Arts, Sports, Leisure & Science

From competitions, astronomy, earthquakes, writing, photography and drama to walking, dancing and circus skills; the WI has something for everybody!

Women in Sport

Members are offered a variety of activities to help stimulate arts, science, sport and leisure within the WI, and the NFWI continues to progress and enhance relationships with external organisations and local colleges and companies, in order to achieve this. Organisations that the NFWI have linked with with include Breeze, Sport England, the Institute of Physics, Oxford University and New Age Kurling.

Did you know WI members were strutting their stuff to Zumba long before the rest of the nation were?

The NFWI always finds new and interesting ways to keep members busy; in 2006 members were challenged to walk 90 miles and keep a scrapbook, 2010 saw the WI Tri - a triathlon; swim 5 miles, cycle 20 miles and walk or run 50 miles. The current members' challenge is 'Big Walk, Little Splash' to walk, or swim, 209 miles - the equivalent of the distance between Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch to the Olympic Stadium, London (as the crow flies).

The WI is not only about cookery and craft; technology, physics, chemistry, astronomy, nature and medicines to name but a few, all play a part in what the NFWI offers to its members.

Events, activities and outings are often held at Denman, the Head Office in London, or in federations, to help raise awareness and understanding of science and how it can affect everyday life.

WI members have benefited from a variety of speakers, such as:

  • Natalie Justice, BREEZE, Women's Cycling Network;
  • Dame Professor Jocelyn Bell Burnell, Department of Astrophysics, Oxford University;
  • Dr Averil Macdonald, Reading University;
  • John McCormack, Skip2bF;
  • Caitlin Watson, Physics in Society Manager, the Institute of Physics;
  • Denise Smythe-Wright, National Oceanography Centre, Southampton;
  • Rosie Boycott, Journalist, Broadcaster.