Is anyone a member of the WI?

[listsandbudgets]

What's it really like?

Are they as they appear to be on the outside a group of upper middle class, middle aged cake making enthusiasts or is there a lot more to it? I've been asked by a friend to join but she's being a bit "vague"... it's hardly the Masons so was hoping for a bit more by asking here?

what do they do? What are the meetings like? Is it friendly and welcoming? Anything else??

I haven’t yet been brave enough to contact them after I saw the knitted postbox toppers were all done by them.

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/_chat/5012704-womens-institute-anyone-a-member

I’ve recently joined a London group, and they are very mixed. Ages from 20s - 80+, all social classes and ethnicities, very inclusive. Monthly meetings are usually some form of presentation or entertainment, but there’s also a book club, a walking group and a craft and knitting group. They contribute to the local food bank - all members bring something for that to the monthly meetings - and there’s a raffle to raise money for the food bank. I think it varies from place to place. You can go to monthly meetings as a guest to try it out, as I did.

Watching with interest as thinking of trying

I've always wanted to join the WI, but I don't have time. I'm hoping once my kids are in school I will have the time!

I think they do a whole range of activities nowadays. You might also want to look at the U3A (University of the third age) which are in areas and get up to allsorts!

It entirely depends on the group. Ours is in a rural area and very welcoming of all ages and provides an incredible support network. Some of it I find boring, but I expect the older generation find some of it too exciting. Best bet is to give it a go and see.

I'm also interested to know. Our local group meet at 2pm on a week day so that kind of rules it out for me.

I’ve been a member for years, all groups are different because although they’re run under the WI banner each committee will set the agenda for what activities they run, what they do at meetings and other sub groups.

We usually have a speaker or activity, eat some cake, drink tea - we raise money for charity, march in the international women’s day march, get involved in local/community events - I love it and I’ve made some great friends.

On the back of this thread I've joined my local one.
MIL has been a member for years at another group and has found it wonderful.

I'm not sure I'm of that demographic yet but what do I have to lose!

Yeah all groups are different and can choose when they meet, mine luckily is evening but a lot of the groups aimed at an older/retired crowd will go for daytime.

My mother's advice to me once was, if you move to a new place and want to make friends, join the church and the WI. Since moving to a village, I have done the first - which has been great, and now I know lots of lovely people. Have not got round to the WI yet but will do soon. Its a really friendly village.

The youngest member of our local group has just celebrated her 70th birthday and they have a couple of centenarians amongst their number. That, and the fact that they meet mid-week, mid-afternoon puts me off joining until I retire even though the members that I do know are lovely and would be really welcoming.

My mum is a member and in her group they are all very elderly. They meet for lunch once a month. It's a social lifeline for her.
I'm considering joining a different group locally. There are several with different meeting times so I'm still looking into it.

Just wondering 🤔 in WI groups are there many younger members in their 30s 40s or 50s then too?
Does it attract that demographic ,

I've heard WI like to be also sometimes or occasionally politically aware on certain topics in the past,
being quite vocal input vunerable women in communities who are involved in sex trade about highlight safety and wellbeing issues in regards of them,
WI is quite progressive like that too..

Mostly they do what's traditional image image lives up etc and new things activities too you wouldn't expect of this type of group..

Good idea for mumsnet thread too.

My mum is a member, in a rural village. They are mostly over 40, either retired or part-time workers. They don't bake. They do go on big rambles in the fields. They have guest speakers each session. For Mum it's a social club more than anything.

I've been a member for 4 years now,best thing ever for meeting new people. I'm early 50s and by no means the youngest but you soon figure out age is really just a number and the older women are exactly the same as the younger ones with a few more wrinkles.

Fantastic days out and trips and it's really broadened my horizons.

Would you mind saying which one? Some branches have websites but others don’t, so you can’t see what they do. My local branch just seems to have talks that aren’t really on subjects that interest me.

I've been a member for around 10 years and at 56 I'm one of the older ones though we do have quite a few in their 60s. The committee including the president are all late 30s/40s and most of them helped set our group up 11 years ago
We run a varied programme and also have another one called " bit on the side" which often involves alcohol
We no longer routinely have cake but do have hot drinks and only sing Jerusalem at our agm
This month's meeting was about forgotten women from where we lived that had a big impact on our community

Interesting perhaps 🤔 i might look up one too WI groups near me,

Is it quite expensive to join then?

as i have heard it can be

My local WI is full of 80 year olds so didn't work for me (being in my 30s).
I know they do lots of wonderful activities though.

You can go as a visitor for free up to 3x iirc. Membership is approx £30 -40,can't remember exactly.

This is all very interesting. Thank you.

They meet on Sunday afternoons which I hope means they've got lots of working age people who can't do meetings during the week.

I think I'll give it a go after the summer and see what happens I want to wait until then as DD in middle of A Levels and we've got various summer plans which would mean I wasn't about anyway

I think the average age of our members is 45. Its more 'ladies circle' than WI, no knitting, no Jerusalem, just socialising and activities chosen by the committee. It does get a bit repetitive though, we've been going around 12 years now, and I know people struggle to find us new things to do.

I would describe my group as old rather than middle aged.

Are they as they appear to be on the outside a group of upper middle class, middle aged cake making enthusiasts or is there a lot more to it?

Not all upper middle class, middle aged cake making enthusiasts, no. Sadly, not all women any longer either.