I’m delighted to introduce myself as the coordinator for Herefordshire WASPI. Although I’ve been a member of WASPI for several years, I hadn’t been actively involved until August 2024, when I decided it was time to do more.

It soon became apparent that there were many WASPI groups all over the UK but there wasn’t one locally to me. After discussing with Sandra Broadbent the National Organiser for local groups and learning what being a coordinator entailed, I signed up for it and just like that Herefordshire WASPI was born.

The first step was to set up a Facebook group to connect with local women, share updates, and raise awareness of the campaign. It has been a great way to start building a sense of community. The next step has involved organising local meetings, where WASPI women can come together. Here we share ideas and explore ways to advance Herefordshire’s role in the campaign, a process that continues to grow and evolve.

So far it has been a busy few months, with many highs and lows. The highlight for me was attending the WASPI demonstration held in Parliament Square on Budget Day in October last year. It was an Incredible day, so full of energy, solidarity and purpose. North Herefordshire MP Ellie Chowns joined us to show her support for the campaign.

Gwen Dumpleton has recently joined me as a co coordinator of Herefordshire WASPI. Soon we hope to open the group to encompass Worcestershire.
I’m really looking forward to growing our group and continuing to fight for the justice 1950s born women deserve.

If you live in Herefordshire or Worcestershire and want to get involved , please do get in touch – we’d love to have you with us.

Julie Turner
Herefordshire Coordinator.

Gwen preparing for the demonstration

WASPI local groups at a Westminister demonstration

When one or two individuals in an area decide they would like to mobilise support and campaign at the local level, they start a WASPI group. These committed individuals generally become the local group coordinator(s) for their group.

Starting a group from scratch involves setting up a dedicated email account and group Facebook page. This is surprisingly easy to do and help is available. Our local groups play a huge role in informing women of State Pension age changes and supporting women in campaigning locally. They also lobby and aim to harness the support of MPs, Trades Unions and Councils in their area.

There is a network of local group coordinators . We aim to ensure every new group has the support of a mentor. This will be an experienced coordinator, who would help you work through setting up a new WASPI group.

Local groups usually operate via a closed Facebook page with some groups producing newsletters to engage with women who have limited access to computers.

Our local group coordinators are key individuals and are an excellent conduit for information from members to the board and from the board to members. They help focus the energies of their group members towards key activities. They help promote and interpret the WASPI ‘ask’. Given the importance of the role there are some requirements we have of our coordinators.

Firstly coordinators should have a good understanding and commitment towards WASPI Campaign’s aims.

They should be paid members of Women Against State Pension Inequality Ltd. We introduced our membership scheme to help pay campaigning costs. The current cost is £25 or £15 per year for those in receipt of benefits. Please see the Members section for details of member benefits.

Although we have no objections to coordinators being members of other pension groups, we do ask that coordinators ensure there is no conflict of interest. 

Coordinators need to maintain a stance of political neutrality in their role of group coordinator. The maladministration in how the State Pension age was raised is something which affects all 1950s women whatever their political leaning. All equally deserve the support of the WASPI campaign. We are also committed to engaging with all political parties and have worked closely with the APPG in Westminster.

If a group does not exist in your area and you would like to volunteer please complete the form below.

Several local groups represented at a Party Conference in Brighton

The newly formed Nottingham group at their inaugural meeting on International Women’s Day 2025. Welcoming the group is the Chair of WASPI – Angela Madden