Become a Climate Ambassador

Today is Earth Day 2016 and marks the first step towards putting into practice the Paris climate deal, an historic agreement to tackle climate change agreed by world leaders at the end of 2015.

Over 160 countries are expected to sign the agreement at a ceremony held at the UN headquarters in New York, making it the largest UN signing ceremony to date. This pledge from so many countries shows the strong support for tackling climate change around the world.

In practice the commitments will only come into force when 55 countries covering 55% of global greenhouse gas emissions ratify the agreement, meaning that they have approval within their own countries to accept the terms of the deal.

The Paris Climate Deal 

The UN conference on climate change, held in Paris at the end of last year, resulted in this historic pledge from world leaders. Representatives from almost 200 countries agreed the ground breaking deal to tackle climate change. It included an ambition to keep global warming below 1.5⁰C and a long term goal to bring global emissions down to zero. 

The agreement marks the first time that virtually every country on Earth has pledged to constrain its greenhouse gas emissions with a view to keeping global warming since pre-industrial times below the commonly-used ‘danger threshold’ of 2⁰C .

The deal is a vital step in the right direction, it is not perfect but it lays the foundations for a low carbon future. The government now needs to take action to deliver on these ambitious targets.

Climate Ambassadors 

The agreement was only possible because so many groups came together to call for action on climate change. From WI members sharing hearts last February,  to those who joined more than 9000 people in London in June 2015 to lobby their MP . We will be keeping up the momentum over the next year and need your support to help protect our environment. 

Over the coming months we will be recruiting volunteers from the membership to act as Climate Ambassadors. Register your interest by emailing publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk

The NFWI will provide expert-led training on the causes and impacts of climate change, training on successfully engaging people on this issue and a toolkit of further resources. The ambassadors will work with the NFWI to produce a local case study, looking into the causes and impacts of climate change in their local area, and will work to raise awareness of the issue locally.

WI members have vital stories to tell about the impact of our changing climate. The NFWI would like to harness the experiences of members to raise awareness of the things that could be lost to climate change.

October Week of Action 

Join us from 10th-16th October in a Week of Action to celebrate the people, places and things we want to protect from climate change, and make sure MPs feel that love. People all over the UK will be lobbying their MPs in their local area, and we’d love you to be involved. 

We’ll be seeing nature walks, tea parties, lobby meetings, community energy visits and all sorts of other events to show MPs why you would like them to take action to protect your community from the impacts of climate change. All this will involve MPs so that politicians see, feel and hear how much their constituents care about what we could lose to climate change.  

So it's time to get thinking! What can you do in your area to start that conversation with your local MP?

Sign up by emailing publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk to let us know if you’re interested in attending or organising an event, and for more information.

Find out more about becoming a Climate Ambassador and joining the October Week of Action at www.thewi.org.uk/climate-change 

 

No more Violence against Women

The WI has been campaigning for an end to violence against women for many years. This blogpost gives members an update on some of the recent developments on this issue.

The recent Archers storyline on domestic abuse has had the nation talking, donating and seeking help; fans are both shocked and saddened by the storyline which is a reality for many women and men on a day to day basis. Rob’s long-term emotional abuse of Helen has kept listeners hooked in a two-and-a-half year long story that has gradually revealed Rob’s manipulative abuse and systematic undermining of Helen’s personality. 

The Archers has brought to light an under reported type of abuse; psychological abuse, a type of which can also be referred to as ‘gaslighting’, after the 1944 film, Gaslight.  In the film, featuring husband and wife Gregory and Paula, Gregory does everything to try to isolate and control Paula. One particular tactic involves secretly dimming the gaslights in their home and telling Paula she is crazy when she questions the flickering lights. As a result, ‘gaslighting’ is used to describe a particular type of mental abuse that makes the victim doubt their own sanity and memory.

Examples of Rob’s ‘gaslighting’ tactics include attacking Helen’s eating disorder by forcing her to eat, buying clothes that are too large or small for her and persuading her to stop driving. 

‘Gaslighting’ is particularly dangerous as it skewers the individual’s perception of reality and often goes unnoticed by the victim and victim’s family due to its very calculating nature. The Archers storyline has helped to change perceptions of domestic abuse and has shone a light on this calculating behaviour, which victims perceive as the norm. This is highlighted by new figures which reveal a 17% increase in calls to the national domestic violence helpline run by Women’s Aid and Refuge.

The Government has taken a step forward in recognising this manipulative behaviour by introducing new legislation in March 2015, to hold people accountable for controlling or coercive behaviour in intimate or familial relationships. The offence carries a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment, a fine, or both. Types of behaviour listed include; isolating a person from their friends and family, and enforcing rules that humiliate and degrade the victim. 

Although this is a step in the right direction in recognising other types of abuse, in many cases victims are not able to take advantage of specialist services or are unaware of the controlling behaviour as they have been trained to believe that they are the problem. Increasing awareness and improving GPs’ responses to look beyond the surface of the victim’s basic communications is essential to preventing further abuse. One way of improving domestic abuse services is through Domestic Violence Champions Networks, which focuses on improving agencies’ knowledge and understanding of the issues and providing the victim with the help they require immediately. The scheme is made up of a network of practitioners or ‘champions’ from a range of agencies. An example of this scheme in action is Cumbria City Council, which has set up three Domestic Violence Champions Networks. 

On International Women’s Day in March, the Government made a further commitment to improving domestic abuse and violence services by committing £80 million to protect women and girls from violence as part of a new violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy.  Through the refreshed strategy, the government sets out a vision for the next four years with a focus on prevention and early intervention, and making VAWG a priority across agencies, services and the wider public. Measures laid out in the strategy include support for greater use of body-worn cameras by police, a National Statement of Expectations that provides a blueprint for what good commissioning and service provision looks like, and rehabilitation for perpetrators.  

While the strategy has been broadly welcomed, some concerns have been raised that it does not reflect the situation on the ground. Since 2011, Refuge has experienced cuts to 80% of its services, and a on a typical day for Women’s Aid’s refuges, 103 children and 155 women are turned away. Local authorities are coping with shrinking budgets and an increased demand for services, often resulting in charities’ funding being cut, with specialist domestic abuse charities bearing the brunt. Specialist domestic violence charities are integral to Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) and Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) communities as they have expert knowledge on how to help with particular patterns of abuse within communities and they understand specific needs.

The NFWI has been campaigning on violence against women since 2008; raising awareness of the nature, extent and impact of all forms of violence against women. The NFWI called for better access to domestic violence services for women and girls in rural areas and commissioned research from Bristol University that highlighted the additional problems faced by rural women such as confidentiality and lack of access to transport. In 2009, WI members made a ‘Map of Gaps’ quilt to help publicise research by the Equality and Human Rights Commission that demonstrated the postcode lottery of violence against women support services; one in four local authorities lack any specialist support services. 

'Map of Gaps' quilt

In addition, the NFWI secured key concessions to the Legal Aid, Sentencing and Punishment of Offenders Bill that affected thousands of women and girls who experienced domestic violence. NFWI-Wales has been working on the Not in My Name campaign since 2012 to engage men in pledging their support to never commit, condone, or remain silent about violence against women. 

The Archers storyline has been influential in raising awareness of psychological abuse, and the Government’s VAWG strategy and control and coercion legislation are positive steps in the right direction, but the key will be to ensure that changes are made in practice, and that local providers are given the support and resources they so urgently need to ensure that when victims seek help, they are referred to the correct service.  

Please share this blog with friends and family to raise awareness of controlling and abusive behaviour and encourage anyone who feels trapped in a relationship of abuse to come forward and seek help. 

If you or anyone you know requires any help or support from domestic violence please contact the National Domestic Violence helpline on 0808 2000 247, the Welsh Government’s Life Fear Free helpline on 0808 8010 800 or consult the NHS advice page.  

International Women's Day

Every year International Women’s Day is observed on the 8 March and celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievement of women. Although it is a day of celebration, it is also a day of awareness of what is yet to be achieved for women across the world.

This year, International Women’s Day is calling on people to pledge for gender parity and asking people of influence to take action by pledging their support and becoming champions of gender parity. For example, the multinational professional services firm, EY, have pledged for parity, arguing that the UK economy is losing out due to women’s academic achievements and talents not being effectively utilised. 

In light of the shocking statistic by the World Economic Forum, which estimated in 2015 that it will take until 2133 to eliminate the gender pay gap, the gender parity theme could not be more relevant today. The NFWI’s report, The WI at 100: A century of Inspiring Women, which draws on 5,450 member’s experiences, highlights similarly worrying statistics in relation to the role of women in the workplace and leadership roles. 83% of surveyed members believe more women are needed in leadership positions and 59% of members disagree that women have the same opportunities as men in the workplace.

To reach gender pay parity many other complex, societal norms must also change and develop, such as changing the way women are viewed in society in comparison to men, developing a more inclusive and flexible work culture and  promoting positive role models for today’s girls. The NFWI’s report reflects this need, as 82% of members believe that women are judged by different standards to men. These differing standards are then reflected in the workplace, which often results in conscious/unconscious bias.

70% of members aged 40 and under agree that women are penalised in the workplace for having children. An important step to achieving gender pay parity is a flexible work culture. Through implementing progressive policies that accommodate flexibility and integration for all, flexible working can be seen as the norm which in turn changes the culture of prejudice women face during and after pregnancy. 

In addition, 78% of members agree that there are not enough positive role models for today’s girls, and identified Malala Yousafzai as the most popular role model for young women. Without positive and ambitious role models for girls to look up to it can be hard to illuminate a path to leadership and success for girls. By highlighting career options through popular figures girls can be inspired to achieve the same level of success and determination.

A recent step the Government has taken to help eliminate the gender pay gap involves introducing requirements for private and voluntary sector companies, who employ over 250 employees, to publish information about their own gender pay gap. The plans were announced by Women and Equalities Minister Nicky Morgan in February 2016. Firms are required to start calculating their pay gap from April 2017, with the intention of publishing the results on their websites in April 2018.

Although this is a step in the right direction to driving diversity and encouraging women to demand more from their companies, there are concerns that without enforcement, companies may actually publish their own data. Many believe it is essential the Government consults closely with businesses to ensure that the new legislation produces results and helps to close the gender pay gap by prompting concrete actions to tackle the problem, rather than just producing data.

As Regina Moran, chief executive of Fujitsu UK and Ireland highlights, differences in pay are often part of a wider context, as highlighted by the statistics from The WI at 100 report; pledging for gender parity must involve everyone and inspire a multitude of changes to take place, not only in the workplace but also in the wider society.

The NFWI asks that WI members take a moment today to celebrate women’s achievements, past and present, and to speak with friends, family and colleagues about pledging for gender parity. You can find out how to get involved with this year’s pledge for parity theme here.

To read the full report of The WI at 100: A Century of Inspiring Women please download it here.

Cervical Cancer Screening

The WI first passed a resolution calling for a national screening programme to detect cervical cancer in 1964. The WI’s campaign successfully made the case for screening facilities, as well as raising awareness about the importance of cervical screening.

What do women need to know today?

This week is Cervical Cancer Prevention Week (24 – 30th January). Every day in the UK eight women are diagnosed with cervical cancer and three women will lose their lives to the disease [1]. Cervical cancer is largely preventable thanks to cervical screening and the HPV vaccination programme. The WI’s pioneering campaign called for better screening facilities, more public information and an effective recall system, which was first achieved in 1988. But in recent years take-up of cervical screening has declined year on year.

Research by cervical cancer charity Jo’s Trust has revealed that one in three 25 – 29 year old women in the UK do not attend their smear test when invited [2]. In England, cervical screening peaked at around 82% in the late 1990s but rates are now just above 78% [3]. In Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, screening rates are very similar. Worryingly cervical cancer is on the increase, with the Office for National Statistics data showing a 6% rise in cases between 2013 and 2012. Even more worrying is that the UK has one of the lowest survival rates for the disease out of the OECD countries [4]. This highlights the importance of cervical screening as the NHS cervical screening service saves around 5,000 lives a year in England [5].

In 2014 Jo’s Trust published a report which explored the financial impact of cervical cancer on the woman, the NHS and the state. It revealed that the average cost to the NHS per person diagnosed with stage 2 or later cervical cancer is £19,261, while for those at stage 1a, the cost to the NHS is around £1,379 per person. In addition, the combined financial burden of cancer-related costs, additional living arrangements and loss of income for women diagnosed with more advanced cancer is £1,102 a month. However, early detection reduced the financial impact on individuals and their families to just £360 a month [6].

These figures highlight the importance of early diagnosis, not only to increase the chance of recovering, but also to reduce the cost of cervical cancer to the NHS and some of the impacts on the individual woman and family.

The WI’s campaign made a huge impact in expanding access to screening and raising awareness of the issue, but it is clear there is still more to be done. The NFWI is calling on members to educate themselves and others about cervical cancer screenings and speak with friends, family and colleagues about the disease and whether they have had a screening recently. 

Why Women Will Save the Planet

Could women’s empowerment transform the chances of achieving environmental sustainability?
NFWI Vice Chair Marylyn Haines Evans, has added her voice to the ranks of environmental campaigners in a new book that seeks to show that the answer to this question is, emphatically, yes.

Part of Friends of the Earth’s Big Ideas Change the World project, the book – Why Women Will Save the Planet – is a collection of articles from women across the globe.  The book demonstrates that women’s empowerment is essential to securing a healthy and safe environment in which people and nature can thrive.

Marylyn’s article in the book explores ‘One hundred years of collective action for environmental change’ and draws on the WI’s history of collective action, of women coming together in order to exert the power and influence that they did not have as individuals. It highlights our environmental campaigns, from the 1927 resolution on polluted seas, to Keep Britain Tidy, through to SOS for Honeybees. 

The vision of the WI has always been a movement that could unlock the potential of all women and so create a strong, informed and active civil society. WI campaigns take a two-fold approach, while pressing for change from decision-makers, they also examine the role of individuals as change agents, leading the way in their own communities.

There is a great quote in a 1921 edition of the WI membership magazine Home and Country: 'if one person alone cannot make her wants heard it becomes much easier when there are numbers wanting the same kind of things.  That is why large numbers of women organised in bodies such as the National Federation of Women's Institutes can become a real power’.

At a time when the vote for women had not yet been won, the WI believed that if women learned how to conduct meetings, run committees and speak in public, they would be able to come together with other women and exert influence in public life.

With our roots in rural life, the WI has long been at the forefront of caring for the countryside and wildlife – and talking about land use, conservation and food production. As early as the 1920s and 1930s, our foremothers were working on environmental issues as diverse as marine pollution, crop diversity and food security, the preservation of ‘wide areas of special beauty,’ and the prevention of the rapid widespread destruction of wild flowers. 

More recently, a 2005 resolution on protecting natural resources inspired a nationwide action day that saw WIs return excess packaging to supermarkets. The WI Carbon Challenge, launched in 2008, saw 10,000 members signed up, pledging to reduce their carbon footprint by 20 per cent. The C02 savings achieved were equivalent to filling the Royal Albert Hall 108 times. 

Marylyn helped launch the book at a special event hosted by Friends of The Earth, where she led a discussion on Grassroots campaigning on gender and the environment. 

Why Women Will Save the Planet is available to buy now, get your copy here: http://zedbooks.co.uk/node/21960 

To find out about the WI’s latest environmental campaigns, visit the NFWI website: 

https://www.thewi.org.uk/campaigns/current-campaigns-and-initiatives/the-climate-coalition-for-the-love-of/show-the-love-make-a-heart-to-wear-and-share-on-valentines-day 

The floods

Guest post from Helen Hinvest, Chairman of Cumbria Cumberland Federation

Cumbria-Cumberland WI members are overwhelmed by the friendship and support offered by WI members throughout the country.  Just to know that fellow members are thinking about us is a great comfort during what has been, and continues to be, a very difficult time.

It has been raining for a week, but the heavy rain started on Saturday morning 5 December 2015.  It rained again all day yesterday 9 December, causing Patterdale/Glenridding to be flooded for a second time.

It was our Centenary Carol Service in Carlisle Cathedral in the afternoon and about 170 members battled through to the city to join us. One of our readers couldn't get through from Cockermouth but we drafted in Vice Chairman Joyce and she did a sterling job!  We had a specially formed WI Anniversary Singers group, who sang four lovely carols as part of the service, lead by Jean, WI choir leader.  They had been practising every week for 12 weeks and on Saturday five of them couldn't get to the Cathedral, but the rest of the Singers sounded wonderful!  One of the readers couldn't get home to West Cumbria and had to stay in Carlisle.  I acted as a Reception Centre for three of my own family members who couldn't get home to West Cumbria either!  Our honoured guest, Lord Lieutenant Mrs Claire Hensman, had a terrible journey from her home in the Kendal area to be with us, and an even worse journey home.

I've been in touch with affected WIs in the Federation since the floods on Saturday and they fortunately they are all safe and well.  Any members who have been affected/evacuated are being looked after by family and/or WI members;  in true WI spirit our members are helping their communities to recover.  Several WIs have both lost their WI meeting venues, including has my own WI here at Warwick Bridge, which is beside the River Eden - now a raging torrent.

I've been visiting two of my own WI members who've been flooded, they are so grateful for the WI friendship (they are both relatively new members).

We cancelled our scheduled Board of Trustees meeting;  it is simply unwise for our members to travel in to Carlisle and add to the chaotic traffic problems in the city.  I did get into the WI office yesterday, as did our Secretary who battled in despite huge traffic jams, and when I drove home along Warwick Road I could have cried; every house in darkness due to no electricity, and the pavements were covered with sodden carpets, mattresses, furniture, waiting to be collected by the Council.  Usually there is a beautifully decorated Christmas tree in the window of every house down Warwick Road at this time of the year.

I've had messages from WIs all over the country, too numerous to list here, and it is truly heartening, and the WI network of sympathy and support is incredible and awesome.  I’ve passed on these messages of support to all WI members I’ve spoken to this week, and will continue to do so.  They are all really grateful for fellow WI members’ kind thoughts and messages of support, including offers of practical help, holiday accommodation, and money.  It has brought home to us all what being part of the WI is all about, and it is very much appreciated.

So, thank you to every WI member for kind thoughts and sympathy.  We will assess what help, either practical or financial, our members will need over the next few weeks and months.  When the media interest has died down, we know that members and WIs will still need our support, and will be in a better position to identify their requirements, which is where we can step in and offer help. So if we don’t take you up on your offers of assistance immediately, I hope that you will understand, and hold on until we know what our members need.

Best wishes to all WI members for a happy Christmas and a successful 2016.

I can only end by saying a huge THANK YOU, which seems inadequate but is heartfelt.

WI members knit for Dementia patients

Elderly patients with dementia or sight impairments in East Surrey Hospital’s Newdigate ward can now enjoy beautiful sensory blankets, thanks to the Aylesford & Eccles WI.

Sensory blankets – or comfort blankets – provide a wonderful source of visual, tactile and sensory stimulation for those with dementia or sight impairments. They are small pieces of fabric with additional items stitched on, with different shapes and textures.

Pam Trangmar, a physician’s associate working on the Newdigate Ward, explained: “People with dementia often have restless hands and like to have something to keep themselves occupied. When I first started work on the ward, I noticed that a high number of our guests, who are mainly elderly, found their change of environment very distressing. A nursing colleague recommended comfort blankets and I asked my mother, who used to be Aylesford & Eccles WI president, whether some of her WI wanted to help make some. They made some gorgeous ones, and our guests are enjoying them greatly.”

Mary Barton, a patient with some sight impairment on Woodland ward, said: “I really like my comfort blanket, the different patterns and pictures – it’s lovely to touch and makes me feel very calm.”

Michael Wilson, Chief Executive of Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust, said “I’ve seen first-hand how our patients with dementia and sight impairments have felt comforted by these blankets. We are very grateful for the skill and time that the ladies of the Aylesford & Eccles Women’s Institute have provided to make these.”

Other WIs around the country have been doing similar activities, such as Jevington and Filching WI (below) in East Sussex. They made 40 of these “Twiddlemuffs” for residents living in dementia care homes in their area.

Ansdell and Fairhaven WI (Lancashire) also got involved and made 100 as part of their Centenary Projects. They have more information about the project on their website here: http://ansdellwi.weebly.com/

If you and your WI would like to get involved, please get in touch with your local hospital and suggest the idea to them.