The Great British Institution...that started in Canada!

The very first WI was formed in Stoney Creek, Ontario, Canada in 1897. The movement brought together women from isolated communities and offered training in Home Economics, childcare, and those aspects of farming traditionally done by women, such as poultry keeping and small animal husbandry.

 

On to our great shores...

The Women's Institute Movement in Britain started in 1915 during the First World War. It was formed to encourage countrywomen to get involved in growing and preserving food to help to increase the supply of food to the war-torn nation. The first group was Llanfair PG, on Anglesey North Wales, opening on 16th September 1915 and the first in England was Singleton WI in Sussex.  

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Nowadays...

Today the WI is the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK, with around 212,000 members belonging to approximately 6600 groups and this year, we will all be celebrating the Centenary!