Inspiring women: the NFWI podcast

National Federation of Women's Institutes. Ep 5: Act Now, Change Forever

Tue, 19 Aug 2025 13:06:18 GMT

In this episode, we speak to WI members supporting positive change and influencing their MPs, at the Climate Coalition's Mass Lobby event, which took place in Westminster, 9 August 2025. As well as some of our brilliant members, we speak to Kate Metcalf of the Women's Environmental Network, and get the thoughts and reflections from the Climate Coalition's Meg O'Neill.

Because we recorded at the noisy and busy Mass Lobby, we apologise that some of the audio isn't as clear as a studio recording. We hope it doesn't distract from the messages and passion of the day.

This podcast is presented by Aanchal Mann, and produced by Rob Dyson, August 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National Federation of Women's Institutes. Ep 4: Dental Health Matters

Tue, 27 May 2025 13:44:20 GMT

In this episode, we hear first-hand from two WI members who have their own stories of attempting to access NHS dental care but struggled to get the support that should be straightforward. We also hear from North Norwich MP, Alice Macdonald who hosted our Dental Health Matters report launch in Parliament, in April 2025. Plus there's a teaser for the Annual Meeting, June 2025, from our "fireside chat" interviewee, British ceramics legend, Emma Bridgewater.

This podcast is presented by Aanchal Mann, and produced by Rob Dyson, May 2025.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National Federation of Women's Institutes. Ep 3: Campaigns special

Thu, 19 Dec 2024 10:43:35 GMT

In this episode, we speak to members about three different partnership and campaigning topics - the first of which focusses on the continuing work of NFWI-Wales and the Not In My Name campaign. Next we hear all about the England Rugby and WI collaboration through the former's Impact 25 initiative - and it's not just about rugby. Finally we explore the Clean Rivers campaign, and hear a part of NFWI CEO Melissa Green's speech from the March for Clean Water, organised by River Action, that took place in November 2024 in London.

We hope you enjoy episode three!

This podcast is presented by Aanchal Mann, and produced by Rob Dyson, December 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National Federation of Women's Institutes. Ep 2: The WI Annual Meeting 2024

Thu, 27 Jun 2024 11:04:24 GMT

In this episode, we re-live the very special event that was the NFWI Annual Meeting, 2024, held on 6 June at The Royal Albert Hall. We hear key moments from Nazir Afzal OBE’s landmark speech on the “pandemic” of violence against women and girls, and sit down with Spice Girl Mel B MBE before she addressed 5,000 members in the hall - about her lived experience of an abusive 10 year marriage. We also hear from Eddie Crouch, Chair of the British Dental Association – as our new resolution ‘Dental Health Matters’ gets the green light to be the WI’s new campaign. And with members’ voices and a huge chorus of WI anthem ‘Jerusalem’, if you weren’t there, it will feel like you were!

To sign Mel B’s Family Courts petition to train judges using experts working with abused women and children, visit https://takeaction.womensaid.org.uk/melaniebrownpetition

This podcast is presented by Aanchal Mann, and produced by Rob Dyson. June 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

National Federation of Women's Institutes. Ep 1: Thinking Differently

Sat, 13 Apr 2024 14:29:45 GMT

For this, our very first edition of the Women's Institute official podcast, we are exploring the challenges and opportunities as experienced by neurodivergent women. We hear from Pippa, Angela, and Debra - three neurodivergent women who tell us their personal stories of seeking diagnosis, and finding passion and problem solving in their daily lives. As well as the importance of friendship and understanding. We also speak to then-Chair of the Women and Equalities Committee, Caroline Nokes MP, for her policy making perspective.

The NFWI's 'Thinking Differently' campaign surveyed neurodivergent women, and the new report lays out some clear calls to action to make society more accepting and embracing of women with autism and ADHD. Read more on our website, www.theWI.org.uk.

More details on our interviewees:

Angela Kirwin: https://linktr.ee/angelakirwin

Debra Presley: https://diversenation.co.uk

Pippa Simou: https://www.theadd-vantage.co.uk/pippas-blog/

This podcast is presented by Aanchal Mann, and produced by Rob Dyson. April 2024.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.