Page 25 - BPW-UK ANNUAL REVIEW 2022-2023

As the 2022 BPW UK AGM took place in June, it is from there I can recount the activities in the
area.
The annual ‘Reclaim the Night, Nottingham’ march took place at the end
of October. It is now 45 years since the first one in Leeds when women
voiced their need for safe streets. Nadia Whittome, Labour MP for Not-
tingham East, is a regular attender and then stands up in the House of
Commons to raise awareness at Government level. As ever, I donned the
‘day glo’ jacket and joined the marshalling team on behalf of BPW. 400
women and some men made a lot of noise, which brought many cheers
from those out for the evening and supportive toots from buses and cars.
Helen Ashworth, Nora Gleave and myself then met in Manchester to try
out a post-COVID lock down Carluccios, before booking a table for an area
face to face get- together in November. Both were very enjoyable.

December was a social month. The BPW Wednesday talk got members from all areas together to
start the festive season with a fun quiz and online games. A few days later the area ‘party’
looked at craft beer and snacks ideas for its Christmas social event. All the buffet ingredients
came from local sources in the East Midlands, while the cocktail pairings were bought in the
North West region.

2023 starts with organizing the area AGM, so our members can enjoy the opportunity to meet up
and discuss activities for the year.
Our area has a team which meets and supports the work of the UN Sustainable Development
Goal 13 on Climate Action, within the BPW Europe Green and Sustainable Group. Helen and I at-
tended the 2022 Earth Day event in April, by ZOOM, and learnt much from the musical contribu-
tions, pledges of young school girls and those spreading the word to companies, colleges and or-
ganizations.
Helen Ashworth had asked BPW UK members what swaps they had made in support of their local
area and beyond and received lots of simple alternatives such as a laundry egg for the washing
machine, visiting local ‘zero waste’ shops to refill containers with dried goods and creating
‘green areas’ to re-wild spaces for bees, insects and other wildlife. Meetings continue for the
International Earth Day on 22 April 2023.
I have booked to attend the BPW UK National conference in Northern Ireland in March where
members will benefit from the national, European and International perspectives. I may see you
there! ▪

Ros Horsley
BPW UK North West and Midlands President

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