There are many UNA-UK branches throughout the United Kingdom. To get involved with your nearest one, join UNA-UK today.

There are notices of upcoming UNA-UK branch, regional and national events in the UNA-UK Event Calendar. Alternatively, see below for details of selected recent UNA-UK branch, region and national activities.

Please not that the following map is not an exhaustive list of UNA-UK branches and regions - it only lists those with websites. If you have a UNA-UK website that has not been listed, please e-mail website@una.org.uk

Click on the dots on the map to visit the corresponding UNA-UK branch, region or national website.

 

Below are details of selected UNA-UK branch, regional and national activities. This list is by no means exhaustive. We would be pleased to include further UNA-UK activities. E-mail website@una.org.uk with a full description of your event.

For future national, regional and branch events please visit the UNA-UK events calendar.

 

CURRENT AND ONGOING EVENTS

UNA Haslemere branch theatre offers dramatised readings of the following peace plays by Frances Jessup. Contact francesjess@clara.co.uk for availability and to book your venue.

UNA East Gloucestershire branch has been continuing its work to foster international dialogue. Richard Bell, First Secretary in the Political Section of the US Embassy, spoke to the branch about the US's relationship with the UN. Bell noted the US's interest in a strong role for the Security Council in world affairs, and spoke of the implications of the 'responsibility to protect' and the importance of carrying out the project of reform proposed by Secretary-General Kofi Annan to enhance the organisation's effectiveness and efficiency. The branch is also keeping up its close friendship with Christian Häberli, Director of UNA Switzerland. UNA Switzerland was a strong advocate of its country's membership of the UN in the run-up to the Swiss referendum on accession in 2002. Häberli has noted that, despite Switzerland's reputation for active diplomacy, the Swiss remain as sceptical as ever towards grand ambitions. UNA Switzerland has shaped its objectives accordingly, focusing pragmatically on improving the understanding of the UN in Swiss civil society and on influencing Swiss policy formulation in the UN General Assembly.

UNA Exeter branch has been taking a page out of the BBC's book: it recently held its very own 'Question Time' featuring a panel which included local MP and DEFRA minister Ben Bradshaw as well as Jemma Percy, President of the Exeter University Students' Guild. Over 100 people attended to put UN-related questions to the panellists. The branch has also been striving to reach out to new groups – it has recently produced an excellent UNA calendar which it plans to distribute to local libraries.

 

PAST EVENTS

30 June 2007	Southern Counties UNA combined a talk by UNA-UK Executive Director Sam Daws with the AGM. The AGM, which preceded the talk by, was chaired by Michael Blackshaw, who presented the chair's report of the region's activities during the past year. Peter Anson, Ruth Barker, Michael Blackshaw, Wendy Ellis, Fanny Lines, Peter Maw, Graeme Panting, Anne Sieve, Frances Jessop-Turner and Nagalingamudaly Sidamparappillai ('Sid') were elected to the region's Executive Committee. Anne Sieve will replace Sid as the region's representative to the UNA-UK Board. Sid thanked the region for having elected him to this responsible position, which had given him the opportunity to attend high-level meetings. Sam Daws then took the floor to talk about 'The UN: past successes and future challenges'. He spoke of the current massive spike in demand for UN peacekeepers as a clear sign of the UN's indispensability, now and in the future. He also addressed climate change, one of the most urgent challenges facing the international community, highlighting the need to begin negotiations on a post-Kyoto settlement. The talk was held at the Friends Meeting House in Newbury. For more information, please contact Fanny Lines on 01483 285 229.
5 June 2007	South-East Berkshire UNA, along with the University of Essex, organised a ‘Green Care’ meeting; informing guests about this emerging approach to physical and mental well being which promotes contact with nature as a means of improving health. Green Care works with working farms to provide sources of natural environment to mental heath patients, the elderly, people with learning disablilites and troubled young people. If you would like to promote such a farm in your region please contact Barbara Stafford on 01189 627 797.
28 May 2007	Bexhill & Hastings UNA held an ‘open organic garden morning’. Despite adverse weather conditions, the event was a big success, achieving a dual purpose of raising funds as well as informing guests about the International Day of Peace.
12 May 2007	Harpenden UNA were given a talk by Professor Tomkins, Director for International Health and Development at the Institute of Child Heath, University College London. The talk, on international child health, drew attention to many things including how many of the 11 million child deaths a year are due to preventable causes.
28 March 2007	Enfields and The Barnets UNA, together with Middlesex Univeristy hosted a simulation UN Security Council. Branch members chaired and mentored the event whilst students acted on behalf of the Council along with representatives from other organisations such as the World Bank and Amnesty International. Click here to read a full report by branch manager, Francis Sealey.
24 March 2007	Bexhill & Hastings UNA hosted a talk by Michael Foster, MP for Hastings and Rye, about climate change. Mr. Foster mentioned UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon’s sentiments on how the UN had a major role to play in finding effective solutions to climate change.