The Conservative Women’s Organisation (CWO) celebrated its Centenary in 2019 and has been a valuable asset to the Conservative Party for many years.  While membership is open to ALL members of the Party, CWO is motivated by the need to involve more women in all activities in the Party, particularly in Parliament where women are under-represented, but also in public life generally.  To this end we are actively re-energizing CWO groups nationally.   Eastern Region CWO (ERCWO) have been very successful in recent years in looking ahead and recruiting new and younger members who have political ambitions at all levels!      I am particularly proud that Alicia Kearns, now MP for Rutland and Melton, was one of my Deputy Chairman when I served as ERCWO Chairman!  She is a force to be reckoned with as they say! (You may follow her on social media.)    I know that we have other future parliamentarians coming up in our ranks too.

CWO works across the board, Nationally, Regionally, County and Constituency.  To this end I would very much like to see the revival of CWO across Suffolk and particularly in South Suffolk where once we were so pro-active.  In some quarters we are seen as an unnecessary, perhaps sexist and divisive influence!  This is most definitely not the case!  All party members are invited to join us and many of our Eastern Region Meetings have been attended by gentlemen.   We are happy to offer training and encouragement to all our members.  Training for PABs (Parliamentary Assessment Boards) is a much in demand tool.   In the past we have also contributed financially to the income of our Constituency but that is not to be seen as our sole purpose and is one I resisted in days gone by when I served as a Women’s Committee Chairman. 

I would like to invite you to join me in renewing our Constituency CWO and actively participating in Regional events and County events too.  Currently these are Zoom meetings and generally free!  If you are interested in joining us please would you make contact through the Association Office email address   info@southsuffolkconservatives.org.uk   It may be possible to set up an initial Zoom meeting if there is sufficient interest.   It is important to join CWO nationally as well, and I would recommend this in order to access meetings and to comply with Data protection.  Membership is free and open to all members of the Conservative Party.   Please see our website (conservativewomen.uk) but have your Party Membership Card/no. to hand.    Eastern Region also has Twitter and WhatsApp accounts. 

I look forward to hearing from you,

Sincerely,

Patsy Cave

Eastern Region CWO President and Acting Chairman for Suffolk CWO

South Suffolk CWO Officer