You are in:  Women's Institute > How to join > Find your WI > England > Derbyshire > Views from New WIs >

Views from New WIs

We would like to hear from WIs and new members who have joined us in 2010/11, please include your joining date, where you meet and how many members you have to date.

Please send us:

  • your success stories
  • how you recruited new members
  • start-up stories
  • why your members joined the WI
  • ideas to help other newly formed WIs
  • any other views

Please email us at derbywi@btconnect.com (Please add "Views from New WIs" to your email - thank you.)

We have received views from the following, Lin has recently joined a WI which has recently formed and Sue tells us about why she joined the WI.  Judith tells us how important it is to establish yourselves within the village/town that you are in and Lynn suggests ideas for events and how to advertise them.

Lin Reeve of Oakwood WI says:  "Oakwood finally has a WI and the Inaugural meeting took place at the Church at Oakwood.  The speaker was Maureen Hargreaves who, with humour and dexterity, demonstrated her considerable skills with sugar craft, she showed our fledgling group various Easter representations in marzipan and chocolate - delicious!  Hopefully, this will be the start of a very successful (and new) WI."
Sue Woollet joined Stanton-by-Dale WI in January 2010, she says:  "I think I've always been aware of the WI and its somewhat, I thought, formidable reputation as a group of women who are not afraid to speak their mind.  I heard about the heckling of Tony Blair at about the same time I discovered that the WI was supporting a campaign for reusable nappies locally but I was already heavily involved with a local parenting charity and I didn't really have time to explore further. 

At County Show, I visited the WI stand, chatted to the women there, admired the crafts and baking, and flicked through the Denman College course brochure. Midway through 2009 a friend I've known since childhood told me she'd joined the WI in her village and asked if I'd like to come along.  It's a very well-supported WI and has an excellent programme of speakers and events.  I was warmly welcomed.  I was hooked.  I'd discovered something for me, a monthly event to attend, where I can find out about interesting things, and meet new people, with options to get more involved in trips, visits, craft evenings, fashion shows, etc. should time allow.

In January 2010 I paid my membership fee.  I'm delighted to be a full-paid-up, card-carrying member of the WI and hope to be for many years to come."

Judith Hughes from Swanwick WI sent us her news:  "We meet at Swanwick Methodist Church Hall on the third Wednesday of the month. Our group was formed in March 2009 and we have 42 members from quite a wide age range.Swanwick WI
Swanwick WI enjoying time in the sun
We have held several successful meetings and a group walk.  Some of our members joined the visit to the Hindu Temple and we are having a Christmas meal out.  6 of our members attended the Autumn Council Meeting  where they found the speakers most entertaining.  A few of us have attended other WIs as their guests and we have had a few guests at our meetings.

We have participated in 2 village events to advertise the existence of our WI.  We provided some planters in the village as part of Swanwick's entry in the best kept village competition, hoping that this would give us some publicity and we held a tombola and publicity stand at Swanwick's Well Dressing and Gala.  In addition to this we put posters in the village shops each month with details of our forthcoming meeting.  Many or our members however have joined us on invitation by word of mouth from another member.

We are all enjoying the opportunity of interesting evenings out in addition to meeting up with old friends and making new ones and hope that our WI will continue to thrive."

Lynn Neale from Heanor WI says: "We have just celebrated our first anniversary with a meal at the Stoneyford Lodge, which was attended by 35 members, and also our WI Advisor Janet Chambers.Members of Heanor WI
A group activity at Heanor
In October 08 we formed a committee after a group of ladies met at the Stepping Stones centre in Heanor. By January, we had to move to the local Baptist Church, as the first venue was too small. We now have 41 members, with ages ranging from mid 20’s to over 80.  We meet on the 3rd Tuesday of the month at 7.30 pm, with an average of 38 to 40 members and visitors at each meeting.

Our speakers have covered a wide range of topics including fostering, the role of the modern matron, butterflies, card making and we are looking forward to December with a demonstration from a chocolatier.

Our meetings are advertised by displaying posters in local shop windows and also by contacting the local newspapers. Our members are also very successful in bringing along a friend. We have had a litter pick and sent pictures to the local newspaper that gave us good free publicity.

We have also chosen a “Charity of the Year” and have held a Beetle Drive, Coffee Morning and Cheese & Wine Evening, all events were very well supported. Reporting these events also gives us good news coverage locally, bringing the WI to the attention of people who might not have been to our meetings.  Future events include a Christmas Coffee Morning, a Quiz with Pie and Pea Supper in January, and a 1960’s evening in March. We are also presenting a fund raising concert by the Major Oak Chorus in February, and 22 people will be going on a trip to Harrogate later this month.  

Some of our members attended the Autumn Council Meeting in Derby, two West Leys Group Meetings, Ilkeston’s Quiz, Willington’s fashion show and a games night at Breadsall. We have also accepted invitations to anniversary celebrations at Loscoe and Ilkeston.

It has been a very enjoyable year and everyone has enjoyed the chance to meet new people, both within our own WI and also neighbouring ones."