The WI history of campaigning

The WI has a long history of campaigning on a wide range of issues that matter to women and their communities.

Our campaigns are as diverse as our members. The history of the WI in campaigns tells a story of millions of women, often ahead of their time, committed to working in partnership to change the world for the better.   

 A snapshot of WI campaigns  

  • The WI first campaigned on school dinner provision in 1926.
  • In 1943, almost 30 years before the law changed, a resolution from Bures WI in West Suffolk demanding equal pay for equal work was passed at the AGM.
  • In 1954 a resolution against litter was passed which eventually led to the formation of Keep Britain Tidy.
  • In 1964 Hellesdon WI in Norfolk won the support of the AGM on a resolution against smoking in public places.
  • During the 1970s the WI lobbied for the introduction of breast screening clinics – this resulted in the government introducing a number of mobile screening clinics followed by a national screening programme for all women aged 50 – 64, the first of its kind in the EU.
  • The 80s saw the WI call for public facing information campaigns on HIV and AIDs.
  • More recently the WI has worked to raise awareness on the nature and extent of violence against women, tackled excess packaging and focussed on the plight of the honeybee.