The Shortlist of Resolutions is now available for this year. The resolutions should be debated within WIs at upcoming meetings. Each member is entitled to have one choice and members should select the resolution they support the most. Results should be sent to Federation Office no later than 6th February 2026.
WI members decide 2025/26 campaign:
Bystanders can be Lifesavers
On Wednesday, 4 June 2025, WI members voted in force to support a major new campaign for 2025/6, titled Bystanders can be Lifesavers – to increase vital CPR and defibrillator skills across the UK.
This popular motion was passed by a huge majority of delegates at the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) Annual Meeting, held online this year. Thousands of members joined from their homes and WI watch parties around England, Wales, and the Islands.
Melissa Green, CEO of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI), said,
“We’re thrilled to be able to raise even greater awareness of an issue that we know affects women in different ways. For example, sensitivities about removing or cutting bras have led to women not receiving the same treatment as men in the instance of a heart attack. Compounding this, 95% of CPR training mannequins represent a male torso, limiting confidence and training in administering CPR to women.
“Our members will step up to demand a change, working with local partners and charities to reinforce the need to include gendered training, increase defibrillator competence, and how to look out for the symptoms of a heart attack in women.”
The NFWI will now work across its network of over 180,000 women with locally based charities and other groups to help deliver CPR and defibrillator training across its membership, and check the accessibility of their nearest defibrillators.
Members will also apply their signature craftivism to raise awareness of the campaign with decision makers and the public across its 5,500 regional Federations.
The WI prides itself on being a trusted place for all women of all generations, with a rich and successful legacy of campaigning to protect the rights of women, voiceless communities, and to preserve the natural environment.
Please read our resolutions report compiled by Sue Roden, our resolutions officer here
2024 Resolution – Dental Health Matters
The Dental Health Matters campaign was voted for by members at the WI Annual Meeting on 5th June last year. Our members are concerned about the shortage of NHS dentists, dentist surgeries, and new patient spaces. This shortage, combined with the cost of living crisis, has led to the rise of ‘DIY Dentistry’ where people are suffering to the point of extracting their own teeth. More than 1 in 4 adults in England were unable to access NHS dental care in 2023. Nine out of ten dental practices are no longer accepting new NHS adult patients. Tooth decay is the number one reason children are admitted to hospitals. The WI wants to change this.
Our members are therefore calling for the Government to take action by reviewing the NHS contracts and providing more places for people to train as dentists.
The Labour Party won the General Election in July with a manifesto pledging to will tackle the dental health crisis. The new government pledged to provide 700,000 more urgent dental appointments, recruit new dentists to areas that need them most, reform the dental contract, focus on prevention and the retention of NHS dentists, and introduce a supervised tooth-brushing scheme for 3- to 5-year-olds, targeting the areas of highest need.
Under the Dental Health Matters campaign, we will be holding the government to account, pushing the reform of dental contracts, and engaging with them on their plans to retain NHS dentists.
Clean Rivers for Wildlife and People
In 2023 the resolution, CLEAN RIVERS FOR WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE was passed by an 84% majority.
SFWI Chair, Helen, and So-Sew WI were campaigning during The WI WEEK OF RIVER ACTION….Wild Swimming and placards aloft and lots of smiling faces ??♀️#cleanrivers #inspiringwomen
