Campaigns and Charities
The NFWI and local Federations take campaigns to the heart of Government and make 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. In previous years we donated new, unopened toiletries collected from our members, and our Knitting & Crochet Group regularly produce babies and children's clothing items. Last December, Rachel took Joan to their premises in Tooting High Street to hand over 1 cardigan, 3 jumpers, 3 vests, 5 hats, 3 pairs of baby bootees, 2 pairs of baby mittens along with some hair scrunchies and a knitted tissue pouch. At our Christmas Raffle we raised £130.
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.
Wider Community
Act Now Change Forever
This year we are supporting the NFWI at the Mass Lobby on 9th July 2025.
To attend as a member, you can register here. Or, if you’re not a member, the event is open to everyone, and we would love to see you there. You can register on the event website directly.
Other campaigns
Last year we made poppies for the Standing with Giants D-Day commemoration project This year, our craft group has been making Poppies for Corsham WI.
As members of the Surrey Federation of Women's Institutes, we supported the 16 Days of Activism against gender based violence campaign.
Our Knitting & Crochet and Craft groups made a wide selection of orange flowers from a variety of materials from wool to plastic bags to donate to the appeal, in keeping with our aims to reuse and recycle - part and parcel of our WI dna!