Thalia Jervis, CEO Healthwatch Bucks explained its purpose, how it responds to information from the public. It needs people to report good as well as bad practice experienced. Healthwatch had visited 24 care homes and GP surgeries last year. It was also tasked with translating information leaflets and notices into language which anyone with a reading age of 9 years would be able to understand: this is the average reading age of the public nowadays. (An intake of breath here from ex-teachers in the audience). The Red Box Project was explained by Janet Kingdon from a Wantage WI who is an active founder member of the scheme. This is a system for the provision of sanitary wear in secondary schools for the girls from poorer homes who had missed 138,000 days of schooling in 2017 because they could not afford adequate protection. What a worthy, thoughtful and practical solution to a problem undertaken by a WI ahead of government action!
It was disappointing in the afternoon that Judge Francis Sheridan was unable to attend but Simon King OBE took advantage of the extra time as he showed examples of his wild life photography and recounted some of his adventures while making nature programmes for television. There was time for some federation news before the enjoyable meeting closed at 4pm.
Winslow WI was delighted to see Daphne Preece receive the silver trophy for her Denman Cup entry.