Sheffield WI shuts down rather than accept they must be women only from April.

[Another2Cats]

This story is just as the title. The Seven Hills WI of Sheffield have announced yesterday that their officers (President, Secretary, Treasurer and one other) will be leaving the WI in April and that, since nobody has come forward to take up those roles, then that branch of the WI will be shut down.

So, why are all the officers leaving at the same time?

They spelt it out on a page of their WI website (I've left out some irrelevant bits):

https://www.shwi.co.uk/post/2026-membership

National Policy Changes
Following the UK Supreme Court ruling in 2025 ... The National Federation of Women's Institutes has announced that it must update its membership policy to comply with the law.

This means that from April 2026, the WI will restrict formal membership to those registered female at birth.

Changes to Seven Hills WI Leadership
In light of these policy changes, our current officers have made the difficult decision not to renew their membership.

As it currently stands, no committee members or general members have come forward to fill the officer roles that will become vacant in April 2026. Without officers in place to lead the group, Seven Hills WI will be suspended and will not be able to continue operating as a WI.

What This Means
Unless members step forward to take on committee roles (including President, Secretary, and Treasurer at minimum), our group will cease to operate from April 2026. We understand this is disappointing news for many who have valued being part of our community.
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It really does seem so sad that women would rather close down a branch of the WI rather than accept that is should be single sex.

I understand that there are other WI branches in Sheffield that will remain open

Because pissing on a women's group is the whole point. Its all about wielding power.

Yes, the current officers have every right to step down. Even to step down as part of a hissy tantrum in response to their favourite creepy male being evicted from the WI tent.

But. It sounds like their shared aim is destroying the branch as a big F.U. as the main part of their dramatic flouncy exit.

See! creepy males, how much we truly care. World! bear witness, to our performative piety.

And if, instead of being blown up, the WI branch sails on happily and gloriously without them, this will ruin everything. Everything.

Oh noes.

Please make it happen.

That didn’t answer the question.

Would YOU stand up if there was a threat to your reputation in the community that you were not planning to leave and may have built small businesses and support networks? I don’t judge any woman who doesn’t take a stand and simply will move to the neighbouring group.

Do people have the freedom to step down? Of course they do. However, this already comes across as a group who is very focused on making.a political statement and doing damage as a fuck you to WI than in supporting all women. Them resigning as a group knowing the group will disappear is making it clear it is only about that issue. I don’t believe it is reasonable given the political statement made to just believe it is any thing else.

Of course they are free to do so. But the statement makes it rather clear that this is a political stance. And I very much understand women not coming forward in that situation.

They are no loss. Good riddance. Amazes me that women will do this - who do they think they are supporting? Men's rights, obviously.

not clear from their website if this lot would be an altenative, i remember my mum joined when it was set up because the local WI was run like the chairwoman's fiefdom.

They are in all 3 ridings of Yorkshire

Womens Social Group | Yorkshire Countrywomen's Association | Humber

😂A flounce for the lads in dresses. How utterly silly. As others have said, it's not the only WI in town - & nothing prevents other women in the area forming a replacement.

You can only set up a new group if you have enough members to make it viable - and enough women who are willing and able to take on the executive roles.

If I cared enough about keeping the branch going, then yes.

I'm not judging anyone who wouldn't.

The cold hard facts are that they're going to need several volunteers to be able to keep it open. That's not a value judgement, it's just how it is.

What exactly do you see as the solution here?

The current officers can't be barred from stepping down. They're volunteers. And in any case, would you really want TRAs running the place? I wouldn't.

If you'd like them to shut up and keep going just to keep the peace, I'd suggest that a) that is highly unlikely and b) not something that would be suggested if things were the other way around.

If the membership truly wants to close the branch, then even if the officers wanted to keep the branch going it would likely fail as finances would make it impractical once the majority leave.

The remaining options are either the branch closes or some other women step up to run it properly. That's it. There's no magical solution where they're going to stop being TRAs, oust their old friends, and run it as it should be.

This sort of thing was very predictable following the SC ruling. We knew there was an issue in the WI. We knew there were quite a lot of "inclusive" branches and attitudes among the ranks.

It should not therefore be a surprise when the law is enforced and that cohort leave. The consequences are that some branches may close if no-one else is willing to take on running them.

Again, that is not a value judgement. It is just a fact.

The W.I. is not an exclusively southern thing. I live in the NW and there are several groups round here. It certainly did havd a very old-fashioned reputation, but I think it has become a bit less like that. As for what it does - it's a club which does charity events, social events and often has speakers on a variety of subjects. I don't belong to it, but I do belong to a craft guild which is all female. Men are allowed - there just aren't any male members. A young transwoman came along once but didn't return.

That made it sound a bit like he wasn't welcome! Everyone was very nice to him, but he didn't come back. I like that it's all women tbh.

The point was you rejecting the high likelihood that this was a political move from a group of people who just as likely discouraged or caused to leave those who could or would have stepped up.

I agree there is no solution at the moment. However, it is worth recognising why and how this situation has happened and not to simply dismiss it as ‘there was no one who would step up’. That way, people who are in W.I. groups can understand the future of the groups if they see it.

With Jean Hatchet publicising that she wishes to keep the group going, maybe new people will apply to join and will revitalise the group. Just last week, I applied to join my local group based on the publicity about them now being female only.

Or it will be a sad case of a group closing because no one could give the time. It happens, but there is merit in discussing why and how it happens. It is foundational to the topic of the thread after all.

Same at one of the Trafford ones. I can’t find the post - similar wording.

Eh? What has geography to do with you "not getting" the WI? I'm up North, maybe you remember tales of your grannie going to the Townswomen's Guild rather than the WI but both have always been national organisations.
Both orgs offer women social networks & education in the broad sense, ie not focused on credentials.

Well, another one bites the dust (as the saying goes). In fact, there have been two.

A WI group based in Hackney have come to the same decision.

They say:

"Last month, a crisis meeting was held to discuss the future of Hackney Wicked Women after the @ womensinstitute announced it would no longer offer membership to transgender women. Following extensive discussions, and for reasons explained in the post above, we have made the difficult decision to close and confirm that our last meeting will be 18 March 2026."

And they decide to go out with a special talk from one 'Bobbi Pickard' of Trans in the City:

"We feel very passionately about keeping the community going (that we’ve lovingly built over the last 11 years) and are working behind the scenes to make the last two months really special, before reforming as a community group from April 2026 onwards*

We are excited to announce for our penultimate meet up we will be joined by Bobbi Pickard from @ transitcuk

Join us on Feb 18 to show your support and learn more about how to become a trans ally.

Guests welcomed for this session with a donation to a trans charity of your choice encouraged."

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUeC7OWCDJx/

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And then a group in Urmston (south west of Manchester) has also decided to shut down:

"It is with deep sorrow that we share that Sociallites WI will soon be starting the process of suspending the group as of 1st April 2026.

With the introduction of new membership rules that exclude trans women from being members, & with not enough members coming forward to form a new committee, the current committee will be stepping down at the end of March 2026. As a result, the group will be unable to continue in its current form.

For 13 years, Sociallites WI has been so much more than a WI group. We have built a vibrant, inclusive, & supportive community in Urmston — one rooted in friendship, shared values, & belonging. We are incredibly proud of everything we have created together & deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey.

This news is painful, & we know it will be felt by many. It is felt by us too.

But while this chapter is ending, this is not the end"

https://www.instagram.com/p/DUbmzK1jomn

This was reported on by Pink News yesterday:

https://www.thepinknews.com/2026/02/09/womens-institute-trans-ban-members/
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Something that appears from this is that all three groups appear to only have formed quite recently. 2009 in the case of the Sheffield group and 2013 and 2015 for these two groups.

In comparison, the local Federation in the area that I live was first registered as a charity back in 1963.

I don't know if this is in any way relevant or not.

Looks like the men have got their way doesn't it? Trash women's organisations until they shut down.

For 13 years, Sociallites WI has been so much more than a WI group. We have built a vibrant, inclusive, & supportive community in Urmston — one rooted in friendship, shared values, & belonging. We are incredibly proud of everything we have created together & deeply grateful to everyone who has been part of our journey.

Well thst sounds, genuinely, wonderful.

But what I don't understand is why, if Sociallites WI has been so much more than a WI group, and is so beloved and important to the members, they can't just continue to be their wonderful inclusive multisex selves outside the WI? Since it seems like the WI isn't really that central to their identity as a group anyway?

Smacks somewhat of a nose-cutting / taking their ball home exercise surely?

As wiser people than me have said, the best revenge is a life well lived. Not a life restricted by your own pique simply because you didn't get your own way in every aspect of it.

Standard MO. 'Give it to us or we'll smash it and no one can have it'.

The behaviours of a disturbed small child.

Yep.

That this is happening supposedly to support men in the WI says a lot.

Suppose I'd better find my nearest sane WI & join up. It's because I learned of their mad gender policy that I didn't join years ago, how better to show my approbation of their grudging conformity with the law & their charitable objectives than to slap down my membership fee?

I'd want firm confirmation that none of my fee was going towards funding the "Sisterhood" groups. I believe that confirmation has not been provided yet, even though there are only a couple of months to go before monies are due in April.

Take your point but the Head Office crew want to keep their salaries, their cachet, & their nice offices (so handy for the Hurlingham Club). They've clearly had legal advice about both the EqA & the WI's charitable objectives, they'll bleat about the menz & lose the more insufferable Branch Committees but when push comes to shove, self-interest will win out over "allyship", such are luxury beliefs.

I think these resignations will ultimately be a good thing. TRAs have infiltrated just about everything you can think of and that includes the WI. Let them all resign, says me! The WI will be all the better for it.

According to the internet, in 2019 there were 6300 branches of WI. I don’t feel that a grand total of 3 closing because of the SC ruling counts as seismic particularly if the other 99.95% are trundling in quite happily. 😊