Main focus of Orpington Branch
Centred in Orpington, this Branch covers an area of south-east London and north-west Kent. A couple of years ago we started to hold our monthly Branch meetings online, with speakers discussing themes relating to WILPF’s main campaigning areas.
Since autumn 2023, our main focus of activity has evolved into the Branch now successfully hosting regular major Zoom webinars on behalf of WILPF UK nationally. This is our Connect series. Webinars are generally held at 19:00 on a weekday evening. These webinars are attracting increasing numbers of participants, and offer new opportunities to connect members with WILPF’s campaigning activism and with other like-minded individuals and groups to strengthen our feminist peace activism. The webinars are recorded and posted on our YouTube channel to view at any time.
Sheila Triggs, Branch Chair, is also the Membership Secretary for WILPF UK, so the crucial work of maintaining, motivating and increasing our national membership and feminist activism is located in Orpington Branch.
Key local issues
Our proximity to London enables individual Orpington Branch members to travel to London to support the Women in Black Against War twice weekly vigils and other relevant demonstrations, such as demonstrating at the XR Peace Unite to Survive in Westminster.
Partnerships and collaborations
We work in partnership with Bromley Borough Peace Council, Bromley Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament (CND) and Bromley Friends of the Earth. This includes joining street stalls and the annual UN Peace One Day event in Bromley.
We have held exhibitions in libraries and churches across the borough including displaying our Climate Justice Exhibition.
Annual events
July We hold an annual garden party in July which is the highlight of our campaigning year. For this free event, we always have a leading WILPF member speaking on a current topic. There are stalls selling produce, jam, books, bric-a-brac and WILPF merchandise, and participants know that they will enjoy a delicious home-made high tea. This is an outreach and networking event which helps our Branch to send regular financial support to WILPF UK.
September We have a WILPF stall at the annual UN Peace One Day event in Bromley
Branch news
Local branch meetings
We do not have regularly scheduled meetings.
Contact details
Enquirers based in the Orpington and surrounding areas of south-east London and north-west Kent are welcome to get in touch and arrange to have an informal chat with one of us before deciding to join.
Sheila Triggs, Branch Chair and representative on WILPF UK’s Executive Committee
Pat Pleasance, Branch Secretary, Branch Treasurer and representative on WILPF UK’s Executive Committee
For all questions, please use our contact form or general email on the Contact Us page.
