The WI get quilting to show ‘patchy’ help for victims of violence

WI members have produced a patchwork quilt to highlight the patchy availability of support services for women who have experienced violence, as the NFWI calls on local authorities to increase funding for women victims of violence.

Almost 300 WI branches submitted squares to make the patchwork quilt, which represents the ‘patchy’ support services including women’s refuges and Rape Crisis centres. The quilt was unveiled outside parliament by Ruth Bond, Chair of the NFWI.

Ruth Bond, Chair of the NFWI said: “The refuge and rape crisis network is as patchy as the quilt produced by our local WIs. We know that rural women bear the brunt of the postcode lottery, even though they are as likely to experience violence as women living in towns and cities. The quilt is an eye-catching and original reminder that local and central government must act to ensure all women can access high-quality support.”

WI members from across England and Wales were asked to contribute squares to highlight the postcode lottery affecting women as part of the NFWI’s No More Violence Against Women campaign. The campaign aims to raise awareness of violence against women and how it can affect women of all ages and backgrounds. In particular, drawing attention to women in rural areas and the unique barriers they can face accessing support.

WI members will now be writing to their local authorities calling for more funding for specialist violence against women services, especially in rural areas.

The NFWI is part of the End Violence Against Women Coalition, which successfully lobbied for an integrated strategy on ending violence against women, unveiled by the government at the end of last year.