The Wi (National Federation Of Women'S Institutes)

Our latest recipe of the week would make a delicious addition to your summer BBQ - Sticky Glazed Drumsticks.
If you would like advice on preparing #SafeSummerFood we have resources available from the Food Standards Agency on our website for picnics and BBQs: https://www.thewi.org.uk/…/food-and-coo k…/summer-food-safety
https://www.thewi.org.uk/what-we…/recip es/recipe-of-the-week

Winner of the WI competition for the best voluntary sector stand at the Eisteddfod.
To encourage higher standards of exhibits at the Eisteddfod, NFWI-Wales sponsors a competition for the best and runner-up stand from the voluntary sector.
Congratulations to Christian Aid Cymru for winning our trophy for the best voluntary sector stand at this year’s Eisteddfod.
... Congratulations also to British Heart Foundation - Wales who were awarded the runner-up trophy.
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We have a brand new Federation Centenary Exhibition on My WI, to commemorate those federations who are celebrating their centenaries this year.
You can view our online exhibition here, which includes crafts from WI Essex and West Kent Federation of WIs: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/…/feder…/ke nt-west-kent-federation
If your federation is reaching its centenary soon, please send any craft items and what you are doing to celebrate the milestone to k.phipps@nfwi-unit.org.uk

August’s menu of the month has been inspired by the delicious flavours of the Middle East. To start we have labneh with spiced chickpeas followed by a roast salmon main. This month’s menu was written by Maria Grieco, Hoddlesden WI.
Don’t miss the latest wines of the month, carefully picked by Sue to pair with the three course menu: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/…/food-and-co ok…/menu-of-the-month

We are looking for any craft, cookery or floral art related activities and news for the WI column in Crafts Beautiful magazine! These can be either from a WI or an individual member.
Please send any information and photos to pr@nfwi.org.uk

Thank you to all those who sent in their suffragette crafts! Head to our ‘Over to You’ section on My WI to see all the fabulous projects WI members have made to commemorate the suffrage anniversary: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/…/wis-craft-t o-commemorate-the-su…

Thank you to everyone who came to see us at BBC Countryfile Live! We hope you had a wonderful time at the show and enjoyed the WI tent.
We would like to give a special thanks to the craft demonstrators and NFWI Trustees, who were there all four days to talk to visitors about the WI and Denman.
Here is a selection of photos from the event including Lynne Stubbings and Ann Jones with Countryfile presenter, Matt Baker!

Have you seen our latest makes of the month on My WI? We have a pretty embroidered tote bag or a summertime birdie journal cover for you to have a go at stitching.
For these how-to guides and more, visit My WI: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/interes…/craf t/makes-of-the-month/

There are still spaces available for the ‘Listen-Speak-Inspire’ workshop aimed at building your confidence and making it easier to speak in public, taking place on 13 September in East Sussex.
You will learn:
- Relaxation skills... - Breathing techniques and voice skills - How to introduce and thank speakers - How to make an announcement
We guarantee you will go away with renewed confidence and less fear of speaking in front of others.
The workshop is open to all members but places are limited, so sign up today! Download the application form from My WI: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/…/listen-spea k-inspire-a-confiden…
For more information, contact Elaine Smith: e.smith@nfwi-unit.org.uk
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Food Matters campaign success!
In February we delivered thousands of WI members’ postcards to the major supermarkets, pushing them to publish their food waste figures as part of our #WIFoodMatters campaign. So we are very happy to see Lidl UK go public with its figures: https://www.lidl.co.uk/en/Food-surplus-15 171.htm

Members from Norfolk WI had a fabulous time celebrating the first ever Norfolk Day last Friday.
Barford, Wramplingham and District WI highlighted the work of Norfolk Federation with the Norfolk Bus Forum as a joint community initiative.
WI members were at the heart of this special day celebrating the community in Norfolk as they hosted coffee mornings, went on BBC Radio Norfolk, held garden parties and more.

If you're at BBC Countryfile Live today, Ashley Keen, Denman Tutor at the WI Cookery School will be on the Brian Turner Stage at 1.30pm preparing an al fresco feast.
Don't forget to also pop by the WI tent on the Village Green to meet the NFWI Trustees and craft demonstrators! #countryfilelive

Today The Royal British Legion is launching a movement to say ‘Thank You’ to all who served, sacrificed, and changed our world during the First World War.
#ThankYou100 honours the 1.2 million British and Commonwealth Armed Forces who lost their lives, as well as those who played their part on the home front, and those who returned to build a better life for the benefit of generations to come.
The WI was formed during the First World War to revitalise rural communities and en...courage women to become more involved in producing food, and as part of #ThankYou100 we are going to be celebrating the #InspiringWomen who helped keep the home fires burning.
To find out more information, please visit: rbl.org.uk/thankyou
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We’ve had a great first day at BBC Countryfile Live!
If you’re here tomorrow, don’t forget to visit the WI tent to say hello to the NFWI Trustees and see more brilliant craft demonstrations from WI members.
There will also be a live cooking demo by Ashley Keen, Denman tutor at the WI Cookery School, on the Brian Turner Stage at 1:30pm! #Countryfilelive

We’re excited to be at BBC Countryfile Live! Come and visit the WI tent to meet the NFWI Trustees, who will be here for the next 4 days.
Today we have some fantastic craft demonstrations in embroidery, Dorset buttons, crochet and fabric fusing from Helen and Jen, members from Hampshire WI.

Join the National Training Team!
The NFWI Membership Development Committee is looking for enthusiastic people with knowledge of WI or other charity finance to join the National Training Team as Independent Financial Examiner Trainers and Federation Trustee Trainers.
You don’t need to hold an adult teaching qualification, but must be prepared to undertake appropriate training. You must, however, have ICT skills and be able to commit time for training, meetings and conferences....
If you have experience in delivering training and would like to find out more about this role, please contact Val Andrews at the NFWI Unit: v.andrews@nfwi-unit.org.uk
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Register your interest in attending the NFWI-Wales Public Affairs Conference!
The conference will be held on the Royal Welsh Showground in Llanelwedd on 11 October from 10am until 4.30pm.
Confirmed speakers include:
... - Ann Jones, Chair of NFWI’s Public Affairs Committee; Time to Change Wales campaign;
- Professor Maggie Andrews, Professor in Cultural History, University of Worcester;
- Selina Moyo, Policy Officer, Community Housing Cymru;
- Lesley Jones, Chief Executive, Keep Wales Tidy;
- Dr June Milligan, Wales Commissioner, Equality and Human Rights Commission.
For further information and to register your interest in attending, please visit the website: https://www.thewi.org.uk/…/register-to- attend-the-nfwi-wale…
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Get your tickets for the 2018 WI Raffle for your chance to win one of many great prizes!
Don’t forget – 60% of the proceeds from tickets sold in your area will go directly to your federation.
Tickets are available from federation and WI secretaries.

This week, have a go at baking our Lemon, Rosemary and Sultana Tear and Share Bread: https://www.thewi.org.uk/what-we…/recip es/recipe-of-the-week
To help you with this week’s recipe, you can watch our video tutorial, in which Ali from the WI Cookery School shows you how to make the bread: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pmiI1z3pv b4

If you have an Instagram account, why not follow the WI’s Instagram page!
We post a wide range of photos including members’ craft and cookery projects, campaign images and plenty of WI archive photographs from the past 103 years!
You can find our page here: https://www.instagram.com/womensinstitute /

The WI is wonderful place to make new friends . I have made more true friends since joining,

Then I became the president of Findon Valley WI and its the best thing I have ever done. We are such a friendly group and welcome every body.

Our Newton and Noss WI is 93 years old and going strong. I love that we are trying to update it, getting in to the computer age, but that we retain all the best bits especially friendship and learning. We have such a varied speaker list and still enjoy crafts, visits etc. What makes it really special though are the friends you make there.

My own WI is 50 years old this September. I was certainly inspired as today is the launch of my workplace WI, the first one in Lancashire. I hope we inspire more women and the membership grows over the next 100 years

My WI is 98 years old----------continually in my village----it must be good! We always sing Jerusalem at the beginning of every meeting which is great, I love it.

Looking to start up a WI meeting in my local area, i have lots of ladies intersted, just looking for a venue and any help or info on how to do this would be gratefully recieved .

Its what you make it! You can be as involved with WI as you want to be. But you need to make the effort. WI to me is friendship, family and fun.

I think your organization is incredible. I wish there was such an organization for American women. Thank you for the wonderful things you do and for the inspiration.

I really enjoy being a member of our village W.I.The programme is very varied and always interesting. The members are very friendly and always willing to help others. We have small group clubs for folk to share and join in some particular activities.Thanks W.I .for leading the way for so many ladies.

I love the WI and am currently President of mine - Bredon. I love the friendliness of the organisation. Having also attended residential courses at Denman college on my own, I have always found people to be so friendly and you are never short of people to talk to. The courses are great as is the accommodation.

The WI is a force to be reckoned with as so many people have found out! If you are not a member yet, please find your nearest one and go along. You will always be made welcome.

I have been a member for 30 odd years,l am Chair of the Chester Group, enjoying organising lovely interesting meetings with my super committee.Went to a new W.I.recently and was energised by their enthusiasm, and commitment to the W.I. These are exciting times for us but we must be willing to move on and get rid of the 'we've always done it this way ' mentality.

I am a member of the W.I in the Isle of Man and was sadden today to hear that all we are receiving to celebrate the Centenary is a post card as our federation can not run to more than a £1 a member, if this is the case they would be better off giving us nothing. I enjoy my W.I but this seems a bit mean spirited in a year of celebration

I am a MEMBER of the Willesborough WI in Church Rd Willesborough

Have been a member since 1965 and cannot speak too highly of what it has done for me and hopefully, what I have put in to my Branch.

Have a great time with Goodwin's Evening WI. We are all active with our Crafts/Art/Singing/Lunches and Coffee mornings. This week a picture of just some of our ladies busy creating 1 of many bouquets for Lonely Bouquet and after meeting delivered that night for doorstep and bench finds early the next morning

Eight of us from Datchet W.I. had a fab time today learning the art of glass fusing with Jackie at Pisces Glass Creations. We all made some lovely creations, coasters, sun catchers and pendants. We’ve just got to be patient and wait for them to go in the kilns and be fused.... We would all recommend trying glass fusing and are already planning a session near to Christmas! Though I think most of us will be back before December �

Some frustrations with membership and National when we set up but 77 members in 3 months I think speaks for itself. The WI is a wonderful organisation with a powerful voice and I for one am proud to be a member. You just have to remember "you cannot please all of the people all of the time"! President Cockermouth WI

Why are the WI not helping the women who are being Denied their Pensions for Six years With no warning Letters ,no chance to prepare The Government and Mrs May are saying over and over again that no woman will have to wait more than 18 months So why are over Three Million 1950s Women waiting Six Years

Utterly disgusted that my friend with her new born baby was turned away from the newly formed Sutton in Ashfield group as they don't allow breastfeeding! Shocked does not even cover it!!

Ungrateful, uncharitable, very clicky and unwelcoming