All WI members are encouraged to become involved with WI campaigns.
Campaigns stem from an issue close to members hearts, but before they can become a campaign they start as a resolution.
- The resolution process starts every September, with the chance for your WI to submit a resolution.
- In the November issue of WI Life, a resolution shortlist is published. This is your first glimpse at the resolutions.
- From November until February, you have the chance to discuss and learn more about each resolution at SWFWI Resolution events.
- In January/February, you select the resolution that you support the most. Your selection is submitted to your Federation, collated and submitted to NFWI.
- At the end of February, NFWI release the resolution selection results
- In April, your WI can attend our Resolution Forum to help make an informed decision on the resolution/s that have made it through to the final round.
- In May, your WI votes on the resolution/s. The vote is submitted at the NFWI Annual Meeting where the WI’s next campaign is revealed!
Our Public Affairs team are dedicated to the resolution process and keeping campaigns alive. If you’d like to find out more or become involved email pa@swfwi.org.uk
At NFWI’s 2025 Annual Meeting, an incredible 97.7% of WI members voted in favour of adopting the resolution Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers.
There are over 30,000 out of hospital cardiac arrests a year in the UK, and less then one in ten survive with women having a lower chance of survival then men. Early CPR and defibrillation can more than double the chances of survival.
The aim of our newest WI campaign is for members to work together to increase confidence and training in CPR, and to work with local organisations to improve access to defibrillators.
NEXT STEPS: HOW YOUR WI CAN GET INVOLVED
The first thing your WI can do is organise first aid training for your WI members
East Anglian Air Ambulance are offering training sessions in Basic Life Support and how to use a defibrillator, by local First Responder Mervyn Smith. Mervyn and his team are offering the sessions for free to all our WIs. To organise training for your WI contact Mervyn.smith@eastamb.nhs.uk
You can also support the campaign by using the links below to grow your own knowledge.
www.defibfinder.uk gives you access to defibrillator locations across the UK.
what3words.com divides the globe into a grid of three metre squares and assigns each square a unique three-words, making it easier to share and find specific locations with emergency services.
revivr.bhf.org.uk is a free 15 minutes online CPR training course. All you need is a cushion to practice on!
Dental Health Matters
In 2024 the WI proposed; there is a chronic shortage of NHS Dentists & people are suffering health issues as a result, calling on the Government to ensure everyone can access an NHS dentist.
Suffolk West teamed up with Toothless in England, whilst Sudbury Gainsborough WI raised over £300 to donate toothbrushes and toothpaste to two local primary schools and a nursery to support teaching the importance of primary schools and a nursery to support teaching.
Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife
The WI’s 2023 campaign encouraged members to make and support applications to create bathing waters in rivers across England and Wales as designated bathing areas play a key role in tackling river pollution.
With the help of Sudbury Gainsborough WI who held a tea party in the Stour and Sturmer WI, Haverhill Owls WI, Kedington WI & Radwinter WI who joined together to raise awareness, the River Stour Trust has now achieved designated bathing water status.
No More Violence Against Women
In 2019, an estimated 1.6 million women across the UK experienced violence, including domestic violence, rape, forced marriage, sexual exploitation and other forms of abuse and harassment. The WI’s No More Violence against Women campaign encourages WI members to take action to end violence against women.
After the murder of Sara Sharif, SWFWI launched a template letter for members to send to their MP to carry on the fight.
Download our template letter to support this vital campaign.
End Plastic Soup
Microplastic fibres are small plastic fragments shed from synthetic clothes when washed. As the fragments are too small to be caught by washing machine filters, they then flow into the sewage system and eventually into the ocean, where those fibres are often swallowed or absorbed by plants and fish.
Launched in 2017, the End Plastic Soup campaign still continues to be a hot topic. In 2024, SWFWI backed the bill to put filters on washing machines.
Our incredible campaign history spans more than 100 years! You can find out even more about our campaign heritage here