Resolutions & Campaigns

WI for the Modern Woman

Resolution Shortlist 2024-2025

At the NFWI Resolution Shortlist Selection meeting on 3 October 2024, members shortlisted four resolutions which will now be taken forward for further debate and selection by members.

The shortlisted resolutions are:

  1. Let’s talk about incontinence
  2. Bystanders can be lifesavers 
  3. Join the repair revolution 
  4. Eliminate landfill of medication packaging 

Next steps 

Every member now has the opportunity to cast their individual selection on the resolution they support the most. WIs are encouraged to hold meetings to provide members with the opportunity to discuss and learn more about each resolution.

The deadline for members’ selections to reach their federations is 9 February 2025.

Campaign – Dental Health Matters

More than 1 in 4 adults in England were unable to access NHS dental care in 2023. Nine out of ten dental practices are no longer accepting new NHS adult patients. Tooth decay is the number one reason for children to be admitted to hospital. The WI wants to change this. 

The Dental Health Matters campaign was voted for by members at the WI Annual Meeting on 5th June 2024. Our members are concerned about the shortage of NHS dentists, dentist surgeries, and new patient spaces. This shortage, combined with the cost of living crisis, has led to the rise of ‘DIY Dentistry’ where people are suffering to the point of extracting their own teeth.

A report by the Health and Social Care Committee has described the current dental contract as ‘not fit for purpose’ and called on the government to reform dental contracts so that everyone who needs an NHS dentist can access one. Our members are therefore calling for the Government to take action by reviewing the NHS contracts and providing more places for people to train as dentists.

The Labour Party won the General Election in July with a manifesto pledging to tackle the dental health crisis. The new government has promised to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments, recruit new dentists to areas that need them most, reform the dental contract, focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists, and introduce a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for 3- to 5-year-olds, targeting the areas of highest need.

Under the Dental Health Matters campaign, we are holding the government to account, pushing the reform of dental contracts, and engaging with them on their plans to retain NHS dentists.

Our members are writing to their MPs and MSs and sending them home-sewn tooth fairies, contributing to our research on the dental health crisis, and sharing their personal stories of experiencing hardship regarding their dental health. If you’re a WI member and want to get involved, visit the My WI website or email pa@nfwi.org.uk.

Campaign – Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife

The WI was one of the first organisations to sound the alarm about pollution of our rivers, as far back as the 1930s. In 1936 the WI began campaigning on river pollution from dairies, and WIs wrote to their local authorities urging them to take responsibility for this issue.

Then later the WI spent almost 20 years in the late 1950s and early 1970s sounding the alarm about the scandal of untreated sewage flowing into our seas and rivers. WI members were outraged and pushed the government to act. WI representative Lady Anglesey even served as vice chair on a government working group looking at sewage disposal.

In 2023, members again expressed their outrage at the state of our rivers. The Clean Rivers campaign seeks to tackle river pollution from key sources such as sewage run-off and industrial agriculture, in particular through promoting bathing water designation.

According to the Rivers Trust, no single stretch of river in England is in good overall health. In 2022 the Environmental Audit Committee found that “a ‘chemical cocktail’ of sewage, agricultural waste, and plastic is polluting the waters of many of the country’s rivers” and called for “far more assertive regulation and enforcement from Ofwat and the Environment Agency”. The Climate Change, Environment, and Infrastructure Committee in the Senedd found similar conditions in Wales.

Sewage is spilled into rivers as storm overflow. This is a mechanism to prevent capacity issues in sewage treatment systems with high rainfall, but reports suggest it is happening much more than it should. Intensive livestock and poultry farming also contributes to river pollution in some areas through farm waste making its way into the water, raising nutrient levels.

Designated Bathing Waters are the only places in the UK where bacteria levels in open water are monitored and the data published. Tests are carried out regularly, by government environmental agencies between May and September in England and Wales. Pollution incidents must be explained and there are legal obligations to improve water quality over time.

  1. In September each year, we mark the WI Week of River Action, a week focused on making noise about river pollution locally and nationally. Members arrange stunts, river cleans, protests and yarn bombing to raise awareness of the state of our rivers in their communities.

    In 2024, over 80 WIs and many more WI members took part in Earthwatch’s citizen science drive, the Great UK Water Blitz. Read more in our blog. In 2023, we spoke to MPs and gathered members dressed as aquatic creatures for a mini-protest outside the Houses of Parliament. Read more in our blog.
  2. Find out more information about how to apply for inland bathing water by using the Surfers Against Sewage’s ‘Wild Water’ website.The website contains a useful nine-step guide that provides guidance about applying for a designated bathing water. You can also access the Surfers Against Sewage community bathing waters toolkit here.
  3. Find out about sewage pollution in rivers in your area. You can find out about the location of combined sewage outflows (CSOs) in your area by looking at the Rivers Trust Sewage Map.

Campaign – Thinking Differently Autistic and ADHD Women and Girls

Autistic Spectrum Condition (ASC) is the medical name for autism. Autism is a lifelong developmental condition which affects how people communicate and interact with the world.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) is a condition that affects people’s behaviour.

Although the main components of Autism and ADHD are different, they can share some of the same symptoms and presenting issues.

Historically, ASC and ADHD have been recognised as mainly affecting men and boys resulting in women and girls being overlooked or misdiagnosed.

According to the National Autistic Society, men and boys are three times more likely than women and girls to be diagnosed as autistic. ADHD can present differently in girls. Boys are more often described as ‘hyperactive’ while girls are more often described as ‘inattentive’ or as a combination of inattentive and hyperactive.

Women and girls are often better at masking or camouflaging their difficulties. In general, they engage in more “internalising” behaviour than boys, meaning they tend to take their problems out on themselves rather than others. According to the National Autistic Society’s Centre for Autism, professionals often don’t recognise and understand the different ways autism can manifest in women and girls.

Neurodevelopmental specialists and clinical psychologists highlight that autism and ADHD symptoms in women can often be misunderstood and misdiagnosed by medical professionals, mistaking them for stress, anxiety, or another related condition.

How you can get involved

  1. Download our campaign action pack to learn more about our campaign.
  2. Share your experience: We’d like to hear from those with personal or professional experience of autism and/or ADHD, including late diagnosis. If you would like to be contacted by us so you can share your experience, please email us at pa@nfwi.org.uk and we can provide further details about what is involved. No information about your experiences will be shared further or stored without your consent and you can also remain anonymous if you wish to.

If you are a WI Member or WI Supporter, we have more ways to get involved on My WI. Find out more here.

Campaign – See the Signs (Ovarian Cancer)

According to Cancer Research UK, there are around 7,500 new ovarian cancer cases in the UK each year, and 4,200 deaths.

It is one of the most common types of cancer in women, mainly affecting those who have been through menopause.

Although the risk of developing ovarian cancer increases with age, there are cases in younger women so it’s important that all women know the symptoms to look out for. On average, 1,330 women under the age of 50 are diagnosed with ovarian cancer every year in the UK.

The earlier ovarian cancer is diagnosed the easier it is to treat. However, because the early signs of ovarian cancer are similar to conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and pre-menstrual syndrome (PMS), it is often not diagnosed until it has spread and a cure is not possible.

Overall awareness of the symptoms of ovarian cancer remains low, yet this is crucial to early diagnosis, alongside other factors such as healthcare professionals taking the necessary steps when women present with them.

How you can get involved

  • Learn about the signs of ovarian cancer and spread the word on social media by sharing our posts or using the hashtag #SeeTheSigns and our symptoms images which you can download at the bottom of this page. (Simply click the image to prompt the download.
  • Visit our online exhibition to see all entries to the NFWI’s See the Signs craftivism competition. You can also find craft guides for the winning and first runner-up entries here and here if you would like to have a go at re-creating them to raise awareness.

If you are a WI Member or WI Supporter, we have more ways to get involved on MyWI. Find out more here.

Campaign – Stop Modern Slavery

Modern slavery is a complex crime that takes a number of different forms. It encompasses slavery, servitude, forced and compulsory labour and human trafficking. Traffickers and slave drivers coerce, deceive and force individuals against their will into a life of abuse, servitude and inhumane treatment. Victims may be sexually exploited, forced to work for little or no pay or forced to commit criminal activities against their will.

The true extent of modern slavery in the UK and globally is unknown, but the best estimates suggest that there are around 40 million victims worldwide. The UK government estimates that there are tens of thousands of people in slavery in the UK today.

Modern slavery crimes are being committed across the UK and are taking place in many different sectors including factories, fields, brothels, nail bars and even within people’s homes. There is no typical victim of slavery – victims can be men, women or children of all ages and nationalities. According to the Salvation Army, the number of UK victims who had been enslaved through labour exploitation rose by 63% between July 2018 and June 2019.

How you can get involved

  1. Find out more about our campaign by downloading our campaign action pack here.
  2. Print, cut and share these wallet cards to know what signs to spot for modern slavery and how to report it.
  3. Share your experiences with us
    If you have encountered modern slavery in your community or have reported concerns, please do get in touch to share your experiences with us. With your permission, stories that are shared with us may be used anonymously as part of our policy and campaigning work in NFWI Public Affairs resources, WI Life, the WI websites and on our social media channels. Please email pa@nfwi.org.uk
    If you suspect modern slavery, please contact the relevant authority first.

If you are a WI Member or WI Supporter, we have more ways to get involved on MyWI. Find out more here.

Find out more about modern slavery  

  • For an explanation of modern slavery, visit the websites of organisations such as Unseen UK and Haven of Light
  • For more data on the nature and extent of modern slavery in the UK, take a look at the latest ONS report(published in March 2020)
  • To find out more about the signs of modern slavery, how to report it, and sources of support visit the Met Police website
  • For more details on the UK Government’s approach to modern slavery, download the Modern Slavery Statement

You can also find briefing notes, a PowerPoint presentation, a discussion guide and further information about how this resolution was passed here.

Guidance on the use of responsible imagery

According to the University of Nottingham, particular images used to represent modern slavery can create an inaccurate portrayal of what it looks like and risks harming anti-slavery work by creating mis-information. For this reason, we would advise you to think carefully about using images and what they may portray about the topic and those who have experienced exploitation. If you are unsure please get in touch with us.

If you are not already a WI member, the members decide the WI campaigns through a democratic vote. We would love to welcome a new WI member, please click here for further details.

Campaign – Make a Match

Every twenty minutes, someone in the UK is diagnosed with blood cancer. Often, replacing their cancerous blood cells through a blood stem cell donation from a matching donor is their best chance of survival.

Ideally, stem cells are taken from a family member of the person who needs them (siblings are the most likely to match your tissue type). However, according to NHS Blood and Transplant, 65-75% of people who require this treatment are unable to find a sibling match.

Most people, therefore, depend on finding a suitable donor on the aligned ‘Anthony Nolan and NHS Stem Cell Registry’. This is formed of Anthony Nolan, DKMS UK, NHS Blood and Transplant, and the Welsh Bone Marrow Donor Registry. There is also a global network of registries which can be searched.

While a number of organisations are already working on this issue, meeting the demand for suitable stem cell donors is recognised as a big challenge. DKMS UK says that many people die because they are unable to find a donor.

Currently, in the UK, only 2% of people are registered as stem cell donors. In order for more matches to be found, more people are urgently needed to join the registry.

How you can get involved

1. Share our WI Signup links. The NFWI has worked with Anthony Nolan and DKMS to create WI specific sign up links to the stem cell registry, which you can use yourself or share with those around you. These links will allow us to keep track of the number of people that sign up as a potential donor as a result of our Make a Match campaign.

DKMS/WI Signup link: www.dkms.org.uk/thewi
Anthony Nolan/WI Signup link: www.anthonynolan.org/WI

Signing up to become a stem cell donor is a personal choice and there are restrictions on who can register. Eligibility criteria vary across organisations involved in this process. Anthony Nolan, for example, focuses on people aged 16-30 on the basis that this age group provides the best outcomes for patients. While DKMS registers people aged between 18 and 55 who are in general good health and live permanently in the UK. People aged 17 can also ‘pre-register’ with them in advance. You can find out more about this and how to sign up by visiting their websites.

2. Take part in Blood Cancer Awareness Month. September is Blood Cancer Awareness Month and and a great time to promote stem cell donation.

3. Share your experiences with us. If you have registered as a potential stem cell donor, donated your stem cells or received a transplant, we would love to hear your story. Stories can make a big difference when it comes to raising awareness, and so, with your permission, we may share these through our communication channels, including WI Life, the WI websites, Public Affairs resources and social media. Please email pa@nfwi.org.uk.

If you are a WI Member or WI Supporter, we have more ways to get involved on MyWI. Find out more here.

Find out more about stem cell donation 

To support WI members to get involved with the campaign, the NFWI Public Affairs Team has produced a range of resources which can be found on this page.

Climate Change – WI Climate Coalition

For nearly 100 years, WI members have led campaigns to conserve the natural world from environmental degradation and climate change. Generations of WI members have used their campaigning might to call for action on issues as diverse as water pollution (1936), acid rain (1985),  the ozone layer and CFCs (1988), deforestation (1989), renewable energy (1977 and 2006), litter – a campaign which founded one of Britain’s leading environmental organisations Keep Britain Tidy in 1954 – recycling and conservation of resources (2005), and the protection of birds (1933), honeybees (2009) and animal welfare.

Be it making simple swaps in their own lives, or lobbying policymakers as part of the WI’s Climate Ambassador scheme, more and more WI members are taking action to protect our world for generations to come.

As the largest women’s voluntary organisation in the UK, the WI will be using our campaigning might to call for ambitious domestic policies that get the UK on track for net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. We will be working alongside partners in The Climate Coalition, Warm this Winter and Unchecked UK to campaign for green, clean solutions to rising energy bills, and to retain hard-won environmental policies and protections.

The WI will also be continuing to boost our WI Climate Ambassador scheme with new resources, training, and expert panel events. If you are a WI member, you can find out more about the WI Climate Ambassador scheme here.

How to get involved 

  • Make and send your MP your own ‘Patchwork Green Heart’ to let them know you are counting on them to take decisive action on climate change
  • Visit The Climate Coalition’s website to find out more about Show the Love and the Great Big Green Week, access campaign resources, and how you can take part
  • Visit the Warm this Winter website to find out more about the Warm this Winter campaign, access campaign resources and get involved in campaign actions

If you are a WI Member or WI Supporter, we have more ways to get involved on My WI. Find out more here.

Campaign – End Plastic Soup

Microplastic fibres are small (5mm or smaller) plastic fragments shed from synthetic clothes when washed. As the fragments are too small to be caught by the machine’s filters, they then flow into the sewage system and eventually into the ocean, where those fibres are often swallowed or absorbed by plants and fish, filling up their stomachs and in some cases causing them to die.

The scale of the problem is large, as millions of people wash their clothes every week. These fibres can also end up in the food we eat – the long-term effects of which are not yet clear.

Launched in 2017, our End Plastic Soup campaign explores the scale of the microplastic fibre pollution and calls on the government and industry to develop solutions to the problem. The issue is complex and involves a wide range of stakeholders, from the clothing and wastewater treatment industries to washing machine manufacturers.

How you can get involved

  1. Find out more about the issue of microplastic fibres and fast fashion in our action pack
  2. Find out more about the WI’s work as Secretariat of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Microplastics
  3. Download our “Wash and Wear Well” checklist to find out about reducing the impact of your own washing practices

Campaign – No More Violence Against Women

For the year ending March 2019, an estimated 1.6 million women across the UK experienced violence, including domestic violence, rape, forced marriage, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse and harassment. Launched in 2019, our No More Violence against Women campaign encourages WI members to take action to end the scourge of violence against women.

Tackling domestic violence has been a longstanding concern for the WI. Throughout our history, the WI has campaigned to make sure that women and girls can live the lives they choose, free from the fear of abuse.

The WI campaigned for the funding of refuges in every county in 1975, to make sure that domestic violence survivors were able to access justice through the courts in 1988 and to adequately define domestic violence under the law in 1993.

No More Violence: WI Walk with Women

On Friday 19 March 2021, WI members and friends joined #WIWalkwithWomen to show their support for all women who have experienced abuse and harassment. Between 6 pm and 7 pm, members walked down the streets in their local areas with a candle or lantern to raise awareness of violence against women and stand in solidarity with survivors. Head over to My WI to view our gallery of some of the WIs and members who took part.

We are asking WI members to use our template letter and email their MP on this issue. For a copy of the letter and for more information on the No More Violence campaign, get in touch with us at PA@nfwi.org.uk.

Campaign – Five Minutes That Matter

Help save lives by raising awareness of the importance of cervical screening!

Campaign Update – Spring 2025

The UK National Screening Committee has published a public consultation to determine the public’s thoughts on introducing HPV home testing kits freely on the NHS for eligible under-screened people.

The NFWI will be responding to the consultation as part of the WI’s 5 Minutes that Matter campaign to inform the National Screening Committee that the WI supports the introduction of HPV home testing kits.

As part of our response, we want to hear from WI Members and your experiences of HPV testing/cervical screening/smear tests so that we can collate your responses to send to NHS England.

This consultation applies to members in England and Wales.

You can find the consultation details here.

You can be part of the NFWI collective response to the consultation by filling in our survey here. The survey will close on Friday 14th February 2024 and responses will remain anonymous.

On Tuesday 11th February, 7pm-8pm the NFWI will be hosting an online focus group for members to share their thoughts on introducing HPV home testing kits freely on the NHS. You can sign up to join the event here.

If you have any questions please get in touch with us pa@nfwi.org.uk.

 

At the NFWI Annual Meeting in 2019, 97% of delegates voted in support of a resolution calling on WI members to raise awareness of the importance of cervical screening and help to address barriers to attendance.

While it’s not a test for cancer, regular cervical screening (also referred to as a ‘smear test’) is the best way for abnormal cells to be picked up early and treated (if necessary) to prevent cancer developing. It is estimated that the test currently prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths. However, this figure could be 83% if all eligible women attended.

Cervical screening is a choice, and attendance is currently at a 21-year low.

Our campaign seeks to support more women in making an informed decision about whether or not to take up their cervical screening invitations.

Take action

Here are some of the ways you and your WI can get involved in this campaign:

  • Talk about it! We can all help to challenge the myths around cervical screening by speaking to friends and family about the test and why it’s important.
  • Reach out to your GP surgery to find out whether they have any plans to launch a local initiative to improve cervical screening rates in your area and, if so, how your WI could help out.
  • Make a calming lavender-scented sachet to take to your own cervical screening appointments or to give to a friend or family member. Step-by-step instructions for this project can be found in the 5 Minutes That Matter campaign action pack.
  • Register your interest in taking part in NFWI research on cervical screening by emailing us at publicaffairs@nfwi.org.uk
  • Organise an awareness session on cervical screening. Why not use our WI 5 Minutes That Matter poster and leaflet to promote the event? We have also created a Welsh version of the poster and the leaflet.
  • Share your cervical screening story with us by getting in touch using the contact information above.

Cervical screening checks the health of your cervix. While it’s not a test for cancer, regular cervical screening (also referred to as a ‘smear test’) is the best way for abnormal cells to be picked up early and treated (if necessary) to prevent cancer from developing.

It is estimated that the test currently prevents 70% of cervical cancer deaths. However, this figure could be 83% if all eligible women attended. Cervical screening is a choice, and attendance is currently at a 21-year low.

Launched in 2019, our 5 Minutes that Matters campaign seeks to raise awareness of the importance of attending routine cervical screenings and support more women to make an informed decision about whether or not to take up their invitations.

Current situation in Wales

In terms of HPV self-sampling, the Welsh Government has been awaiting the outcome of the pilot projects in England and has stated that it would support the introduction of self-sampling if the process was validated. Self-sampling will only be implemented in Wales if the UK National Screening Committee recommends it.

What we have achieved so far

WI members have been raising awareness of the importance of this issue and challenging myths surrounding cervical screening and cervical cancer, including by taking part in national awareness weeks and organising local events. Members have shared personal accounts of cervical screening to improve understanding and support others who may be going through similar experiences.

Between August and October 2020, we carried out a survey to understand attitudes towards cervical screening and sampling methods in England and Wales. All women and people with a cervix aged 25 and over were invited to take part.

The research showed strong support for HPV-self-sampling, which is currently being trialled in England. It found that among those eligible for screening in the 25-64 age group, 67 per cent would like the option of home HPV tests, saying that a self-sampling kit would be more convenient.

Other figures showed that:

  • 50 per cent said that a self-sampling kit would be less embarrassing
  • 42 per cent said they would prefer to take a test at home
  • 38 per cent said it would be less uncomfortable or painful
  • 34 per cent said they would feel more in control

Download our research briefings:

How you can get involved

  1. Check out our campaign action pack to learn more about the issue and find out about other ways to participate. Download it here.
  2. Share our leaflet on HPV and cervical screening to raise awareness of HPV and how it is passed on, and to help people understand their screening results.
  3. Read and share our myth-busting flyer. Click here.

If you are not already a WI member, the members decide the WI campaigns through a democratic vote. We would love to welcome a new WI member, please click here for further details.

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