The Campaigns Adviser aims to promote action on mandates and to ensure Oxfordshire WI members are fully acquainted with a whole spectrum of current affairs which affect us, our families and communities

BENEFITS CUTS - How could they affect you?

What did the recent Government announcements in the cuts mean for older people?

Pensioner universal benefits are being protected

Free eye tests, prescriptions, bus passes, TV licenses for over 75s, the Winter Fuel Allowance and cold weather payments at higher rates have all been protected.

Funding for social care increasing by £2billion

The care system is still heading for a crisis in long-term care unless we tackle the issue of funding in the future. The costs of supporting increasing numbers of elderly people who need care will be enormous and we must plan for that now, not when it's in a crisis

The State Pension Age: women lose out here.

Over the next ten years, women's state pension age will increase by 6 years, from 60 to 66. Over that same ten years, men's state pension age will increase by just one year, from 65 to 66. The changes are harsher for women. To be able to afford to pay pensioners a 'decent income in retirement' must be the goal and a good pension would be worth waiting longer for.

Pension Credit age will rise to 66 so those not working will lose out

For people who cannot find work to remain employed until age 66, in 2020, they will have to live on unemployment benefit, instead of the current much more generous Pension Credit.

GREAT MILK DEBATE

The NFU and the NFWI are campaigning to safeguard the future for Britain's dairy farmers. WI members got behind dairy farmers in their thousands during the Great Milk Debates however there is increasing concern that momentum has been lost, and many farmers are struggling to make a decent living. By revisiting the Great Milk Debates we hope to show that consumers have a real stake in the vibrancy of the British Dairy industry. We will be calling on retailers, processors and the Government to play their part in ensuring there is a long-term future for British milk. Over 15,000 members took part in the debates in 2007 and we believe that there is still a huge strength of feeling to evoke change today. An action pack will be available shortly.

Proposals for the future of our Post Office network - update

The Government has stated it wants to encourage more community-run post offices where viable. These services are not to be connected to Post Office Ltd., but the community itself pays for a daily collection by Royal Mail, and there is a limit to the range of postal services that the service can provide.

The post offices would provide basic postal services, but could also incorporate other services, such as a shop, a café, or internet access points. If your closing post office is part of the only local shop and the shop is also lost due to the closure, then you could consider establishing a community-owned shop. There are currently some 170 in the UK, many of which incorporate post offices. ViRSA, the Village Retail Services Association (which is based in WOODSTOCK), has advice sheets on their website www.virsa.org to help communities which are considering this option. ViRSA Tel: 01993 814377 or 01993 810730 Email: virsa@plunkett.co.uk

  To look at the area plan for post offices closing, click here and for the Branch Access Report, click here.

Sustainable communities   

The role of the WI in our Communities after Post Office Closures   

What are sustainable communities?   

The Government even has a website especially dedicated to them. Essentially they are the places we would all like to live in. It doesn't take a lot to break or make a community and a local WI can make a difference. Living in a community with a thriving Women's Institute, busy charity shop and active church choir is good for the health. Research, funded by the Economic and Social Research Council identified a strong link between voluntary activity and life satisfaction. So how is your WI faring and what is the secret to a thriving WI? Are you inclusive enough - how does your community view what you do? Do you know?   

Without our Post Offices groups like the WI will become more important to keep community spirit alive by offering friendship, passing on valuable skills and looking out for each other.

Early Day Motions - Post Offices and the Sustainable Communities Act 2007 (EDM 1066 -updated)   

Early Day Motions are an excellent way to change political thought on issues and demonstrate the strength of feeling across the country. So please, write to your local MP(s) as a WI encouraging them to sign these EDMs, if they have not done so. The first EDM has been tabled by Tim Farron MP and is calling for a Moratorium on Post Office closures. The wording is as follows:

'That this house expresses continuing disappointment at the closure plans for the Post Office network and is deeply concerned that the closure office branches threatens the sustainability of many communities, notes that in Autumn 2008 the Sustainable Communities Act will come into force for the first time at which point local authorities will be asked by Central Government to identify support required to keep their communities viable and in the light of this calls on the Government to issue a moratorium on post office closures in order to allow the Sustainable Communities Act to operate as intended'

Now what a bright idea! The WI Carbon Challenge

Do you know how you should recycle your used energy saving light bulbs? You can't put them in the general purpose waste bin at home and need to put them carefully aside where they won't get broken. You can take them to your local Civic Amenity (CA) household waste disposal centre and put them in the special container that should be provided both for Lo-energy lamps and for tubes as well. They will be sent on to a recycling plant and do not pay anything to do this.

  As an alternative, especially if you are buying new energy saving lamps, some retailers will be able to take back the old lamps if you take them with you when visit their store. NFWI life has provided us with this guidance and has said they will be covering this issue in the October 2007 edition of WI Life

  Here is a list of local companies who provide free of charge return facilities.

  The lightbulb Company - Address: Unit 53 Steventon Storage Facility, Hanney Road, Steventon, Oxford, OX13 6DJ Telephone: 01865 794500 Contact Name: David Bradbury

  The lightbulb Company - Address: Thomas Edison House, 74-77 Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RE Telephone: 01865 794500 Contact Name: David Bradbury

  Eco-St - Address: The Chinnor Garden Centre, Thame Road, Chinnor OXON, OX39 4QS Telephone: N/A Contact Name: Neil Morgan

  Electric Centre - Address: Unit 25 Botley Works, North Hinksey Lane, Botley, OX2 0LX Telephone: 01865 726661 Contact Name: Mark Sullivan

  Cherwell - Oxford - Address: Unit 3 Wildmere Close, Wildmere Ind Est, Banbury, Oxford, OX16 3TL Telephone: 01295 258822 Contact Name: William Gibson

  Eco St - Oxford - Address: The Chinnor Garden Centre, Thame Road, Chinnor, Oxford, OX39 4QS Telephone: 07974 144664 Contact Name: Neil Morgan

  The Lightbulb 2 - Address: Thomas Edison House, 74-77 Magdalen Road, Oxford, OX4 1RE Telephone: 01865 794500 Contact Name: David Bradbury