Join a local group

. . .or start your own

Concerned about risky chemicals? Want to find alternatives to harmful products? Want to chat about health and environmental issues from a women’s perspective? Join our network of Women Taking Action for a Healthier Planet groups and contacts. Contact WEN on 020 7481 9004, localgroups@wen.org.uk for further information, to join or start a group or to become a WEN Local Contact.

As we don’t have funding for local groups work, support is being provided on a voluntary basis. Unfortunately this means we cannot respond quickly to all enquiries. Follow these links to join WEN or make a donation to help pay for our local groups.

Get involved!

… as much or as little as you wish…

Starting a Local Group

Starting a WEN local group is an exciting challenge and an invaluable empowering experience of what women can achieve and how teams work.

1. If you’re not already a member, join WEN

With your welcome pack, you will be sent details of your nearest local group if there is one. As a member, you’ll be kept in touch with WEN campaigns through WENnews, our e-newsletter, and other updates. In order to ensure that we can provide as much support as possible, we encourage all our local group members to join WEN.

2. Recruit members

  • Get together with one or two others who share your concerns for the environment and health and are interested in what you want to do
  • Call an informal meeting to get other women interested

If you are starting on your own:

  • Ask around, mention your idea to friends, neighbours, colleagues and aquaintances and you should find women who are interested
  • Contact WEN to find out if there are other WEN members in the area interested in starting or joining a group
  • Draft a letter and ask us to send it out to WEN members living in the area to tell them that you intend to set up a group and encourage them to join you. Include contact details so they can contact you directly
  • Post a flyer on notice boards at local women’s centres, community halls, cafes, shops, surgeries, libraries etc asking for women interested to contact you
  • Always include contact details such as a phone number or address. If you don’t want to give your details, give WEN address, phone or e-mail – but let us know you’re doing it!
  • Contact local branches of national organisations, trade unions, political parties and religious groups (be impartial – if you’re contacting one political party or religious group contact all the main ones)
  • Ask your council’s women’s, equal opportunities or information officer to send you a list of local women’s organisations and contact them
  • Send information to journalists covering environmental issues for your local paper/radio with a note saying you are intending to set up a WEN local group.

3. Contact WEN to:

  • Get the WEN Local Groups Resource Pack: ‘Getting Started’
  • Request any help you need to proceed. Contact Kate Metcalf, London Groups Officer, localgroups@wen.org.uk