The Women’s Institute

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) is the largest voluntary organisation for women in the the United Kingdom with 205,000 members in England, Wales and the Islands.

History

The Women’s Institute was formed in 1915 with two clear aims: to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the Women’s Institute’s aims have broadened and they are now the largest women’s organisation in the UK. They currently have 205,000 members in 6,500 WIs.

 

Campaigns

• No More Violence Against Women Campaign

The WI is part of the End Violence Against Women campaigning coalition which aims to create a world in which women and girls are afforded their basic human rights and can live free from violence and its threat.

• Women Reaching Women Project

Together with Oxfam GB and the Everyone Foundation the NFWI is running a three-year project on the links between development, women and climate change.

• Adult Education

The NFWI has been working on adult education since 1922. The current NFWI education campaign focuses on fairer funding, choice and opportunities for adult education courses especially for women to maintain the self confidence and social equity these help provide.

• The WI is calling on the Government to stop the closure of community hospitals. WI members are calling for measures to protect these services and support local communities.

References

• Women’s Institute