There are over 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests a year in the UK and less than one in ten people survive. Women have a lower chance of surviving than men. Early cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillating can more than double the chances of survival. We call on WI members to work together to increase public confidence and training in the delivery of CPR and to work with local organisations to help to improve access to defibrillators in their communities to give every person the best chance of surviving a cardiac arrest.

“Microplastic fibres are shed from synthetic clothing with every wash and are the main contributors to microplastic contamination of the oceans. The NFWI calls on Government and industry to research and develop innovative solutions to this problem in order to stop the accumulation of microplastic fibres in our oceans.”

“Honey Bees play a vital role in the pollination of food crops and in our environment. In view of concerns
about the accelerating decline in the UK honey bee population, this meeting urges HM Government to increase funding for research into Bee Health.”

“Women and girls presenting with autistic spectrum disorder (ASD) and att ention defi cit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are going undiagnosed. Th e NFWI calls on the government and funding bodies to fund research into the female presentation of ASD and ADHD, and for action to be taken to improve the diagnosis process for women and girls, to ensure that they are equipped to better manage these conditions and do not suff er in silence. Th e NFWI further calls on WI members to raise awareness within their WIs of the issues facing women and girls with ASD and ADHD.”

“Over the last decade there has been a massive decline in the number of bus
services, particularly of those in rural and semi-rural areas. In order to alleviate loneliness, improve health and wellbeing, as well as promoting sustainable development, the NFWI calls on the Government and local authorities to increase subsidies and work in partnership with bus companies and community transport operators to enable an adequate provision of services.”

“Tackling domestic violence has been a longstanding concern for the WI. The WI campaigned for the funding of refuges for survivors of domestic violence and their children in every county, to adequately define domestic violence under the law so that women and children in the home were protected, and to make sure that domestic violence survivors were able to access justice through the courts. Whilst progress has been made, much more action is needed to achieve a society where women are free from the fear of violence and abuse, and survivors are able to access specialist support services, wherever they live.”

“65% of people say they have experienced a mental health problem. Mental health matters as much as physical health. The NFWI urges all WI members to recognise the importance of parity between mental health and physical health, and take action to make it as acceptable to talk about mental health issues as much as physical health issues, and to lobby government for better support for mental illness.”

Callow End WI, Worcestershire Federation

 “In August 2020, the NFWI passed a resolution calling on WI members to promote registration to the aligned UK stem cell registry: 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.” 

“There are tens of thousands of victims of modern slavery hiding in plain sight in the UK. Modern slavery has severe consequences for the health and mental wellbeing of survivors. The NFWI calls on
Government to protect victims of modern slavery in the first instance and deliver longer term support to help them rebuild their lives. We call on our members to raise awareness of the prevalence of modern slavery throughout society and to campaign to defeat it.”

Gloucester Road WI, Avon Federation

“In May 2023, the WI launched its Clean Rivers campaign to clean up rivers and promote bathing water status as a way to achieve this. The WI has joined the River Action UK and signed its Charter for Rivers, calling on the government to commit to ambitious yet achievable actions for healthy rivers by 2030. This week (11 – 18 September) we are arranging the WI Week of River Action, to shout about the crisis in our rivers. From riverside picnics to craftivism, WI members across England and Wales are making a splash in their local communities to sound the alarm about the ecological state of the UK’s rivers.”