Campaigns and Charities
The NFWI and local Federations take campaigns to the heart of Government and provide action packs online to local WIs, enabling them to take forward and participate in campaigns should they so wish.
For the latest on NFWI campaigns, please visit their website https://www.thewi.org.uk/
Our Aims
Many of our members are involved with local charities and community groups. We offer help and support to their activities where we can. Our monthly meetings always include a raffle. The money raised goes to a local charity nominated by our members.
Our local Community
Battersea WI is a regular supporter of Little Village , a London based charity supporting families with children under 5 living in poverty. One of their main hubs is in Wandsworth. Our Knitting & Crochet Group regularly makes babies and children's clothing items to donate to them. In August 2025, the Charity has launched an urgent appeal for nappies and wipes for newborns as their nappy banks across London have run out of supplies. If you can donate, please do.
In March 2025 our Knitting & Crochet Group once again knitted and crocheted over 50 Easter chicks for Royal Trinity Hospice and helped fill them with crème eggs for sale in local shops and schools at Easter.
In April 2025 we held a belated celebration of International Womens' Day with an afternoon of events at Battersea Arts Centre. We raised over £150 for Refuge, the charity supporting women and children fleeing abusive relationships.
Our most recently nominated charity for funds raised at our monthly meetings is Carney's Community a social enterprise set up to support all young people, in particular those who’ve had adverse childhood experiences, face poverty, are in the care system, impacted by gun and knife crime, excluded from school or involved in the criminal justice system.
Climate Change
The NFWI has launched it's new campaign 'Fair Green Future'
Climate change is one of the biggest challenges we face, and it doesn’t affect everyone equally. In particular, women and people from minority ethnic backgrounds bear the brunt of climate impacts, yet are left out of the decisions meant to support them. Meanwhile, some voices are seeking to divide the public climate debate and put our crucial progress at risk.
We are exploring and taking action on:
- Climate inequality
- Protecting the public mandate for climate change
- Promoting public participation in climate solutions
Our Climate Ambassador attended the Mass Lobby on 9th July 2025. You can read her updates in our monthly newsletter.
End Violence Against Women and Girls
Last November/December we supported the Surrey Federation of Women's Institutes part campaign 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence. Our Knitting & Crochet and Craft groups made a selection of orange flowers upcycled from a variety of materials from wool to plastic bags. A couple of our members also took part in an evening group walk in Battersea organised by the Council's Community Safety Partnership as part of the Violence Against Women and Girls events programme.
Poppy appeals
Inspired by the poppies we made last year for the Standing with Giants D-Day commemoration project This year, our craft group made Poppies for Corsham WI.
