However, the structure of the WI, the co-ordination of in excess of 5.5k individual branches throughout the country to follow the ideals and aims of the organization – this may not be known to readers.

Originating in Canada in the late nineteenth century, the first WI to open in the UK was Anglesey in 1915. Two years later a National Federation of WIs was formed; a democratic, non-party political and voluntary organisation. Its structure is three tiered – local, county, and national. Mention has been made of the local and national tiers, but what of the county tier?

Avon Federation of Women’s Institutes (AFWI) encompasses Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath & N E Somerset, and North Somerset. Within this area there are 99 local institutes. Avon Federation is a charitable organisation run by a Board of Trustees – volunteers from those local institutes – in conjunction with several staff based at our office at Keynsham. This format is repeated, with a further 65 county federations in England and Wales, plus Jersey, Guernsey, and the Isle of Man. Scotland and Northern Ireland operate sister organisations independently.

Avon Federation (as do the other federations across the country) works to advise and enhance local WIs, and has committees dedicated to sourcing and putting on events that all members in the area have the opportunity to attend. The scope of these committees covers Arts, Crafts, Environment, Public Affairs, Sport and Leisure. Forthcoming events include Golf Croquet Skills Development, Horse Drawn Barge Trip, Historical Lectures, Dabble Day, Play Reading ‘Murder on the Orient Express’, plus AFWI’s Annual Meeting with guest speaker the Rev. Kate Botley.

The WI is open to all women aged 18 or over, and for an annual subscription (currently £44 for the year April 2022 to March 2023, with pro-rata rates for new members joining mid-year), members have the opportunity to meet other women and make friends, to participate in community events, and hear speakers talk on a wide range of subjects (educational, humorous, celebrity).

If you would like further information, or details of all WIs local to you, or in a specific area, you can call the Avon Federation office on 0117 9864782 and/or visit the Avon Federation of WIs Facebook page.

Avon Federation of Woman’s Institutes