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News and events

The WI is always up to something. And now you can see what that something is by following us on Twitter and Facebook, for news and events; reading our Chair's blog, for a personal account of what being the leader of the WI is like; and visiting our Media centre, for our latest news releases. You can also visit the NFWI-Wales pages to find out about projects and events in Wales.

UPCOMING NEWS AND EVENTS

Love your Libraries nationwide week of action
National Libraries Day is on 4th February 2012 - what are you planning for the day or the week leading up to it?

How about one of these ideas?

  • A children's storytime session with a local author, or dramatic readings for adults
  • A poster competition for local children - with a prize for the best poster promoting your local library
  • A library group hug - don't forget to invite the local newspapers along to take a photograph!
  • A march to your library in literary costume
  • Tea, cakes and a good read in the library
  • A craft session, or taster WI meeting at the library

Visit our Love your Libraries campaign page to find out more.

Inclusive Britain Campaign – your chance to win an iPad 2
In the run up to the 2012 Games many visitors, including those with specific access requirements, will be flocking to London and other parts of Britain.
 
Since its launch in March 2011, The Mayor of London’s official access portal for the 2012 Games www.inclusivelondon.com has received 8 million hits from people with specific access requirements wishing to make informed decisions about where to stay, shop and visit. An Inclusive London iPhone app was recently launched providing people with access information while they are out and about the Capital. The Direct Enquiries family of websites including www.inclusivebritain.com and www.directenquiries.com now receives 20 million hits a month.

WI members are encouraged to participate in the Inclusive Britain awareness campaign.
Both Inclusive Britain and Inclusive London help to take the strain off people with specific access requirements by offering a simple yet effective way of searching for accessible places.

It may be you’re a parent and know somewhere that’s highly accessible for small children and allows you to push a buggy around without any hassle, or you may have elderly or disabled friends or family and you know of a place that makes it easy for them to get around - whatever your circumstances, we want to hear from you.

To do your bit we simply ask you to register here and add a review to an existing location or add a location and review it. You could get lucky and win an iPad 2!

Race Online 2012 logo
The NFWI is now one of nearly a thousand partners of Race Online 2012 – the Government-backed challenge led by Martha Lane-Fox to encourage as many people in the UK to get online as possible. To find out more about the challenge, click here.
RECENT PAST NEWS AND EVENTS

WI Foods launch - 23 to 27 November 2011

WI Foods flour slipping out of cupped hands onto a table
WI Foods was launched at the BBC Good Food Show.

Download the November/December WI Life article to find out more about WI Foods here.

WI foods products can be bought online from the WI foods website, www.wifoods.co.uk.

Women Reaching Women Conference - 12 April 2011

Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive Oxfam GB, Stephen O'Brien, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for International Development and Ruth Bond, NFWI Chair
Barbara Stocking, Chief Executive, Oxfam GB, Stephen O'Brien, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for International Development, and Ruth Bond, NFWI Chair. Photo by: Elliott Franks.

WI members urged the Government to keep their promises on maternal health with the presentation of an 8,000 strong petition to Stephen O'Brien MP, Parliamentary Under-secretary of State for International Development at the WI's Women Reaching Women project's closing conference on 12 April.

WRW has examined the disproportionate impact of global poverty and climate change on women in a unique collaboration between the WI, Oxfam GB and the Everyone Foundation.  The project, which was part funded by DfID, has taken an educational approach to empower people to take action on global development and reinvigorated the WI’s international agenda.

Delegates heard from WI members who have been engaging their communities on development issues as well as women leading development efforts around the world.  Speakers included Oxfam Chief Executive, Barbara Stocking who offered a personal perspective on the centrality of gender equality to accelerating progress on the Millennium Development  Goals and Professor Naila Kabeer, from the School of Oriental and African Studies who reminded delegates that 'injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.'

Follow the link to read Stephen O'Brien's speech in full.

Health and Justice Secretaries attend NFWI Care Not Custody campaign reception

Secretary of State for Health Andrew Lansley, NFWI Chair Ruth Bond, Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke
Rt. Hon. Andrew Lansley MP; Ruth Bond, NFWI Chair and Rt. Hon. Ken Clarke MP. Photo by: Elliott Franks.

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) and Prison Reform Trust welcomed Rt. Hon. Ken Clarke MP and Rt. Hon. Andrew Lansley MP to the Care not Custody campaign reception on Monday 28 March 2011 in Westminster.

Ministers used the event as a platform to announce a £5m scheme to divert mentally ill offenders from prison, which will lead to the establishment of a national liaison and diversion scheme by 2014.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke commended the NFWI for their successful campaign to end the inappropriate imprisonment of the mentally ill, the Minister commented; “the WI has attracted all party support for care not custody, as well as the attention of successive governments."