Campaigns and Concerns, with Media
Campaigning is at the heart of the WI and Media is all about promoting our wonderful organisation.
It makes sense for the two committees to work together. (click on photos for more news)
| EARLIER CAMPAIGNS | CLIMATE CHANGE AND "SHOW THE LOVE" | CLEAN RIVERS |
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Update on Campaigns, Concerns and Media Jean McLeish (Bugbrooke WI)
October 2025
Well, the Federation has certainly been in the news this month, thanks to the Yarnbombing Project. There have been TV and radio appearances, articles in local publications and social media has gone wild, with posts on pages from our own WIs but also from organisations across the county and beyond. Compliments have been flowing in from representatives of World and English Rugby, Local Authorities across Northamptonshire, the general public and from many WI members from other parts of the country attending Gardens. A huge congratulations to everyone involved in the project.
Remember the Federation when you are having a clear out as we continue to recycle unwanted items and raise money to support the Federation. We recycle old or broken jewellery, cameras, mobile phones, watches, stamps and foreign currency. Bring the items along to WI or ask any trustee, sub-committee member or WI Adviser to bring them along for you.
Update on Campaigns, Concerns and Media Jean McLeish (Bugbrooke WI)
September 2025
Which of our current WI campaigns appeals to your members? When a resolution is passed at the Annual Meeting and a new campaign is developed it doesn’t mean activities stop on previous campaigns. My WI lists all our current campaigns and any new initiatives which are being planned. Have a look at MyWI https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/public-affairs-and- campaigns/current-campaigns to get some ideas and see how you can become involved. Some examples are:
WI Week of River Action from 29 September to 5 October
Climate Change, Fair Green Future – bringing everyone along for the green transition.
Women’s Health Zine launch: Gendering Neurodiversity. (A zine is a little magazine to communicate stories and ideas)
No more Violence against women: How you can help survivors through the Victims and Court Bill.
Everybody is talking about us! As a result of the Yarnbombing project for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, Northamptonshire WIs are certainly getting lots of Media coverage. Chris has details in her Chairman’s Chat.
Update from Jean McLeish (Bugbrooke WI) Chair of Campaigns & Concerns and Media
July August 2025
It is probably no great surprise that this year’s Resolution “Bystanders can be Lifesavers” was adopted at the NFWI Annual Meeting on 4 June 2025. When Federation Trustees and Advisers visited WIs over the last few months there was strong support for the resolution which was obviously the case across all Federations. The resolution will form the basis of a WI Campaign and in the next few months National will develop a campaign plan for WIs to use. However, talking to many WIs in the Federation several have already started to plan their own campaigns. It could be arranging CPR training for the own members or the wider community, fundraising for a defibrillator in their areas or raising awareness of the disparity in the survival rate between women and men. If your WI is already planning some activities please let me know, it would be great to hear from you.
Update from Campaigns, Concerns and Media Chairman, Jean McLeish (Bugbrooke WI)
To support our Dental Health Matters Campaign, National Federation conducted a survey of WI members and issued a report which highlighted the lack of access to NHS dental care is hittingwomen the hardest and deepening a uniquely gendered health crisis. A copy of the report can be found on MyWI. https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/public-affairs-and- campaigns/news-and-action /dental-health- report-launch The report concludes with the areas the NFWI is asking the Government to address. WIs can support this by contacting their MPs to highlight the report and seeking their support.
The Yarnbombing project is attracting lots of publicity, which is raising our profile, and we hope will attract more women to the WI. Chris Carr and members of the Yarnbombing team were recently interviewed by Radio Northampton, Chris has also been interviewed on NLive and Greatest Hits Radio. We have featured in WI Life and a number of our members took part in Northampton’s St George’s Day event in Market Square teaching Children, and adults, how to knit and crochet. The team are also making cascades of roses which will form part of the Northampton in Bloom display, so more publicity to follow.
The monthly meeting at Barton Seagrave WI was a craft workshop to "Show the Love" where they made green hearts in various materials. They then created a lovely display at Barton Seagrave Village Hall to increase the awareness of Climate Change.
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Many thanks to member, Val Goldfinch, Towcester Evening WI, for lending her brilliant Green Heart artwork and to Gemma at Zap and Toes for displaying it so well in their shop window.
This will help the WI to promote the The Climate Coalition Show the Love event taking place in Towcester on 14 February.
The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes)
Moulton Evening WI members walking at the Reclaim the Night event in Northampton. They took to the the streets with others to raise their collective voices against sexual violence and harassment. Well done ladies. WI banners held high and you look as though you wrapped up warm for the night!
https://www.northamptonshirerapecrisis.co.uk/.../reclaim.../
| Members of Hunsbury Hill WI also participated in the Reclaim the Night walk in Northampton. They joined women from across the town to raise the profile of sexual violence and harassment. They also touched base HHWIs charity of the year EVE who support women suffering from domestic abuse. Well done team on what was a very cold evening |  |
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