The Show the Love action pack for 2021 is now available!
As in previous years, Show the Love 2021 will be our annual celebration of everything we care about and want to protect from the worst impacts of the climate crisis.
From the results of the NFWI's lockdown survey, it's clear that more and more people have discovered the restorative power of the natural world over the last few months.
Whilst Show the Love 2021 celebrations are likely to look a bit different, there are still plenty of activities that you; your household; your neighbours; your Climate Ambassador networks; and WIs could do to take action to protect the people and places you love from climate change.
The guide contains a number of ways that you could show the love in your community including instructions on how to create your own green heart pom-pom, advice on how to create your own green heart window display, and guidance on organising a 'community knowledge exchange' with another local climate or environmental group.
It also contains some top tips on how to talk to your MP about climate change, a COP26 factfile, and a postcard that you can send to your MP letting them know you have signed up to The Climate Coalition's Declaration and explaining how they can show support for vital climate action in 2021.
More information on other potential awareness-raising activities and craft projects will be available on the Show the Love website run by The Climate Coalition over the coming weeks.
Due to the logistical challenges posed by COVID-19 and the NFWI Public Affairs team working from home, we would like to encourage members to download digital copies of the Show the Love resource guides.
However, for members who would have difficulty using a digital Show the Love resource guide, the NFWI will have a very limited number of physical copies of the Green Heart Action Pack available.
Festive Food Matters
According to WRAP, the greenhouse gas emissions associated with a year's worth of potatoes thrown away from UK homes is capable of melting almost 1 million square meters of Arctic Ice. The festive time can often play a major part in the amount of food we waste.
In our ‘Top 10 Tips to Reduce Your Household Food Waste’ list, based on members' suggestions, we have outlined some easy ways you can keep mindful of and reduce your household food waste this Christmas.
Share your stem cell story
Have you received or donated stem cells? Have you registered as a potential donor or held an event? We'd love to hear about it!
Last month, Barnstaple Bloomers WI hosted around 50 WI members from near and far, as well as friends and family, at their Zoom talk with Pete McCleave
They say that Pete was a very eloquent speaker on the subject of stem cell donation, and a number of new donors signed up during the meeting! The attendees said it was great to be able to ask questions about the process and to share ideas for campaigning for more people to sign up.
Pete has been a great support to the WI campaign, and he has spoken at several other WI and Federation meetings, and has another couple in the pipeline. In just two years, his own campaign has resulted in nearly 100,000 new registrations to the database and 12 life saving matches.
If you are planning a Make a Match-event we'd love to hear about it. If it is open to members from other WIs, we would be happy to promote it, as some WIs are unable to meet or host their own virtual meetings.
Click here to tell us about your events or your stem cell stories.
If you want to arrange a speaker for your Make a Match-event, you can email DKMS here.
No More Violence against Women: Looking beyond the 16 days
Thank you to all of the WIs and federations that took part in the 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence from 25th November (White Ribbon Day) - 10th December (Human Rights Day). WI members generously donated goods to their local women’s refuges, held candlelight vigils, raised money for their local women’s refuges and held virtual discussions to learn more about the issue.
Violence against women in the UK is still widespread with devastating effects. We’ve outlined 10 ways you can keep campaigning on this issue through education and by taking action.
Watch the Supporting Survivors webinar: The speakers discussed the impacts of Covid-19 on the domestic abuse landscape, what WI members can do locally and nationally to support survivors and how to recognise abuse. The webinar is now available to watch on My WI here.
Read the new report by Femicide Census: Based on the most comprehensive study to date of women killed by men, the report finds that 1,425 women and girls were killed in the UK over the ten year period between 2009-2018. To read the report in full, click here.
Fundraise for your local women’s refuge: Whilst the 16 days of activism 2020 may have come to an end, there are still ways you can support your local women’s refuge. We have produced guidance on how you can organise a virtual fundraising quiz and set up a challenge and get sponsored. You can download the guidance documents here.
Get planning: As part of our No More Violence campaign, every year we ask WI members to take part in the 16 days of activism to end gender-based violence. Get in touch with us at pa@nfwi.org.uk for some guidance to start planning for 2021.
We have shared plenty more tips for how to get involved in the campaign in our blog post here.
The Great Winter Get Together
The Great Winter Get Together, organised by the Jo Cox Foundation, has begun. By building connections this winter, it aims to reduce loneliness and tackle stigma. The campaign will run from 14th December to 18th January. Each week will feature a different theme; next week the focus is on reaching out to someone you’ve lost touch with.
To find out more and download the resources available to support you in taking part, click here.
10 Worst Councils for Women’s Representation
We need your help to raise concerns about women being underrepresented in local government during Coronavirus.
After the 2019 local government election, The Fawcett Society found that the following councils ranked worst in England in terms of women’s representation. Nationally, just 35% of councillors are women and only 6% of women councillors identify as BAME.
We understand that coronavirus has put huge strain on council’s services and budgets across England and Wales as well as on those in leadership positions. However, women are being disproportionately affected by the social and economic impacts of the virus due to existing inequality. Action to address women’s representation cannot wait.
If you belong to one of the following councils and wish to sign on to a letter to help ensure that more women are elected into office, please email us at publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk and we will get in touch.
10 worst councils for women’s representation:
Craven
West Berkshire
Swale
East Sussex
Huntingdonshire
Isle of Wight
Hambleton
Gloucestershire
Castle Point
Ashfield
Share your views with the Together Coalition
The NFWI is part of the /Together Coalition which has launched a survey seeking to find out how we can heal divides and bring society closer together during these difficult times.
/Together aims to bring people together and bridge divides, to help build a kinder, closer and more connected society. It is made up of a range of organisations from the NHS, to the Scouts and smaller community groups.
The survey is open to everyone and should only take five minutes. It will close on 31st January. .
Stop the Hate
In Summer 2020, Glitch and the End Violence against Women Coalition published the largest dataset to date on the gendered experience of abuse online during Covid-19.
Their report found that almost 1 in 2 (46%) women and non-binary people reported experiencing online abuse since the beginning of Covid-19. Gender was the most often cited reason for online abuse, with 48% of respondents reported suffering from gender-based online violence.
We are proud to support the new Stop the Hate campaign against online abuse. The Government has committed to introduce a new Online Harms Bill aimed at tackling online abuse. The Stop the Hate campaign has listed 6 key points, which we would like to see included in the Bill. This includes placing a legal responsibility on social media companies on the welfare of their users and to significantly reduce the prevalence and influence of anonymous accounts. To find out more and to sign the petition click here.
You can read Glitch’s full report here.
Fewer bus journeys
A new report from the County Councils network (CCN) and the County All-Party Parliamentary Group has found that there were 97 million fewer bus journeys in 2019 across 36 counties compared to a decade ago due to a £348 million funding gap. Bus services in rural and remote areas in particular are a lifeline for residents.
With the National Buses Strategy due to be unveiled in the coming weeks, we echo the calls of these County MPs and council leaders, to provide a fair share of investment into the areas that have seen the largest decline in funding.
To read the report in full click here.
Reminder: The 2020/21 resolution shortlist is now ready!
The shortlist is now ready and all members are invited to evaluate the list and submit their individual selections to their federations by 18th January.
The NFWI has prepared a range of resources on each shortlisted resolution which you can use to aid your decision. Members are encouraged to read the briefings, do their own research and engage critically with the resolutions before selecting the one they support the most. We would also encourage you to hold virtual meetings to discuss the resolutions in you WIs.
You can find the shortlist and supporting resources here.
You can find your selection slip in the November/December issue of WI Life.
Support and help during pandemic This can be a particularly difficult and worrying time for adults and children living with domestic abuse. This link will take you take a page of support sources, please share as widely as possible. It is important that survivors know that they are not alone. This can also be a difficult and worrying time if you require additional assistance. If you need emergency food or support you can find the contact details of your local food bank using your postcode here. If you are able to support your local food bank with donations or by volunteering, click here to visit the FareShare website. You can also visit this section of our website for information from the NFWI on ways you can help your community, sources of support and other helpful information such as setting up a virtual meeting.
We have a PDF versions of the digest available, that you can share with the people around you. Please get in touch with the Public Affairs department if you would like a copy. Please also encourage other members of your WI to sign up to receive this monthly digest. Kind regards, The NFWI Public Affairs team. pa@nfwi.org.uk 020 7371 9300 ext.238
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