National Federation

The National Campaigns

The Women’s Institute has a long history of campaigning on a wide range of issues that matter to women and their communities. Over the past 100 years, WI members have campaigned to empower and support women within society, exerting their individual and collective influence. They have brought a series of controversial issues into the public domain and brought about many changes in legislation and government policy.

Every year WI members have the chance to put forward issues as ‘resolutions’ that they want to see the national body campaign on. The resolution passed at the 2023 Annual Meeting was Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife

There are, however, many previous campaigns such those around climate change, Plastic soup: Keep microplastic fibres out of our oceans, saving honeybees, Link Together to alleviate loneliness, increasing midwife provision and organ donation that you can still be involved in. Visit the Women’s Institute website for more details.

See the National Federation website for current campaigns and mandates and subscribe to their Campaigns monthly update here. For the latest news and events, follow them on Twitter and Facebook.

How to get involved

Women’s Institute Resolution and Mandates

Borough Belles WI is part of the national WI federation, and all WI members have the chance to put forward issues as ‘resolutions’ that they want to see the national body campaign on.

As a member-led organisation, the process for nominating resolutions is a democratic one, ensuring that each member has the opportunity to set the direction of NFWI campaigns and policy, from the grassroots up.

Resolutions go through a year-long debating and consultation process. Members shortlist resolutions for debate in Federations and individual WIs, before making a final selection of resolutions to take forward for discussion at the Annual Meeting in the summer. If passed, these then become mandates and form the basis of campaigning and awareness raising activities in the years ahead.

Resolution application forms are available in July each year, and the closing date for submissions is in September.

More information is available on the National WI website.