel and what they want to
say without having to confront folk with words and printed messages,” said
Kathy Riviere from NASWI. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="background: white; line-height: 15.0pt; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">While
the finished project is important, the act of creation is almost more
important. It brings people together and gets them talking about the issue
while enjoying a relaxing activity. It’s easier to talk about the hard things while
your hands are busy and there’s tea and cake nearby. If this is the new face of
political activism then sign me up. </span><o:p></o:p></div>
The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-89615309817402128292018-06-15T10:46:00.001+01:002018-06-15T10:54:27.226+01:00Progress on food waste<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">May
was an exciting month for the Food Matters campaign, with two major campaign wins.
First, Morrisons published its food waste figures for the first time – one of
the key asks of our campaign. Second, Tesco announced that, in direct response
to the WI’s campaigning and research, it will be removing best before dates
from 70 lines of packaged fruit and veg. These are two great examples of the power
of the WI coming together to make positive long lasting
change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Food Matters campaign<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
Food Matters campaign was started in 2016 as a result of a resolution at that
year’s annual meeting. Over five thousand WI members took part in our food
waste research project, telling us about their own food waste habits and
visiting supermarkets to investigate practices on the shelves. This led us to
publish a report in which we set out a series of recommendations to retailers,
which was turned into a manifesto for WIs to hand to in to their local
supermarkets.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The NFWI has been pushing retailers to change their practices by meeting
with key players in the retailers’ food waste teams to outline our
recommendations. This combined with WI members speaking up in their local communities, ensures that the WI is a powerful voice for change.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tesco removing best before
dates from packaged fruit and veg<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Thanks
to the WI’s research and campaigning (or as The Times put it in its article
covering the move, our “intense lobbying”) Tesco is now removing best before
dates from 70 lines of packaged fruit and vegetables. This is a great step that
we feel have a positive effect on lowering food waste levels in the home, as
our research showed significant confusion around date labelling. <span style="color: black;">WI members told us that they believe people may be too
reliant on best before labels (which are not linked to food safety) when
deciding whether or not food is safe to eat, often throwing
perfectly good food out unnecessarily.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqw37TySxo9MV9SgTU2kJNB1OouePlv9yf7cCx4DdGQBQFESOObQ-aeBAp79h4ZtCMc1VeqFtOaS6M8BGuOn9RtyNwtg5P88gyczZ44xls_jofPD16v49b1egW5zA_r8EIb53egaFCiQ/s1600/food+matters+paper.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuqw37TySxo9MV9SgTU2kJNB1OouePlv9yf7cCx4DdGQBQFESOObQ-aeBAp79h4ZtCMc1VeqFtOaS6M8BGuOn9RtyNwtg5P88gyczZ44xls_jofPD16v49b1egW5zA_r8EIb53egaFCiQ/s640/food+matters+paper.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="center" class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Just some of the press
coverage the move received, all of which outlined how the change was a result
of WI campaigning.</span></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We congratulate Tesco for taking this important step, and will
encourage all other retailers to consider following this step.</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Morrisons start the journey
towards food waste transparency<o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 120%;">We would like to see all of the supermarkets
be much more transparent about their food waste statistics, so we were excited
to see Morrisons publish its food waste figures for the first time. This
provides a baseline from which progress on food waste can be measured. It is
important that all other retailers join Morrisons (and for a few years now,
Tesco) in publishing their figures on an annual basis. Lynne Stubbings, NFWI
Chair, </span><a href="file:///C:/Users/r.sharkey/AppData/Local/Microsoft/Windows/INetCache/Content.Outlook/4S8NAY0V/-%09https:/www.thegrocer.co.uk/opinion/letters/morrisons-and-tesco-have-set-a-good-example-on-food-waste/567474.article"><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-family: "FS Sally"; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">wrote
to the editor of The Grocer</span></a><span style="color: black; line-height: 120%;"> to welcome this move,
and to push Morrisons to go further. She argued that:<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; line-height: 120%;">“While this initial publication is
a good start, Morrisons still have much further to go to increase transparency
around food waste in their business. First, it must commit to extending the
scope of these figures to their suppliers. Second, it must ensure that they
publish these data on their website, in a format easily accessible to the
public, not buried in deep in a CSR report. Third, it must move beyond
providing merely a single headline figure and outline a breakdown of the
figures.”</span><span style="line-height: 120%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">These are two great successes for
the Food Matters campaign, and we will continue to push all supermarkets to
follow all of the recommendations in the “Wasted Opportunities” report. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-82261696311969356682018-06-08T14:47:00.000+01:002018-06-08T14:50:40.791+01:00World Oceans Day 2018<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This World Ocean’s Day we reflect on how
WIs and federations engaged with the End Plastic Soup campaign in its first
year. <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns-and-initiatives/end-plastic-soup/end-plastic-soup-survey"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Our
campaign</i></a><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"> calls on Government and industry to
develop solutions to reduce the amount of microplastic fibres entering our
oceans. Microplastic fibres are shed from synthetic clothing when washed and
pose a health risk to marine life. The campaign has also been a chance for WIs
to consider the amount of single-use plastic they use every day and look at reducing
the environmental impacts ‘fast fashion’ has on the environment. <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<br />
<br />
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<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Isle of Wight Federation</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> is theming their Annual Council Meeting
around the campaign.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“As an island federation
we really see and feel the impact of plastic pollution. It was an obvious
choice for us to not only embrace the campaign, but to widen the scope of
impact and look at the many ways in which plastic pollution affects us, and how
we can make a difference.” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Their Annual
Council Meeting will feature speakers from their local MP, Bob Seely, speaker <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">for</i> the resolution at the 2017 NFWI
Annual Meeting, Dr Natalie Welden and a Southern Water representative. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The federation
is also making a difference in reducing the amount of plastic waste in their
own office: <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Our federation
office has a "no single-use plastic" requirement in place, and we
have even told our local Agricultural Show, where we provide refreshments, that
we expect to see recycling stations this year! All of us can do something,
however small, to protect our environment for years, and generations, to come.”
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Cornwall Federation</b> is also acutely aware of the threat
plastics poses to the oceans, as the Federation’s Climate Ambassador, Pippa
Stilwell highlights:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“A sift through
the sand of every pristine beach reveals tiny chips of plastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A wander along a forgotten cove shows larger
objects – polyethylene rope and endless plastic bottles.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Two Cornwall WIs, Liskeard and Downderry and
Seaton, caught people’s attention by entering their carnival parades festooned
in plastic collected from local beaches.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cEEy4KxttSrWRWoI2hZd6T3jmM1DQOnt_h2OJIs-pyLzY0vyFkbMmPusP80CIJegpV8EALsq9RO4fjx-eYcH8e5uzBQvrNyaFEza_ELlQEB1pZ6U9-1QV7A50d6-RW4KGRK_lFfjp3Y/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="468" data-original-width="935" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cEEy4KxttSrWRWoI2hZd6T3jmM1DQOnt_h2OJIs-pyLzY0vyFkbMmPusP80CIJegpV8EALsq9RO4fjx-eYcH8e5uzBQvrNyaFEza_ELlQEB1pZ6U9-1QV7A50d6-RW4KGRK_lFfjp3Y/s640/1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Hawkesbury & Horton WI</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> organised an awareness event for the local community: “</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The aim was to have something for everyone, as well as lots of delicious cake!” </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The event featured a Make Do and Mend corner and <span style="color: #1d2129;">clothes swap rail. They screened Sky’s documentary 'A Plastic
Tide’, there was a produce table offering free soaps and raffle prizes included
bamboo toothbrushes and Fairtrade chocolate and wine.</span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">Sotonettes WI</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> invited
Dr KatsiaPabortsava, a biogeochemist at the National Oceanography Centre, to
speak at their meeting. They even had
their washing machine samples analysed and presented back to them by Katsia!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Selby Swans WI</span></b><span style="color: black;"> has a
team of members spearheading their End Plastic Soup campaign. The campaign got
off to a great start with a launch article in their local newspaper, which will
feature their campaign actions every month. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; mso-layout-grid-align: none; text-autospace: none;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
team are also appealing to businesses to ban plastic straws and asking their
members to pledge changes they will make in their own lives using a selfie
board. One particularly crafty member is raising awareness of the issue by
creating a piece of clothing using recycled plastic and producing cotton
washing bags for other members. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Lymington WI </span></b><span style="color: black;">took
over the foyer of their local supermarket where they handed out the WI’s End
Plastic Soup checklist to passers-by. Their MP, Sir Desmond Swayne, came along
to lend his support, as well as their local newspaper.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">“Our
WI is based in an estuary town so making sure our oceans and beaches are clean
is very important to us. Lots of people were astounded that microplastics can
be released from washing your synthetic clothing.”<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This
was followed by a beach clean where over twenty sacks of rubbish was collected.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRaBescclyzUpp5tHuzNkRKCIQmQp57WVU3X85pUsTNbCuIURuMDw7VTos_cF-gNxOwBvzPz0_-Uy2jhCpe2RgDjBcqRJQO4334KZiJIcNqzpaJ5nmT6VkzlSn__JO4YfQLXDbcjILsY/s1600/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaRaBescclyzUpp5tHuzNkRKCIQmQp57WVU3X85pUsTNbCuIURuMDw7VTos_cF-gNxOwBvzPz0_-Uy2jhCpe2RgDjBcqRJQO4334KZiJIcNqzpaJ5nmT6VkzlSn__JO4YfQLXDbcjILsY/s400/4.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How is the National Federation of Women’s
Institute (NFWI) working on the campaign? <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The NFWI has<span style="color: black;"> met with a range of industries to gain a better
understanding of how they are working on the issue of microplastic fibres. We
plan to bring together relevant stakeholders to discuss upcoming work and next
steps. </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">The NFWI has also developed an </span><a href="https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/ZPX5QRN">End Plastic Soup survey</a><span style="color: black;">, which
closes on 20 June, and looks at the makeup of our wardrobes and washing habits.
The findings of the survey will form part of an NFWI report launching later
this year. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="color: black;">Do
you want to take action now?</span></b><span style="color: black;"> The NFWI is holding a drop-in
session at Parliament on 4 July<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b>for
MPs to come along and learn more about our<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">
</b>campaign and what we are calling for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black;">Invite your local MP along using our
template letter. Download it here: </span><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns-and-initiatives/end-plastic-soup"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">thewi.org.uk/endplasticsoup</b></a><span style="color: #c0504d;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm;">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A more detailed update on how the
NFWI has been working on the campaign will be in the August Mailing, so keep an
eye out for it! <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-56131225348454392972018-04-10T16:31:00.003+01:002018-04-10T16:40:07.123+01:00Breast Cancer UK Ambassador Programme helps people reduce their risk of breast cancer <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b style="text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Guest blog written by Nikki Mattei, Ambassador Programme Project Manager, Breast Cancer UK</span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdgCM3278q9JWBuSQG5IUSY6FFFxxvRfVHZtblh5dOcvImlNwgxdsTu4YmLIoi1qEHJYVEYyckkl0vqBWmhs3UA5fBBEHDUxDaRTRbww7AtdRLXHEjru2ISMLWI2tKZNCMDe5zJjdsyI/s1600/BCUK.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="210" data-original-width="945" height="140" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWdgCM3278q9JWBuSQG5IUSY6FFFxxvRfVHZtblh5dOcvImlNwgxdsTu4YmLIoi1qEHJYVEYyckkl0vqBWmhs3UA5fBBEHDUxDaRTRbww7AtdRLXHEjru2ISMLWI2tKZNCMDe5zJjdsyI/s640/BCUK.jpg" width="640" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Breast Cancer UK is a small
national charity with a focus on prevention and reducing risk. The charity aims to help people lead
healthier lives with a particular focus on the environmental and chemical
causes of the disease. It believes our
exposure to the mixture of chemicals, present in many everyday products and in
our environment, could be making us more vulnerable to breast cancer. <o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Breast Cancer UK
launched its Ambassador Project in 2016 with support from The Big Lottery Fund
in order to educate people in communities across the country about the accepted
and potential risk factors for breast cancer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ambassadors are trained and provided with resources to go out into their
communities and deliver talks about breast cancer prevention.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A real need for prevention</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">It is predicted
that 1 in 8 women will get breast cancer at some point in their lives. 55,000 people are diagnosed with the disease
every year and incidence rates have more than doubled since records began in
1971. 1 in 5 will
be under the age of 50. It is alarming
that so many younger women are being diagnosed with breast cancer and it is not
a trend we can put down to screening and awareness alone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">In recent years,
breast cancer awareness has become enormously visible – most people know that
they should be checking their breasts and know that they should report any
changes to their doctor. However, there
is not always high awareness about breast cancer risk factors and, importantly,
what action can be taken to reduce those risks with some studies suggesting
that 1 in 4 cases are preventable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OhixFQwh8nXxrZEzNeE_417LVVD58_OJEv86pJ0I3oh7b6G5yy5LAVe1kaue440U8dk5yQlCjlNtbOvaOYnja-xTGNpMoCTPNr0coAR4VOSoN0YUDL12hT1FJX6J3FYTpvoP7cvyIFk/s1600/BCUK_1+in+8+Women+TW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="513" data-original-width="1025" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OhixFQwh8nXxrZEzNeE_417LVVD58_OJEv86pJ0I3oh7b6G5yy5LAVe1kaue440U8dk5yQlCjlNtbOvaOYnja-xTGNpMoCTPNr0coAR4VOSoN0YUDL12hT1FJX6J3FYTpvoP7cvyIFk/s640/BCUK_1+in+8+Women+TW.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The </b><a href="https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/science-and-research/background-briefings/biology-of-breast-cancer/">risk factors for breast cancer</a><b> are many. </b>It is known that a<b> </b>lack of exercise, being overweight, having a family history,
alcohol consumption and various medications such as HRT for example are
directly linked to an increased risk of breast cancer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">There is growing
scientific evidence to suggest that a group of chemicals known as <a href="https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/science-and-research/background-briefings/endocrine-disrupting-chemicals/">Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs)</a> present in our environment and used in many everyday
products may also increase our risk of the disease. Breast
Cancer UK aims to raise awareness of these chemicals, campaigns for universal
measures to reduce our exposure and supports scientific research so that we
better understand their role in breast cancer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We are looking for more Ambassadors</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We all want to
prevent breast cancer, to prevent the agony that is felt when one of our close
friends or family is diagnosed and, whilst we are glad to see more women
surviving breast cancer, we would all rather none of them had to go through it
in the first place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Breast Cancer
UK Ambassador Programme was launched in 2016 to address the lack of focus on
the risk factors for breast cancer but also to show people that they can take
positive action themselves. We knew that
the best way to get across our prevention message was talking to people
face-to-face in clubs, community groups and local companies.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Ambassadors are
fully trained on the known and suspected risk factors for breast cancer and
equipped with presentation tools, leaflets and ongoing support to help them
deliver their message in a positive, upbeat way – showing people what they can
do rather than what they can’t.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As well as sharing
information, our Ambassadors become part of a growing community of people who
are not prepared to accept that breast cancer is inevitable, but that we can
take action to reduce our risk. In
doing so, we hope that breast cancer incidence rates will eventually start to
fall.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since the programme
began, we have recruited and trained 36 volunteer Ambassadors across the
country but we still need more!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6WuLm8REL6A-AY3GWPu07Au1_0iVVpm4wGOH5i8P0Kv6cWDF9md0O032LwJMdWEnJLJwLZfM_lY_6Bu9N5R_HAWbTtro0HzrnLCPIJexf6OBOBiwXBstd4f1KBOKg1O0jiDxCinFmpY/s1600/TD3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1200" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6WuLm8REL6A-AY3GWPu07Au1_0iVVpm4wGOH5i8P0Kv6cWDF9md0O032LwJMdWEnJLJwLZfM_lY_6Bu9N5R_HAWbTtro0HzrnLCPIJexf6OBOBiwXBstd4f1KBOKg1O0jiDxCinFmpY/s640/TD3.jpg" width="640" /></a></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our next Ambassador
Training Day is on Saturday 12 May in Birmingham and there are still some
places available. Travel expenses will
be reimbursed and a cooked lunch is also provided. You will learn about the rise in breast
cancer rates, the acknowledged and potential risk factors, how the disease
starts and then, most importantly, you will be provided with resources and
advice to go out into your own community and deliver ‘Let’s Prevent Breast
Cancer’ talks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you are
interested, you can read more and sign up for the May Training Day (or put your
name down for the next one) </span><a href="https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/fundraise-volunteer/volunteer/breast-cancer-uk-ambassador-programme" style="font-family: Georgia, "Times New Roman", serif;">on our website</a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Host a ‘Let’s Prevent Breast Cancer’ talk<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2795wuzcaM-Gu8xp0eYvIZkuJb0tvjYoJfP_vDyp6dTZXp-oWUxJvpFMmnd3p1GtVi6on_xhOtrx7objW_YuIrK7NPW9FoO_eF8NkNW_DZRNwCMIc_lUbZBa59QisFwxn64oepKjJQWs/s1600/Let%2527s+Prevent+Breast+Cancer+talk.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2795wuzcaM-Gu8xp0eYvIZkuJb0tvjYoJfP_vDyp6dTZXp-oWUxJvpFMmnd3p1GtVi6on_xhOtrx7objW_YuIrK7NPW9FoO_eF8NkNW_DZRNwCMIc_lUbZBa59QisFwxn64oepKjJQWs/s400/Let%2527s+Prevent+Breast+Cancer+talk.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our Ambassadors are
always on the look out for groups to talk to and we would welcome the
opportunity to hear from any WI groups who would like to host one of our talks.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The talk covers the
following:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How breast cancer develops</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Risk factors for breast cancer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Why oestrogen is significant for breast cancer</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Simple ways to reduce your risk and lead a
healthier life</span></li>
</ul>
<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The talk consists of a quiz, PowerPoint presentation and short film,
followed by questions, taking about an hour in total. All guests are provided
with useful literature to take away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormalCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 12.0pt; mso-add-space: auto;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you would like to enquire about hosting a talk and find out more,
please <a href="https://www.breastcanceruk.org.uk/reduce-your-risk/book-a-lets-prevent-breast-cancer-talk">go to our website</a> and complete the booking form at
the end of the page.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-5492569649188879482018-03-15T15:33:00.001+00:002018-03-15T16:02:31.373+00:00Lighting the Flame: Norfolk Women Reaching Women International Women's Day (IWD) <b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Guest blog written by Mary Dorrell, Chairman of Norfolk Federation PR Sub Committee, Digital Team Leader & Web Editor </span></b><br />
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How
often do we say "my back is killing me?" I thought about this
recently, in Tanzania, when I witnessed so many back breaking jobs as women
went about their daily tasks.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Back
home and hoping for signs of spring, it is time to think about planting out my
cabbages. Maybe not yet, but on the shores of Lake Victoria vegetables are
planted on a two-month rotation, so there is always a crop to harvest as well
as one to plant. The soil is rich, but water is difficult to bring to the
fields. As a man moved the hose-pipe from plot to plot, the women carrying
buckets on their heads, wanted to stop and chat, "<i>You are welcome in
our village</i>". Women at work, building a sense of community. The cabbages
being planted, I noticed, look much like ours; but the hazards are different.
We were warned to expect a noisy night if elephants from the nearby Serengeti
had to be chased off and I saw footprints across the fields from Africa's
deadliest animal, the hippopotamus. But none of the locals expected the 15 foot
python we chanced upon whilst walking through the reed beds and which horrified
them; as well as providing an obvious explanation of the goat that had gone
missing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The
welcome had been the same when we stood in line to join the Maasai women
singing, days earlier. They taught me how to flip or toss the traditional
women's Maasai collar (the action, it turns out, is in the shoulders, not the
bosom). A useful skill now I am back in Norfolk? The Norfolk Women Reaching
Women community has been preparing for Norfolk's 2018 International Woman's
Day. In many countries
IWD, March 8th, is the day when mothers are given flowers and in some countries
it is a public holiday. This year,
thanks to Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse, we are combined the event with our
traditional flower-giving day: Mothering Sunday, March 11th.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Consisting
of over a dozen organisations; NWRW is convened by Norfolk Federation WIs and
we have celebrated International Women's Day and Norfolk's equality and
diversity together for some years. Amongst over twenty organisations, we
include: the WI, Mother's Union, Soroptimists,
Norwich Dedza Partnership and the Daisy Project. <span lang="EN-US">This
year's event was called "Lighting the Flame" with an educational
theme that is both a UN sustainable development goal and part of the WI aim to
offer a wide range of learning opportunities. “<i>Girls who see the flame lit
by their mothers will one day light the fire for their own children</i>.” said
Patience Unazi of Diversity Plus, who had hand crafted items on sale as well as
entertaining us with African story telling.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b></b></span><br />
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Our Keynote
Speaker was Janet Clark of Gambian Aid Through Education, another local
charity, that helps some of the poorest people in Africa by selling their
handicrafts. </span>"<i>By
helping the women in The Gambia we can get more children into education which
is the path from poverty.</i>" Other locally based charities included The
Freedom Charity working to prevent FGM in UK and organisations working with
Norfolk women who have low self esteem: “<i>This is a fantastic opportunity to
network with other women’s organisations.</i>” Mandy Proctor CEO, Leeway.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Part
of the annual Mothering Sunday event, <span lang="EN-US">Miriam
Burroughs, of Gressenhall, told us: </span>"<i>The spring flowers are coming into
bloom so spend some precious time together exploring our 50 acre site. There
were activities for the whole family including stalls, crafts, talks, singing
and story-telling. There was also be a chance to look behind the scenes at the
Norfolk Collections Centre. And in the Mardlers’ Rest Café, a treat awaied with
a free cream tea for all mothers!" </i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="line-height: normal;">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span lang="EN-US">Much of what mothers and women do, around the world is
back-breaking, but on this day o</span>ver 20 organisations met together today, in
friendship and sisterhood.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; margin-left: 35.35pt; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; tab-stops: 0cm list 35.35pt; text-indent: -14.15pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It was good to meet old friends and new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It was good to hear familiar tales and new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">·<span style="font-stretch: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span><!--[endif]-->It was good to see connections being made and
remade.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Let us continue to support each other in future endeavours!</span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="text-indent: -14.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoBodyText">
<span style="text-indent: -14.15pt;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Many thanks Gressenhall for their generosity of
time and effort.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span lang="EN-US"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US">Thank-you, so
much, everyone.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span lang="EN-US"><br /></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>Participants in Norfolk IWD 2018</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NORFOLK WOMEN REACHING WOMEN (NWRW)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Norfolk Federation of Women's Institutes (Conveners)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Associated Country Women of the World<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Daisy Programme<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Diversity Plus<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Equal Lives<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Freedom Charity<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Gambian Aid Through Education<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Girlguiding Norfolk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Leeway<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mothers' Union<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">NCC Domestic Abuse Co-ordinator<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nurtured Naturally<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Samia Malik<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">School Readers<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Women Against State Pension Inequality<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Women's Equality Party<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Women's International League of Peace and Freedom<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Woodcraft Folk<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-30928763299178629212018-03-09T10:12:00.001+00:002018-04-11T09:46:02.993+01:00Launching the Great Food Debates II: Food Poverty<b><br /></b>
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<span style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>The NFWI ‘s public affairs team write about the launch
of the Great Food Debates II, which focuses on food poverty, and the new toolkit
to help members organise food poverty debates.<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Last week we launched the Great Food Debates II with
an event in Parliament. The audience, who came from across the UK, bravely battled
their way through the snow to attend a fascinating discussion on how we can
work to stop food poverty in the United Kingdom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The Great Food Debates II form the second phase
of the Food Matters campaign, and follow on from the first Great Food Debate, which saw WIs and county federations
organise over a hundred food discussion events to consider the issue of the
country’s food security.</span></div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iM79WEkfR2twSPQXDa4ewFUEMvS0h8paUMR3ApnRQlX1Z5K1YOlDoA71HpVHuQSoGy133Ih0cghMlD1klYa-SaDSxONMoIpLz6yPm9Yuk53t0D3hJg4PTNUkQ55OU0Qwvev6zrkNCyw/s1600/WI+Food+Poverty+panel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="768" data-original-width="1024" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0iM79WEkfR2twSPQXDa4ewFUEMvS0h8paUMR3ApnRQlX1Z5K1YOlDoA71HpVHuQSoGy133Ih0cghMlD1klYa-SaDSxONMoIpLz6yPm9Yuk53t0D3hJg4PTNUkQ55OU0Qwvev6zrkNCyw/s320/WI+Food+Poverty+panel.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lynne Stubbings with panellists Denise Bentley, Prof. Liz Dowler,<br />
Carmel McConnell MBE, and Ann Jones</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">At the launch event Lynne Stubbings, NFWI Chair, chaired a panel of
inspiring speakers, including Frank Field MP DL, Chair of the House of Commons’
Work and Pensions Select Committee.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The other members of the panel were: Ann Jones, Public Affairs
Chair of the NFWI; Denise Bentley, founder of the First Love Foundation, which
runs the Tower Hamlets food bank; Prof Liz Dowler, a highly respected academic
on the issue of food poverty; and Carmel McConnell MBE, founder and CEO of
Magic Breakfast.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">We were also happy to welcome a number of parliamentarians to the
event, including Emma Lewell-Buck MP who told us about her bill currently going
through Parliament, which would require the Government to measure household
food insecurity. Our thanks also go to Ruth George MP, Sandy Martin MP, and
Baroness Lister for joining us and contributing to the discussion. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Ann Jones, Public Affairs Chair of the NFWI, responded on behalf of
the WI and outlined the plan of action.</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OMG4HwWXOVOCXFbsLvjJFHd0XzRqX3toYK3_EUKZqMp93WFSpaCJeIkUS9YWl05_IM5VmEeCP6GJMLAs3FQEs1o7YahTk0pK2wacrQBPiArj_2qfexMNLJmDM6ohn1ZzwLtk4D0Oq9s/s1600/Ann+-+Catalyse+a+debate+final.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="512" data-original-width="1024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2OMG4HwWXOVOCXFbsLvjJFHd0XzRqX3toYK3_EUKZqMp93WFSpaCJeIkUS9YWl05_IM5VmEeCP6GJMLAs3FQEs1o7YahTk0pK2wacrQBPiArj_2qfexMNLJmDM6ohn1ZzwLtk4D0Oq9s/s640/Ann+-+Catalyse+a+debate+final.png" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A quote from Ann Jones at the launch in Parliament </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As
Ann Jones outlined at the launch, for the Great Food Debates II the NFWI is
encouraging WIs and federations to organise debates on the topic of food
poverty so that we can consider what steps need to be taken to ensure everyone
has access to affordable, healthy food. Holding
a debate will allow you to learn about the issue of food poverty; particularly
how it affects your local community, and to discuss the solutions to this
problem. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">The toolkit we are
launching today will act as an aid to organising your debate, and it includes
background information, discussion points, and actions your WI or federation
can take to help tackle the issue in your local area.</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">This toolkit is part of
the Food Matters campaign which was launched in 2016 in response to that year’s
successful resolution which called on the NFWI to work to address the issues of
both food waste and food poverty. The campaign has had a first phase focussing
on food waste and a second on food poverty. We are close to completing work on
the food waste phase, and have secured some very positive changes to policy and
practice from supermarkets in order to reduce food waste.</span><span style="line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="line-height: 120%;">Once you have learnt
more about the issues of food poverty by hosting a WI Food Poverty Debate, we
hope that you will be inspired to take action in your community. There are a
number of things you could do, and these are outlined in the toolkit.</span><i><span style="line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 120%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="http://thewi.org.uk/povertytoolkit">Download the toolkit now.</a><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><i><span style="color: #0d0d0d; line-height: 120%;">If you have any questions, please don’t
hesitate to email the team on </span></i></b><b><i><span style="color: #0070c0; line-height: 120%;">pa@nfwi.org.uk</span></i></b></span><i><span style="color: #0d0d0d; font-family: "fs sally"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 120%;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbtUIbAZzoh7T_daE1l0899bGEIvCzXGsfHcVe5hb0pi2ze0gIHw0spIINxiee0k0NyIzpaKWDLCo7jBZmUrnx2u7F8KQZR7L_DO7UDgKJ-GhkxFAow3-KjAAi3XxoaSrHFmSXozDPg0/s1600/FP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="1143" height="279" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcbtUIbAZzoh7T_daE1l0899bGEIvCzXGsfHcVe5hb0pi2ze0gIHw0spIINxiee0k0NyIzpaKWDLCo7jBZmUrnx2u7F8KQZR7L_DO7UDgKJ-GhkxFAow3-KjAAi3XxoaSrHFmSXozDPg0/s640/FP.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-79438040006771995832018-03-08T15:27:00.000+00:002018-03-08T16:12:08.977+00:00International Women’s Day 2018 and the ‘Deeds not Words’ 100 Banners project<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Every year
International Women’s Day is observed on the 8 March and celebrates the social,
economic, cultural and political achievement of women.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">International
Women’s Day this year is arguably more significant than ever as 2018 marks 100
years since some women in the UK were given the right to vote through the <a href="http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/case-study-the-right-to-vote/the-right-to-vote/birmingham-and-the-equal-franchise/1918-representation-of-the-people-act/">Representation of the People Act 1918</a>. However, despite this important
milestone for women’s progress, there is still an urgent need for more women at
all levels of public life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The campaign
theme for International Women’s Day 2018 is #PressforProgress and calls for
positive gains in gender parity. During the first few months of this year, WI
members have already been playing an active part in pressing for progress and
celebrating women’s rights.</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0k2_jl_tOGaWaceaa8e1wHQu6GdnB7SMbDkBQYuFOj1jffJX63scXwMOSR_3hyphenhyphenZ6H617XhU8ST4s7aq4IGw70H_wMdY-5RspYMjgP9VrYv7dx4HP3dLUs5O2jMjuMQ95ruq7pBUusQw/s1600/IMG_0045.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0k2_jl_tOGaWaceaa8e1wHQu6GdnB7SMbDkBQYuFOj1jffJX63scXwMOSR_3hyphenhyphenZ6H617XhU8ST4s7aq4IGw70H_wMdY-5RspYMjgP9VrYv7dx4HP3dLUs5O2jMjuMQ95ruq7pBUusQw/s640/IMG_0045.JPG" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Representatives from WIs involved in the 'Deeds not Words' project display their banners outside the Royal Albert Hall on International Women's Day</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">26 WIs in and
around London were involved with Digital Drama’s ‘Deeds not Words’ project
which aimed to make 100 banners to commemorate the centenary of women’s
suffrage. These banners were then displayed at </span><i style="font-family: georgia, "times new roman", serif;">#March4Women</i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> in London on Sunday 4 March, a celebratory women’s
march organised by Care International UK.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Each WI involved
had a unique story behind what inspired their banner and using their expert WI
crafting skills, members created some inspiring banners to hang high at the
march. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Chelsfield Evening WI</span></b></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeaBWCSV2XernUA33bgSSlgu8x-OvR5Zga7K4xMbSHMZ93WwqA5cOLl7_U7utXMdXmr6N780Mlhcvd6P2XLpWwNeLS8zmGQN4VdJjqdj3FA3CPhBEtGMzjGwm3Rv6cqilmFVb22hdhHU/s1600/Chesfield+Evening+WI+banner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1600" height="356" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibeaBWCSV2XernUA33bgSSlgu8x-OvR5Zga7K4xMbSHMZ93WwqA5cOLl7_U7utXMdXmr6N780Mlhcvd6P2XLpWwNeLS8zmGQN4VdJjqdj3FA3CPhBEtGMzjGwm3Rv6cqilmFVb22hdhHU/s640/Chesfield+Evening+WI+banner.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two
members of Chelsfield Evening WI hold their banner outside Downing Street</td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Members of Chelsfield
Evening WI, based in the London borough of Bromley, researched original
suffragette banners to find inspiration for their own. Building upon some of
the themes of hope, change and equality within the historical suffragette
banners, Chelsfield Evening WI wanted to create a banner that encompassed <span style="background: white;">what epitomises women today and a representation of
its members including words that symbolise the women within its WI. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="background: white;"><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Using hand and machine embroidery, they embroidered items which
represent the interests of members such as cake, tea and craft surrounded by
bunting made from the traditional suffragette colours of green and purple.</span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Forest Hill WI Craft Group<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPTET6bHO-efuNDitWLY_leLqd3pmqtMlGwT8cHgpVrrg2-9c6AY_aSApfabxppr8mz5smY8sYW4RCZPx2Sxql5nypOc5NnS1i1S-6fSOb48bOpDTxDNBS6zxWJ6Bp6Wajml5900V26M/s1600/image.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1035" data-original-width="1380" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmPTET6bHO-efuNDitWLY_leLqd3pmqtMlGwT8cHgpVrrg2-9c6AY_aSApfabxppr8mz5smY8sYW4RCZPx2Sxql5nypOc5NnS1i1S-6fSOb48bOpDTxDNBS6zxWJ6Bp6Wajml5900V26M/s640/image.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Forest Hill WI
Craft Group took part in ‘Deeds not Words’ to commemorate those strong women
who fought for the vote and to remind women in 2018 to speak up and make their
voice heard in society.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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</div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The group made
two banners for the project. The ‘Women Use Your Vote’ banner is a reminder
that for varying reasons, many women today do not used their hard won vote. The
aim of the banner is to encourage women to realise their vote does count, and
that they should have pride in using it as it was achieved at a great cost. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The ‘Rosa May
Billinghurst’ banner was inspired by local suffragette Rosa May Billinghurst
and her focused and proactive leadership under difficult personal
circumstances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Rosa May was
born near Forest Hill in Lewisham, South East London (1875-1953). She had polio
as a child and needed to wear leg irons, using crutches or a modified tricycle
to travel around. Rosa May played a very active role in the fight for suffrage.
She was imprisoned for damaging post boxes and was force fed after going on
hunger strike in Holloway. After chaining herself to Buckingham Palace gates,
she attended Emily Wilding Davison’s funeral procession, dressed in white. Once
the Representation of the People Act 1918 was passed, she stopped her activity.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Field Dames WI</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuqqQLWT-CcVaeI4RXjFzAcVSyydvCAHxwJyTX3T7P88haW5gjYhy5zeKYH45YTKGdhY0u4EGb4iyWE2juC3A6KGATCRFBEmfvWOU3UhdVePz_f6lQOApfBstHaR61Qir9d7m15Q52lY/s1600/Field+Dames+WI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBuqqQLWT-CcVaeI4RXjFzAcVSyydvCAHxwJyTX3T7P88haW5gjYhy5zeKYH45YTKGdhY0u4EGb4iyWE2juC3A6KGATCRFBEmfvWOU3UhdVePz_f6lQOApfBstHaR61Qir9d7m15Q52lY/s640/Field+Dames+WI.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Two members of
Field Dames WI with their banner at #March4Women. Photo Credit: Tonya Robinson</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Field Dames WI
represented three women from the past 100 years on its banner, a suffragette, a
young woman and a factory worker to represent the many women that worked in
manufacturing and industry in Enfield during the 1950s and 1960s.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The ‘Women
Unite!’ slogan was inspired by historical protest banners as members wanted to
show a bold, clear message on their banner.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Stroud Green WI</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelmICV9e8KgrQri-WI5uFZBGHV-Q9Rh34m36rlfmQHvESmX0uvQzmP2vGYn-tlOG5A9E8HpjuvYPhyELPjOyKpLR_2CyPpTwaRuAY36kjgKt-nNP3BD3BYwX3iQQKRd8nJpkfdMXrYXM/s1600/Stroud+Green+WI+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1600" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgelmICV9e8KgrQri-WI5uFZBGHV-Q9Rh34m36rlfmQHvESmX0uvQzmP2vGYn-tlOG5A9E8HpjuvYPhyELPjOyKpLR_2CyPpTwaRuAY36kjgKt-nNP3BD3BYwX3iQQKRd8nJpkfdMXrYXM/s640/Stroud+Green+WI+3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Stroud Green
WI’s banner was inspired by Edith Garrud, a suffragette and ju-jitsu
instructor. Stroud Green WI enjoyed being part of the ‘Deeds not Words’ project
as it gave them the opportunity to do something together and learn more about
the history of a key figure in the suffrage movement.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Woolwich & Plumstead Roses WI</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXprlhRmnKLSAm23dly3uqGqiJ3YISMYjZMb1o_Rbzkkiwgss7BVhmzK288YN6I5f28UuIBVsj1RJFu_BMVZ4bhlVi2iBJSor0OdBeQh3ug0RBbZ23jXF2_UtY2cdQNkFDLbR9554pbeI/s1600/Woolwich+%2526+Plumstead+Roses.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="480" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXprlhRmnKLSAm23dly3uqGqiJ3YISMYjZMb1o_Rbzkkiwgss7BVhmzK288YN6I5f28UuIBVsj1RJFu_BMVZ4bhlVi2iBJSor0OdBeQh3ug0RBbZ23jXF2_UtY2cdQNkFDLbR9554pbeI/s640/Woolwich+%2526+Plumstead+Roses.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Woolwich & Plumstead Roses WI wanted to incorporate its logo into the banner design, but
also create a design with visual impact and a more powerful message. So they tweaked
their rose logo to include a fist, representing the power and influence that
women have when they club together to do something good.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Members donated
small scraps of fabric that had meaning to them, so even if they weren’t
involved in making the banner, they still felt like they were part of the project.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Lou Thompson,
Vice President of Woolwich & Plumstead Roses WI said: “we were even more
proud to be marching with our banner alongside all the other ladies who took
part in the 100 Banners project - and thousands of others - at the <i>#March4Women</i> from Parliament Square on
Sunday. The atmosphere was fantastic and proof that when we women get together
we can make great things happen.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Streatham WI</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n8MknzPHdfyFtJqpLjcDHX1VHkvxf_0eoSaDK_cmWrgonbA90r049JfJx5Hwa-c4hlQ98oyDgCAdJfmHEN8zXaNxnx31eEyNHFEM-rioSt-nZ2Z0h-U5K2ql8uNN9VIYz8N7VSk7nEo/s1600/Streatham+WI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2n8MknzPHdfyFtJqpLjcDHX1VHkvxf_0eoSaDK_cmWrgonbA90r049JfJx5Hwa-c4hlQ98oyDgCAdJfmHEN8zXaNxnx31eEyNHFEM-rioSt-nZ2Z0h-U5K2ql8uNN9VIYz8N7VSk7nEo/s400/Streatham+WI.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Members of Streatham
WI used fabric and the logo they had used for their own banner. Streatham WI’s
chosen colours incidentally are purple, green and white which fitted in nicely
with the suffragette colours. Streatham WI thought carefully to ensure the
message on the banner reflected the different life experiences of all the
members. They wanted to recognise all that has changed while voicing their
frustration over the worldwide progress yet to come. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">If your WI is
holding an event to celebrate International Women’s Day 2018, get in touch at </span><a href="mailto:pr@nfwi.org.uk"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">pr@nfwi.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> or share your celebrations on social
media using hashtags #InternationalWomensDay and #PressforProgress. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"></span></b>The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-33611186774137474152018-03-01T12:44:00.000+00:002018-03-01T12:44:46.988+00:00Resolution selection results announcement<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Between
November and February, every WI member had the chance to have their say about
the resolution they wished to go forward to the Annual Meeting in Cardiff on 6<sup>th</sup>
June. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The results
of the 2018 resolution shortlist selection process are:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoNormalTable" style="border-collapse: collapse; margin-left: 4.65pt; mso-padding-alt: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184; width: 597px;">
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 16.95pt; mso-yfti-firstrow: yes; mso-yfti-irow: 0;">
<td colspan="2" nowrap="" style="border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.95pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 309.6pt;" valign="top" width="413"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2018 resolutions<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 16.95pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Selections<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 1;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 20.1pt;" valign="top" width="27"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 289.5pt;" valign="top" width="386"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Positive body image
in a digital age<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5215<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 2;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 20.1pt;" valign="top" width="27"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 289.5pt;" valign="top" width="386"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stop FGM<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">27,640<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 3;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 20.1pt;" valign="top" width="27"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 289.5pt;" valign="top" width="386"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Raising awareness
of modern slavery in the UK<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">20,299<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 4;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 20.1pt;" valign="top" width="27"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 289.5pt;" valign="top" width="386"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mental health
matters<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">42,327<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 5;">
<td nowrap="" style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 20.1pt;" valign="top" width="27"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 289.5pt;" valign="top" width="386"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Healthier Mouth,
Healthier Body<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5560<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr style="height: 15.25pt; mso-yfti-irow: 6; mso-yfti-lastrow: yes;">
<td nowrap="" style="background: white; height: 15.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 20.1pt;" valign="top" width="27"></td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: white; border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; height: 15.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 289.5pt;" valign="top" width="386"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Total selections
received<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
<td nowrap="" style="background: white; border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; height: 15.25pt; mso-background-themecolor: background1; mso-border-bottom-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-right-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; width: 137.85pt;" valign="top" width="184"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: black;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">101,041<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">As mental
health matters is ahead of the second placed resolution by over 14,000
selections, the NFWI Board of Trustees has agreed that this resolution will go
forward to the Annual Meeitng.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">This year’s
total is the most selections cast since the individual selection process was
introduced, and the first time over 100,000 selections have been cast by
members.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The wording
of the resolution is as follows:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mental health matters<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 36.0pt;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mental
health matters as much as physical health. The NFWI urges all WI members to
recognise the importance of parity between mental health and physical health,
and take action to make it as acceptable to talk about mental health issues as
much as physical health issues, and to lobby government for better support for
mental illness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What happens next?</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Members now
have the opportunity to learn more about the issues, and to discuss the
resolution in their WIs before deciding how they wish their delegate to vote at
the Annual Meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">WIs and
federations are also encouraged to hold discussion events in to allow members
to consider how they wish their delegate to vote.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">How does my WI cast our vote?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">All WIs get
one vote for the resolution – for or against.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Your WI can
also choose to give discretion to your delegate to decide how to vote after
hearing the presentations and debate at the annual meeting.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Only votes
cast for and against the resolutions will be counted, in accordance with the
voting procedure set out in the NFWI Memorandum and Articles of Association.
Abstaining means that a delegate would not cast a vote, and therefore this
abstention would not be counted.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What resources are available to
support WI discussions?<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">To support
members to get involved the Public Affairs team has produced a range of
resources:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 25.65pt; margin-right: -30.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/282920/MHM-briefing-notes.pdf">Detailed briefing notes about the
resolution.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 25.65pt; margin-right: -30.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/powerpoint_doc/0010/282925/Mental-health-matters-presentation.pptx">A PowerPoint presentation on the
topic.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 25.65pt; margin-right: -30.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/word_doc/0006/282921/Mental-health-matters-quiz-questions-and-answers.docx">A quiz to test your knowledge</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 25.65pt; margin-right: -30.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/word_doc/0011/282926/Resolutions-Process-FAQ-2018.docx">A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
document about the resolutions process.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 25.65pt; margin-right: -30.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0004/282919/AM-resolutions-discussion-guide-2018.pdf">A discussion guide with ideas about
how to discuss the resolution in your WI.</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="margin-bottom: 10.0pt; margin-left: 25.65pt; margin-right: -30.65pt; margin-top: 0cm; mso-add-space: auto; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font-size: 7pt; font-stretch: normal; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_y97VF5UJcc">Video - This film from charity Mind features young people talking about
their experiences with mental illness</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have
any questions about instructing your delegate please contact your federation. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you have
any questions about the Annual Meeting resolution or the resolutions process
please contact the NFWI Public Affairs Department.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-83326871686005403322018-02-05T15:52:00.003+00:002018-02-05T16:45:17.467+00:00Celebrating Federations and WIs 2018 anniversaries<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">2018 is a year
marking significant anniversaries for the WI and for women’s history in
Britain. Tomorrow marks 100 years since </span><a href="http://www.parliament.uk/about/living-heritage/transformingsociety/electionsvoting/womenvote/case-study-the-right-to-vote/the-right-to-vote/birmingham-and-the-equal-franchise/1918-representation-of-the-people-act/"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">The Representation of the People Act</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> received royal assent, which granted the vote to
women over the age of 30 who met a property qualification.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Three years on from our centenary, 2018 is also 100 years since the WI’s first resolution was passed in October 1918.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">For many WIs and
Federations around England, 2018 is also a special year for celebrating
anniversaries. Several federations will be marking their centenary year, while
many local WIs have also reached their 80th, 90th or 100th year since
formation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Steeple Aston WI in Oxfordshire
Federation<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Written by Merrill Bayley, President of Steeple Aston WI</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></u></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PMDqS-LmRLN60DoSYvsdafbpmddLmaH3Twg6TaS2p_FrTZQVFvZqf_SvZK8YKwxcGZ8oAsu1ocZYCEMhzeP9VhxeoT4w9x8uBnY5B3-CRGG0gOE1mlptO-7GmvYiRWpndncC67tdXhw/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="900" data-original-width="1350" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1PMDqS-LmRLN60DoSYvsdafbpmddLmaH3Twg6TaS2p_FrTZQVFvZqf_SvZK8YKwxcGZ8oAsu1ocZYCEMhzeP9VhxeoT4w9x8uBnY5B3-CRGG0gOE1mlptO-7GmvYiRWpndncC67tdXhw/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">January 2018 meeting, Merrill
stands aside whilst Julie H tells members more about the<i> </i>resolutions<i>. </i></span></span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">In March 2018,
Steeple Aston WI in Oxfordshire Federation will celebrate its centenary. Based
in the small village of Steeple Aston, just north of Oxford, Steeple Aston WI
is the oldest extant WI in Oxfordshire. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Towards the end
of 1917, Mrs Vincent of Cedar Lodge Steeple Aston, called a meeting of the
women in the village and told them of a new society called The Women’s
Institute, which had just started in Anglesey North Wales in 1915. Miss L G
Worrell took the minutes of the first documented meeting held on 21<sup>st</sup>
March 1918 and she subsequently became the first President. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIHQrgflfe3XbIWB_ED-GN30XlCUSjdzl1JZS04zwh_LFTFanlLisuGR9SxPBPOfMVyEOgKlHHZWjcKlZRVRX6swkQTfiMFXhO5AIxjI2kih5Exw-8rpXKaM9wuX5Ry5fSCc_Y3P0iBE/s1600/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEIHQrgflfe3XbIWB_ED-GN30XlCUSjdzl1JZS04zwh_LFTFanlLisuGR9SxPBPOfMVyEOgKlHHZWjcKlZRVRX6swkQTfiMFXhO5AIxjI2kih5Exw-8rpXKaM9wuX5Ry5fSCc_Y3P0iBE/s400/6.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Members dressed up to
re-enact Steeple Aston’s first WI meeting at Steeple Aston WI's 70<sup>th</sup> birthday<i> </i></span></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Having kept minutes diligently over the past 100 years with just a few gaps during WWII, Steeple Aston WI have a large collection of minutes and memory books. Over many years, members have covered these memory books with beautifully embroidered work which inside hold souvenirs and photographs taken at WI events and meetings. </span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx4QBmsecc1rn0NFjETSxOcCSk1Ug_FOt3Ffne1uprxn-TwR3VEIq1IXqfCnxwHdrevN7ysZWrV8t6Q1KeDu8Ss6qykpKP-FOmzEqku3qyJ9QAjv7DsS8-xMIkqRSu6b2hpNglawPMUU/s1600/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1274" data-original-width="1600" height="317" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPx4QBmsecc1rn0NFjETSxOcCSk1Ug_FOt3Ffne1uprxn-TwR3VEIq1IXqfCnxwHdrevN7ysZWrV8t6Q1KeDu8Ss6qykpKP-FOmzEqku3qyJ9QAjv7DsS8-xMIkqRSu6b2hpNglawPMUU/s400/3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Steeple Aston WI's banner uses the motif of a cockerel </span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Steeple Aston WI
has always had the community at the centre of its efforts and achievements.
During WWII, members organised the women of the village to make-do and mend and
collect vegetables and fruit for picking and preserving. They also knitted
scarves and socks for members of the armed forces overseas. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">Today Steeple
Aston WI continues to undertake various projects within the village. The WI is
36 members strong, with 4 new members joining recently. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">A special
programme of activities and speakers has been arranged for this milestone year,
including a surprise outing for members in June. Its centenary dinner
celebration will take place on 13<sup>th</sup> March 2018 at the Village Hall. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZc6H00gS3VHURnIbGNGHXT86fAM2itZw9d-JVPRvA4aXBpJLr-st2fmaiariwyhfViCMdC5JSdsDkIchDBctAPqGeJMK3tmvLWCgJWrv3w03A8eT0IlKWdSgbv0PleS8e6QIUffheLM/s1600/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="805" data-original-width="1600" height="321" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaZc6H00gS3VHURnIbGNGHXT86fAM2itZw9d-JVPRvA4aXBpJLr-st2fmaiariwyhfViCMdC5JSdsDkIchDBctAPqGeJMK3tmvLWCgJWrv3w03A8eT0IlKWdSgbv0PleS8e6QIUffheLM/s640/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoCaption">
<span style="color: windowtext;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: x-small;">Birthday cards for Steeple Aston WI's 75<sup>th</sup> Birthday celebrated at Linda
Needle’s (President) home</span></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">If your WI or federation
is celebrating a significant birthday this year, email us with stories and
photos at </span><a href="mailto:pr@nfwi.org.uk"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";">pr@nfwi.org.uk</span></a><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"> as we would love to share your WI’s
history and celebrations. <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><b>Keep your eyes
peeled this year as we will continue to celebrate women’s suffrage and the many
important resolutions that the WI have campaigned on over the past 100
years.</b> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-83429877307896007602018-01-25T12:06:00.001+00:002018-01-25T12:06:52.988+00:00#ShowTheLove 2018<h3>
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<b><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">WIs and Federations are crafting green hearts this February
to protect the world we love from climate change.<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="background: white; color: #393939; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial; mso-bidi-font-size: 10.0pt;">The NFWI is a founding member of The Climate
Coalition, the UK’s largest group of people dedicated to action on climate
change and </span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">members have been crafting,
baking and sharing green hearts to start important conversations about climate
change since 2016. </span></span><span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal;">If your WI has not yet planned
any green heart activities, we hope that you will be inspired by these ideas to
#ShowTheLove.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Isle of Wight Federation has
asked its 35 WIs to make a green heart which they will display outside its
federation office on Valentine’s Day. They will then walk into Newport to hand
out these hearts and raise awareness of the campaign.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHocphgAanqf-6aI5CnD44-uCTrS6lqYFTUlcaJ307FsROc19YJ-538-s4cpS67syHpUyYJ4RZd7UlE1vgn80RLP30Rdy80iijvuKhrUyEUa_aEAtxNPN2EF_v0R83PT3oqQgV6VXj54/s1600/LH+WI.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHocphgAanqf-6aI5CnD44-uCTrS6lqYFTUlcaJ307FsROc19YJ-538-s4cpS67syHpUyYJ4RZd7UlE1vgn80RLP30Rdy80iijvuKhrUyEUa_aEAtxNPN2EF_v0R83PT3oqQgV6VXj54/s400/LH+WI.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photograph: High Littleton and Hallatrow WI</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">High Littleton and Hallatrow WI
in Avon Federation held a community workshop in January and made paper hearts
with messages to send to its local MP. If you would like to take part in a
similar activity, why not make paper seeded hearts, </span><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0010/268777/STL-Paper-Seeded-Heart.pdf"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">following our step by step instructions</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">, attach it to the postcard insert in your February WI Life
and send onto your MP. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsylfAY-eqenqqG9yGk4EUVvOpB0z5X4nFIUeK2nSRYzgp7aDl4ED1ar8X6bMQoawWk8CJtxZ6Wmpf8iiidWWlG9BBRNu_-E_nRqTbFAR1q-7z5hLj-f0R-29auIo6Dy7sFLp2ITrrx0/s1600/paper+hearts+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQsylfAY-eqenqqG9yGk4EUVvOpB0z5X4nFIUeK2nSRYzgp7aDl4ED1ar8X6bMQoawWk8CJtxZ6Wmpf8iiidWWlG9BBRNu_-E_nRqTbFAR1q-7z5hLj-f0R-29auIo6Dy7sFLp2ITrrx0/s400/paper+hearts+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photograph: High Littleton and Hallatrow WI </span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XPcp080AKdAhPRB58Xa_K1l2z1lKu7cXGexIOohQuQhhjwQXJkIErGGdooZj8wY09A9d59C5ZaeAYNDlHu8_rFjeUxDAsaxFVtY94OkDrnQPsTmv4zRN3eF6P6qSpdhMuOmb5xNLXts/s1600/crafting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1XPcp080AKdAhPRB58Xa_K1l2z1lKu7cXGexIOohQuQhhjwQXJkIErGGdooZj8wY09A9d59C5ZaeAYNDlHu8_rFjeUxDAsaxFVtY94OkDrnQPsTmv4zRN3eF6P6qSpdhMuOmb5xNLXts/s400/crafting.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Godalming Meadrow WI members
crafting green hearts </span><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Godalming Meadrow WI in Surrey
federation has arranged several activities. Its members will be delivering an
assembly to a local girl’s school on Valentine’s Day about the campaign and
have engaged four other schools to display ‘places they love’ in shop windows. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iXR6ODlhbCU1D3HT27ZVWaj6RB3aboaU4D-40ptbxhpR08vS2rp7Dxz0Z08yJReaxpBbT-7OvC5UAtxRiE3aDLzBT62UyZZztigK54kVwjnpG7cjG75dc9Do8bETTpYfmm0NPnJenB4/s1600/banner+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4iXR6ODlhbCU1D3HT27ZVWaj6RB3aboaU4D-40ptbxhpR08vS2rp7Dxz0Z08yJReaxpBbT-7OvC5UAtxRiE3aDLzBT62UyZZztigK54kVwjnpG7cjG75dc9Do8bETTpYfmm0NPnJenB4/s400/banner+%25282%2529.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Photograph: Godalming Meadrow WI</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;">Godalming
Meadrow WI will also been ‘bombing’ the high street with banners and crafting green
hearts in its local café, inviting customers to join them. </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-_DKQ2bN4k0pX2lUR-_kmJw39jIL-dqKzt-xzqMCbgoI_Hz7kYzqd9TYVZEMq8B2RuOmEo70vzKL0w7WlPRe2HVqbOZC-R9BaXo06mic2kPxzDp-mReMSUt1UrMbtG4eJZA4svvODf4/s1600/DSCN5769+%25282%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif-_DKQ2bN4k0pX2lUR-_kmJw39jIL-dqKzt-xzqMCbgoI_Hz7kYzqd9TYVZEMq8B2RuOmEo70vzKL0w7WlPRe2HVqbOZC-R9BaXo06mic2kPxzDp-mReMSUt1UrMbtG4eJZA4svvODf4/s400/DSCN5769+%25282%2529+%25282%2529.JPG" width="300" /></a></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: x-small;">Ideas for the Reculver Beacon WI
members</span><span style="color: #76923c; font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 9.0pt; mso-no-proof: yes; mso-themecolor: accent3; mso-themeshade: 191;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Reculver Beacon WI in East Kent
Federation has put together packs so that its members can make a heart themed brooch,
pin cushion or lavender wardrobe bag. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia, serif; font-size: 12pt; font-weight: normal; line-height: 115%;">Claire Hallett, Reculver Beacon
WI Secretary, explained the idea behind the packs: “As a lot of our members are
working, it is difficult to get together during the daytime so we have made
packs which our ladies can take home and bring back to show off what they have
made for Show The Love in February.”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">If your WI or federation are holding
an event or crafting green hearts, remember to share them using the
#ShowTheLove and get in touch at </span><a href="mailto:pa@nfwi.org.uk"><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;">pa@nfwi.org.uk</span></a></span><span style="font-family: "Georgia","serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-bidi-font-size: 11.0pt;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"> for
stickers and resources.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</h3>
The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-52892098033246793892017-12-20T15:37:00.000+00:002017-12-20T16:12:10.487+00:00Support our campaigns this festive season<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The festive
season is a time for fun, sharing gifts with friends and family, and of course
enjoying delicious food. But it’s also a chance to make a difference in support
of WI campaigns. This post gives you some top tips - from tackling unnecessary
plastic waste to reaching out to combat loneliness. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Stay
updated with the latest resolution news and campaign actions by subscribing to
the <span style="line-height: 115%;">NFWI’s
Public Affairs Digest, an e-newsletter sent to your inbox once a month. You can
sign up via the </span><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/public-affairs-digest-newsletter"><span style="line-height: 115%;">website.</span></a><span style="line-height: 115%;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">End Plastic Soup<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our End Plastic
Soup campaign seeks to raise awareness of the problem of marine pollution from
microplastic fibres released from clothing when it is washed. Here are some
ways you can help reduce your impact over the Christmas season.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAaWARPkZ19l0St1YJF5cv9ycHgIYkjKwjS4mNII5V8t25JlKYfpIeeo-Az9WrZrUQ7uJGcRqBPE-O_ei62MJ3DnfMolavjUL93k-nl2TXjXyBLE3bsaOD814LMda5P6itYhbS4UEtxw/s1600/infographic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="572" data-original-width="1600" height="227" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzAaWARPkZ19l0St1YJF5cv9ycHgIYkjKwjS4mNII5V8t25JlKYfpIeeo-Az9WrZrUQ7uJGcRqBPE-O_ei62MJ3DnfMolavjUL93k-nl2TXjXyBLE3bsaOD814LMda5P6itYhbS4UEtxw/s640/infographic.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tackle clothing waste</span></i></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.ellenmacarthurfoundation.org/publications/a-new-textiles-economy-redesigning-fashions-future">One rubbish truck</a> full of textiles is landfilled or
burnt every second. Instead of buying new clothes for your loved one that may
not fit or suit them why not swap a clothing gift for a ticket to an event or
activity, or a gift voucher that allows them to choose something they really
love? </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18pt; text-align: justify;">
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-left: 18.0pt; text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">If you are given clothing that doesn’t
quite fit or you don’t like, hold a clothes swap at your WI in the New Year or
try <a href="https://www.loveyourclothes.org.uk/refashion-upcycle">upcycling</a> the item to your taste or turn it into
something else altogether! </span></div>
</li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><a href="https://www.hubbub.org.uk/Event/its-time-to-giveaknit-about-christmas-jumpers">New research from charity Hubbub</a> found that one in four Christmas jumpers
bought last year were thrown away or were unlikely to be worn again. Instead of
buying a new jumper every year, dig out your old Christmas jumpers, swap with a
friend or even refashion <a href="https://www.hubbub.org.uk/how-to-make-a-diy-christmas-jumper">something you already own</a> into a festive jumper. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</li>
</ul>
<br />
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<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Wash
well</span></i></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">With lots of events and visitors over the
Christmas period you may be washing clothes more often – ensure you are filling
up your washing machine to the max, washing at a low temperature (30<b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">°</span></b><span style="background: white; color: #222222;">) </span>and
using washing liquid instead of powder. These measures will help <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0005/233843/PLASTIC_SOUP_WEB_V2.pdf">to reduce the amount of microplastic fibres
released</a> when washing
your clothes. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Avoid
plastic waste</span></i></b></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Single-use
plastics, or disposable plastics, are used only once before they are thrown
away or recycled. Tackle disposable
and single-use plastics by avoiding serving people with plastic plates, cups
and straws and use paper or china if you are entertaining guests. </span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Single-use plastics include coffee cups
and plastic bottles. Only 1% of disposable coffee cups are recycled, with the
UK throwing away 2.5 billion of them a year. <span style="background: white;">38.5million
plastic bottles are used every day in the UK – just over half make it to
recycling, while more than 16m are put into landfill, burnt or released into
the oceans. Once in the ocean they break down further into microplastics which
fish can mistake for food. <span style="letter-spacing: .3pt;">Re-usable
alternatives are available </span></span>- <span style="background: white;">why
not </span>consider a re-usable aluminium water bottle or re-usable coffee cup
as a gift and use it as a way to tell your friend or family member about the
WI’s campaigns to tackle plastic waste. </span></li>
</ul>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Take inspiration from the NFWI Craft
Committee’s <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/s/motm/">creative, fun projects</a> that use resources which would otherwise
be thrown away. Why not use old milk bottles to make our festive fir tree or
turn jam and baby food jars into a hot chocolate kit?</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">The WI successfully campaigned to get a
charge introduced for plastic bags in order to tackle waste. You can avoid
using plastic bags for your Christmas shopping by using a bag for life or the <a href="https://wishop.thewi.org.uk/products/wi-tea-towel">WI’s cotton bag</a>. </span></li>
</ul>
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<div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Link Together<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our
Link Together campaign recognises that loneliness can affect anyone, regardless
of age, gender and life stage. The festive season is a great opportunity to reach
out to others in your community.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VHybfZAc9SV3nqtAEeL1Ad2klQqDCQjLm7Np8EPaGCUGT7uyWPGGY5ZTtrK6p9Auw9MUE8c0PVcXo7_hfugNniPQYzLWT3n05tsRvmcxXLq9peupGukIiePoaDM75tSV5j7G652WJUY/s1600/Info-01.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="818" data-original-width="1600" height="326" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7VHybfZAc9SV3nqtAEeL1Ad2klQqDCQjLm7Np8EPaGCUGT7uyWPGGY5ZTtrK6p9Auw9MUE8c0PVcXo7_hfugNniPQYzLWT3n05tsRvmcxXLq9peupGukIiePoaDM75tSV5j7G652WJUY/s640/Info-01.png" width="640" /></a></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A small act of kindness could make a real
difference to someone’s day over the festive period, such as calling a fellow
member you haven’t spoken to in a while or <span style="background: white;">taking the time to speak to neighbours who may be lonely. For more ways
to get involved with the campaign, download our </span><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0019/233830/Link-Together-Campaign-Action-Pack-Final.pdf">action pack.</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Food Matters<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Christmas
is a time to enjoy good food and good company, but this can often mean more
waste too. We can all play our part in reducing the waste that often comes with
the festive season. Our Food Matters campaign focuses on reducing food waste so
that good food isn’t wasted at all levels of the food chain.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xBDIXA6trQhatH-GdCzV7ebYECmxr7tn9mM7NYAsHK09ZMKUSfsclZ-NOq05oi8d1ng_zIXevqE7JYC9TxGfakBAoQuFvzfJX_gSTJObVzkE66EzMhrTs4o4TqjcZT6B362Lb_hEMUs/s1600/food+matters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="667" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj5xBDIXA6trQhatH-GdCzV7ebYECmxr7tn9mM7NYAsHK09ZMKUSfsclZ-NOq05oi8d1ng_zIXevqE7JYC9TxGfakBAoQuFvzfJX_gSTJObVzkE66EzMhrTs4o4TqjcZT6B362Lb_hEMUs/s640/food+matters.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #1f497d; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Credit: iStock.com/Eivaisl</span></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">According to Wildlife and Countryside Link, 114,000 tonnes of plastic
packaging will end up in the bin - and not recycled - over the festive period.
To avoid unnecessary wasteful packaging, b<span style="background: white;">uy your fruit and vegetables loose and be aware of </span><span style="background: white;"><a href="https://www.recyclenow.com/recycling-knowledge/packaging-symbols-explained">what types of plastic can
be recycled.</a></span></span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">No matter how hard you try there is bound
to be some leftover food at the end of the festivities – you could use the
leftover turkey to turn it into a completely different meal like this WI recipe
for <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/what-we-do/recipes/meat/turkey-in-a-leek-and-mustard-sauce">turkey in a leek and mustard sauce</a>. <a href="https://www.lovefoodhatewaste.com/">Love
Food Hate Waste</a> also has
lots of ideas about how to use up all your Christmas leftovers.</span></li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Recycle your Christmas tree – if your
tree has roots it will be possible to plant it in your garden or in a large pot
with fresh compost, you can then bring it back into your house for next year.
If your tree cannot be re-planted, check whether your council collects
Christmas trees (which they usually turn into compost). If they don’t, then take
it to the garden waste area of your local tip. Find your local council <a href="https://www.gov.uk/find-local-council">here</a>. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b style="text-align: justify; text-indent: -18pt;"><u>SOS for honey bees</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">While
our honey bees will be tucked up in their hives for the cold weather, now is
the time to start thinking about how you can support these precious pollinators
once spring arrives. Our SOS for Honey Bees campaign calls for more research
into the causes of bee decline, and for communities to create habitats to
support pollinators.</span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Now is the time to plan your spring
planting, ensuring there’s plenty of pollen and nectar for bees to forage on
throughout the seasons. Make your garden bee friendly using our gardening guide
by <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0011/94646/FINAL_Bee_Garden.pdf">planting these flowers</a>. </span></li>
</ul>
<div>
</div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">SOS for High Streets <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Our
high streets campaign encourages members to celebrate their local high streets
and urges decision makers to support high streets that are fit for the future. </span></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Over the last ten years changes in
shopping habits have hit the high street hard. When combined with a slowdown in
consumer spending and increasingly high rental and business rates, many high
street businesses are struggling. By shopping local to buy your gifts and food
you are supporting the high street as a hub of social and community life. You
can read more about the campaign <a href="https://www.thewi.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0003/68061/SOS-for-High-Streets-and-Town-Centres-Action-Pack-August-2013.pdf" style="text-indent: -18pt;"><span style="background: white;">online</span></a><span style="background: white; text-indent: -18pt;">. </span></span></li>
</ul>
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<b><u><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7628234719098025519.post-83813937648824587312017-12-18T12:01:00.000+00:002017-12-18T12:07:33.149+00:00Didcot Sewage Treatment Works Visit <b>Guest blog by <span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">Catherine Blaxhall Chair of Oxfordshire Public
Affairs Committee</span></b><br />
<b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;"><br /></span></b>
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMjqUjZN_MZ-IxpiJ30E2eXmKvNpMoBqHb3JkSCQRsmEy-IlcR3n087JM20xIU1PCw2krvMeq0IylOmtbRS7IjC5zocwANKQ83EJds9IXf6KWwWVDIC8Fzmi0Heq8rHe4-JriyQ7GtOQ/s1600/1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGMjqUjZN_MZ-IxpiJ30E2eXmKvNpMoBqHb3JkSCQRsmEy-IlcR3n087JM20xIU1PCw2krvMeq0IylOmtbRS7IjC5zocwANKQ83EJds9IXf6KWwWVDIC8Fzmi0Heq8rHe4-JriyQ7GtOQ/s400/1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: georgia, serif;">Following a discussion with our Public Affairs team
in Oxfordshire around the ‘End Plastic Soup’ resolution we decided to contact our
local water supplier, Thames Water to ask if they were aware of the enormity
and seriousness of the contamination of microplastic fibres and what, if
anything, they were doing to help alleviate the problem. Waste water treatment
centres play a vital role in the issue; tiny microplastic fibres are too small
to be caught by their filters and are flowing into rivers and the sea where
fish and other sea creatures are mistaking them for food. Waste water treatment
centres also produce sludge from the process, which contain microplastic fibres
that is then applied to farmland across the UK.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We decided to ‘go to the top’ and emailed their CEO
and were very pleased to receive a reply the next day from their Senior Public
Affairs Advisor who had been delegated to respond. His response was so enthusiastic and
positive. He had researched the WI and our previous campaigns before we spoke
and clearly realised how beneficial working together could to both
organisations – we had so much in common! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Henry suggested OFWI members meet himself and his
colleague from the Thames Water Education Team at our local sewage treatment
works in Didcot on 18 September to learn more about how waste water treatment
centres work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , serif;">The
day was designed to encourage us to think more about how we can change our own
washing habits to play their part in tackling the problem, the impact of
plastic and non-flushable objects, such as wet wipes, entering the sewage
system and to learn more about how waste water treatment centres operate.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">We
were given a fascinating and insightful tour of the site and a presentation in
the education centre explaining the process of filtering sewage from its
arrival at the plant to clean water finally returning to the water course less
than 24 hours later. On the tour we saw a whole skip load of congealed wet
wipes and other objects inappropriate for flushing that had been caught in the
process. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Filtering
out the tiny microplastic fibres at sewage treatment works is not currently
happening, but research is ongoing and it is hoped that, with pressure,
sampling for microplastic fibres could become mandatory at waste water
treatment centres to better understand the scale of the issue. The onus is on
all of us to address the problem by washing our clothes at lower temperatures,
washing full loads only, using liquid detergent and being more conscious of the
amount of clothing we purchase and then dispose of. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;">Everyone
agreed that the visit had been fascinating and informative and not quite as
aromatic as we had anticipated! It really helped us understand so much more
clearly our own responsibilities in contributing to the problem and how by just
making one minor change we can make a difference and influence change. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "serif"; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
The NFWIhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03189487177640876362noreply@blogger.com0