When the worst is over

We're trying to think how GFWI members can offer help once the crisis stage of the floods is over. So far, getting about the county and reaching those most in need hasn't been possible, so offers of hot meals and other assistance have been a challenge to communicate. However, the WI will be here long after many of the other support agencies have gone home, moved on to work on other priorities and I think we could make a difference in the clean up operation which will surely go on for several months.

If you have ideas how your WI could offer to help, by actually going along and offering elbow grease, providing food and drinks or other respite from the long haul which will surely follow this weeks events, please let me know. You can email me, or leave a comment by clicking "comment" at the foot of this message. I suggest we use our WI network to put people in touch with one another - I am happy to help you do that.

Have you signed up yet?

Have you signed up for the Carbon Challenge yet? If you have, drop me an email and let me know how you're doing. GFWI will feature the most enthusiastic WIs on our website and will be delighted to hear your good ideas.

Interesting article re Milk Debate

Not long ago, I wrote a bit about Avening WI's visit to Kemble Farm to meet David Ball, Farm Manager, so I was especially pleased to hear from a member of Marle Hill WI today, alerting me to an article about the farm and how it operates in a recent edition of The Guardian.

You can read the Guardian article here. Read my report of our visit here.

I recommend (again) that you gather a group of your members together and arrange a visit yourself. You will have a privileged opportunity to learn first hand what's happening in our dairy farms, to speak to someone whose livelihood depends on the future sales of milk and to learn enough about the situation on which to base your opinion!

The Great Milk Debate

Pam Sparrow and I had a very useful meeting with Mel and John from the NFU yesterday, to discuss what we're going to do about The Great Milk Debate.
Did you know that farmers are receiving more than 5p less per litre now than they were 10 years ago? That they are paid 17p a litre on average when it costs them 21p to produce it?
News reports yesterday suggested that in just a few years time, the UK will have to import milk because our dairy farmers will have gone out of business. Clearly it's time we did something.

Suggestions for action you can take now include:

• ask where the milk you are buying has come from. If it's not locally produced, ask why and consider shopping elsewhere
• ask where the other dairy products - cheese, yoghurt, butter - have been produced. Make it clear that such things are important to the survival of our dairy industry
• Look for the Red Tractor symbol on products to indicate 100% British produced goods
• If you're lucky enough to have doorstep delivery, continue to support this wonderful service.
• Find out as much as you can about the situation so that you can make informed decisions

Watch for details of three "Great Milk Debates" to be held in the county next April, when you will have a chance to hear representatives from all sectors involved in the production, processing and sale of milk in Gloucestershire.

Gift Aid

I heard this morning that one of our WIs has been successful in achieving a large (very large!) refund from "Gift Aid". If your WI has been similarly successful, perhaps you'd let us know so that other WIs can benefit from your expertise.

Thanks!