Give some seasonal cheer
Welcome to the WI Winter Warmer - give some seasonal cheer! It’s the holiday season with plenty of opportunities to think of others which is something the WI excels at. Giving a gift or taking time to give some seasonal cheer helps spread the warmth. If you choose to, this is something you can do as an individual or you can organise a group cheer giving. Please remember to include non-internet connected fellow WI members. Thank you.
Support your local women’s refuge
In the UK, 3 women are killed every 2 weeks as a result of domestic violence. During the Coronavirus lockdown, domestic violence dramatically increased to an even higher level as women living with their abusers became trapped. For people in abusive relationships, Christmas can also be an extremely difficult time of year as it can increase the risk of violence. A women’s refuge can offer safety and a happy festive period for survivors of domestic abuse.
Multiple support services have seen a surge in calls to helplines during the lockdown period and women’s refuges have seen a dramatic decline in the donations they receive. If you are able to help, follow the guidance below to get in touch with your local women’s refuge and find out what donations they need.
Collecting Donations for your Local Women’s Refuge Step 1: Get in touch with your local women’s refuge to see what items are needed and to check if they are open and accepting donations. You can do this by going to www.womensaid.org.uk/domestic-abuse-directory/ Step 2: Come up with a list of items needed for donation and get in touch with friends and family in your local community, to see if they are able to help with donations in a socially-distanced way. You could set a date, time and location for supporters to drop off their donations. Please note, it is important to always check with your local refuge beforehand as some refuges are not accepting donations or second-hand goods. Step 3: Use boxes or reusable bags to put together care packages to give to your local women’s refuge. (You can add a nice message of support from your WI to each care package for a personal touch). Please note, depending on Coronavirus restrictions, collecting donations in a socially-distanced way may not be possible. Current guidelines state that you can leave your home to provide voluntary or charitable services. Please always check with your local refuge to see if they are open and accepting donations. Please refer to the latest Government guidance if you are unsure here www.gov.uk/coronavirus. |
Donate to your local food bank
According to the Food Foundation, the number of adults who are food insecure in the UK is estimated to have quadrupled due to the Coronavirus pandemic, making the need for food donations greater than ever. Food banks are anticipating more demand over the Christmas period, with an expected 61% increase in the number of food parcels needed this winter.
The Trussell Trust says at least 670,000 extra people will become destitute in the last three months of this year, causing an explosion in demand for charity food parcels. If you are able to help, please check out our guide below and donate to your local food bank this winter.
Ways to Donate to Your Local Food Bank Direct to your local food bank: Find out what items your local food bank is in need of and donate directly to them. You can find out where your nearest foodbank is here: www.trusselltrust.org/get-help/find-a-foodbank/ Please note, it is important to check with your local food bank beforehand to see if they are open and accepting donations, and which items are most urgently needed. Use the link above to find your nearest foodbank. At your supermarket collection point: Major supermarkets across the country have set up ‘collection points’ in their stores. Whilst shopping, buy any items you are able to donate and drop them off at the collection point before you leave. Get in touch with your local supermarket to see if they have a collection point available. Hold a socially-distanced donation drive: Come up with a list of items needed for donation and get in touch with friends and family in your local community, to see if they are able to help with donations in a socially-distanced way. You could set a date, time and location for supporters to drop off their donations. Depending on Coronavirus restrictions, collecting donations in a socially-distanced way may not be possible. Current guidelines state that you can leave your home to provide voluntary or charitable services. If possible, please donate goods directly at the food bank itself or a local donation point. Please always check with your local food bank to see if they are accepting donations. Please refer to the latest Government guidance if you are unsure here www.gov.uk/coronavirus. |
Donate to a Women’s Prison
Increased time of isolation has had a serious effect on the mental health of people in prison. We would like to reach out to the WIs we have in different women’s prisons, but also the women in every women’s prison across the country. You can find a list of the prison WIs and other women’s prisons here https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/running-your-wi/setting-up-a-wi/prison-wis. If you would like to send something to a women’s prison such as craft materials, body products or makeup, please email Juliet Isherwood, Membership Project Officer at j.isherwood@nfwi.org.uk and she will provide you with more detailed guidance on how to go about this.