Dear members and supporters, Welcome to the NFWI Public Affairs Digest, an e-update on all the latest WI campaigning news, delivered directly to your inbox. If you know any members or supporters who are interested in campaigns, please direct them to the campaigns area of MyWI to sign up to receive this Public Affairs Digest.
Are you ready for the WI Week of River Action 11-18 September 2023?
Help River Action's Rescue Our Rivers petition reach 100,000 signatures!
NFWI-Wales Public Affairs Conference
NFWI-Wales Public Affairs Bulletin
Reminder: Resolution Submissions 2023/24
Join The WI's Climate Conference 17 October
Campaigns Corner
Are you ready for the WI Week of River Action 11-18 September 2023?
The WI Week of River Action is just around the corner!
Taking place between 11 and 18 September, the WI Week of River Action is your first chance to stand together with WI members across England, Wales and the Islands to call for urgent action to clean up our rivers. WI members and supporters are drawing public attention to the importance of clean rivers for people and wildlife by organising campaign stunts and activities in local communities across England, Wales and the Islands.
We have published two excellent crafts to draw public attention to the importance of clean rivers for people and wildlife during the action week or in later campaigning. The banner is perfect to bring to your community event, and the keyring can be crafted as a gift for your MP or other decision-makers.
Knitted river banner for use at a Clean River event
Crochet dragonfly keyring to gift your MP
Other resources available
Resources are available to help you plan yaur campaign activities, big and small. These can be found here: mywi.thewi.org.uk/cleanrivers or downloaded via the links below:
Social media guide - Download (NEW)
Press release template - Download (NEW)
Clean Rivers Stunt Action Pack: Download PDF – Printer-friendly version
Poster
Social media graphics: English rivers, Welsh rivers
Template placards and signs to use at your stunt: Graphic I, Graphic II, Graphic III
It's not too late to invite your MP to our Week of River Action Parliamentary Drop-in
Use our template email on MyWI to invite your MP to the upcoming parliamentary drop-in event to launch the WI Week of River action on 12 September 2023.
The event will launch our new Clean Rivers campaign to MPs and will be a vital chance to make sure decision-makers know how strongly WI members and supporters feel about cleaning up our rivers. Asking your MP to attend is helpful because MPs will want to show that they are working hard on behalf of their constituents.
Tell us about your activity
As always, we would love to hear about any activities you and your WIs have planned for the campaign. Hearing about what you have planned for Week of River Action would allow us to really amplify your voices in support of the campaign and make sure the message is heard in September by media and your MPs. So please do get in touch with us at pa@nfwi.org.uk
Help River Action's Rescue Our Rivers petition reach 100,000 signatures!
Our rivers are in crisis, with every single river in England polluted beyond legal limits. Will you help our friends at River Action to #RescueBritainsRivers by signing the petition to restore our rivers to health?
The Rescue Our Rivers petition calls on Government and all political parties to adopt the Charter for Rivers. The Charter, backed by The WI, sets out simple, positive steps to restore river health by 2030. These steps include ending sewage pollution, stopping agriculture from polluting our rivers, preventing harmful chemicals at source and inspecting polluters in order to uphold the law.
NFWI-Wales Public Affairs Conferences
NFWI-Wales will be holding its regional conference in September 2023 focusing on WI campaigns:
19 September - The Halliwell Centre, Carmarthen
The conference will be an opportunity to update you on the campaigns in Wales and nationally, to hear from external speakers on key campaigns/themes, and for you to take part in Q&A sessions and roundtable discussions.
There will be a panel debate on women’s health comprising of representatives from the Royal College of GPs, Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales and Welsh Government. The conference will also be focusing on modern slavery in Wales and the new campaign on clean rivers for people and wildlife.
The conference fee is £12. Tea/coffee on arrival and a buffet lunch will be provided.
If you would like to receive further information about the events, please register your interest by completing a form on My WI.
NFWI-Wales Public Affairs Bulletin
The summer edition of the NFWI-Wales Public Affairs Bulletin is available here.
Reminder: Resolution Submissions 2023/24
It's not too late for your WI to submit a resolution for the 2023/24 process. This is your chance to highlight an issue you are concerned about, and put forward your ideas about what you would like to see the WI campaign on from next year.
WIs are encouraged to speak to their federation at the earliest possible opportunity if they would like to submit a resolution. Federations can support with developing the resolution and must also check and sign any resolutions submitted by WIs, so getting in touch early will improve the chances that the submission is successful.
Submissions must reach federations for approval by Sunday 3 September 2023.
A range of resources are available to support members with developing resolutions.
You can also watch the recording of our Resolution Writing Webinar held on 11 July.
Join The WI's Climate Conference 17 October
It's not too late to secure your ticket to the WI's Climate Conference. On Tuesday 17 October, the NFWI will hold a day-long conference for WI members in Westminster which will explore different aspects of climate change and how we can campaign for urgent action.
The conference will allow members to explore how we can effectively push for action – as well as what action is needed in our energy supply, to protect resources like water and safeguard our food supply. It will also consider the impact of climate change on women, and how we can make sure women are at the table of climate negotiations, as well as ensuring a ‘just transition’ that protects and benefits all.
The day will feature presentations and panel discussions from experts and will include opportunities for WI member feedback and discussion.
The conference will take place on 17 October, in the Abbey Centre, Westminster, and will run from 9am until 5pm. Get your ticket below.
PA Digest on My WI
Missed an issue of the Digest? You can now access previous issues on My WI.
West Yorkshire Federation arranged an environmental day at Leeds University's School of Geography.
Members heard from Dr. Cat Scott who discussed the complexity of woodland creation in the UK in the talk “How Cool Are Trees”. PHD research student Beth Mroz talked about how climate change and the changes in the patterns affecting flood plains are affecting maternity outcomes in Zambia. Finally, Dr. Liam Taylor introduced members to breathtaking virtual reality headsets which had been used in Beth’s research.
We have a PDF version of the digest available, so you can share it with your fellow members and WI supporters. Please get in touch with the Public Affairs department if you would like a copy. Please also encourage other members and supporters to sign up to receive this monthly digest. Kind regards, The NFWI Public Affairs team.
pa@nfwi.org.uk 020 7371 9300 ext. 2002
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