Federation

On Monday 14th March we had the pleasure of welcoming over 110 Cheshire WI members to our free Zoom meeting. Michelle Beaver, a cardiac nurse and much more is mum of three with a career over three decades as a…

‘Here are the instructions for a knitted Easter chick / duck which can hide a small easter egg for a special treat. Cadbury’s creme eggs are perfect although other brands are also available. Feel free to create your own masterpieces:…

Thank you to Norma for an excellent presentation on how to make a surprise birthday card. Please find attached Birthday Card made with a surprise inside for further information. Here are the instructions to help you make the delightful surprise…

  On Thursday 24th February 7pm for 7:30pm start we had the pleasure in welcoming Hayley Scott. Over 200 members of the Federation attended the very successful event. She will help us delve into the world of forensics. A former…

What a fantastic first pre-formation meeting for Cheshire Federation Virtual WI last night. Forty Two  potential new members came along from our Federation and further afield including America and Canada. It’s early stages yet but Helen and Angela our resident WI…

Want to join a WI? Struggle to get out of the house? Already a member but fancy another one? Why not try a Virtual WI based in Cheshire. You have all the benefits of a Face to Face WI including…

This year’s NFWI Annual Meeting will be taking place at the Liverpool M&S Bank Arena on Saturday 11 June. WI members are invited to attend the event either virtually or in person. If you would like to attend in person…

This year the Huxley Cup Competition, supported by the RSPB invites WIs to design a small community space for wellbeing and wildlife.  The wildlife aspect of the entry should focus specifically on the theme of: Our Fabulous Flying Friends. They…

Lady Denman Cup Competition 2022 The Power of Community Celebrating the Queen’s Jubilee, supported by The Big Jubilee Lunch Schedule Using no more than 500 words, WI members are invited to submit a piece of writing, either comical, serious, fact…

We are delighted to post the November Cheshire News featuring all the news from across the Federation including the infamous Christmas Quiz. Why not take a seat with a nice warm drink and have a read. It might be a…

VIRTUAL WINTER ADVENT – Please contact your MCS Representative if you are unable to log into MyWI or contact [email protected] if you are having problems. On behalf of the NFWI Activities Team, we are excited to write and share our…

Information Received from NFWI – 17.11.21 Food Allergen Guidance for WIs from the Food Standards Agency… Whether or not a WI is required to register as a food business depends on the scale and regularity of their activity. If a…

We are delighted to post the October Cheshire News featuring all the news from across the Federation including the Cheshire Virtual Fun Show. Why not take a seat with a nice warm drink and have a read. The Trustees have…

Ahead of COP26 in November The Climate Coalition planned for a Great Big Green Week. The idea was to let individuals and community groups come together to plan events to raise awareness of climate change and flag our concerns. The…

Decorate Your Tote Bag Did you join the Arts and Craft Sub-Committee for the Decorate Your Tote Bag workshop ?   If you didn’t make it don’t worry you can have a go from the comfort of your own. Here are…

Video with Judges comments can be found at the bottom of the report. Photographs of Winners and Highly Commended for Each Category Please press the link to see all the entries received and the judges comments Virtual Fun Show –…

Did you join the Arts and Craft Sub-Committee for the first in a series of workshops to help your get to grips with crochet?  Some 75 members popped in to see if they could start of the challenge of learning…

THE NFWI VIRTUAL ANNUAL MEETING 2021 A warm welcome from Lynne Stubbings (chair NFWI) opened this historic day for the NFWI as it was the first time, they were holding a hybrid Annual Meeting which was being broadcast live to…

  On Wednesday the 9th June we had the pleasure in welcoming Dr Ailsa Holland co-creator of the feminist history Twitter account @OnThisDayShe and co-author of On This Day She: Putting Women Back into History, One Day at a Time…

We welcomed over 140 members to this meeting and had an incredible response with many saying they felt humbled. We heard from 2 of the 5 founding members of SAB, Samera Zeitoun, Samara Atassi and Bara’a al Dalati. All 3…

The following is an update and advice I have received from NFWI for Judges which will also be useful Information for WIs who are considering holding a Produce show. * The Food standards Agency website states that ‘Coronavirus(COVID-19): it is…

Dorothy Byrne was a great fit for our theme of hearing from inspiring women when she joined 172 members on the 10th May. She has just stood down as Editor at Large at Channel 4 Television having joined this profession…

CFWI Resolution Meeting 6th May 2021 We were delighted to welcome over 120 members to our virtual resolution meeting. For those of you who were not able to attend here is a brief write up of the evening. And for…

Cheshire Federation names the newest Blood Bike for Shropshire, Staffordshire and Cheshire Blood Bike.                           Helen Bundy – Blood Bikes Co-ordinator writes – SHROPSHIRE, STAFFORDSHIRE AND CHESHIRE BLOOD…

On Thursday the 22nd April at  7.30pm we were delighted to welcome Ruth Rabét – Business Development Director of The Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme Limited. It was a wonderful opportunity to raise awareness and discuss members experiences within their own…

Would you appreciate an opportunity to have fun when entering a Show where your items are not marked but prizes are awarded?  Well, now is your opportunity!  The Federation is holding a virtual free FUN show.  Prizes will be awarded…

Here in Cheshire we have our own CFWI Bee Resolution Mandate. Sybil Graham – Trustee – was heavily involved in the bee resolution/mandate at a national level and attended several events in Parliament and at London conferences on behalf of…

Good Afternoon, I hope this email finds you well. NEW! Me, Myself & WI On behalf of the NFWI Activities Committee, I’m pleased to write and announce details of an exciting new activity taking place in May for WI members…

On Monday the 22nd March we had the pleasure in welcoming Chris Duffin. This meeting produced our highest attended Zoom meeting with 443 Cheshire Federation members attending. As the first female governor into HMP Strangeways and the notorious Dartmoor Prison,…

On Tuesday the 9th March at 7pm for a 7.30pm start we had the pleasure in welcoming Toto James. Toto was co-opted to the Board of Trustees in November 2019. She is also Vice Chairman and a Trustee of Surrey…

Christmas (or any other celebration) Shoe – Zoom Meeting showed us a  way to re-use greetings cards. Fifty eight members watched Tricia gave us hints and tips to work our magic to produce little shoes ideal for Christmas, Easter, Baby…

    On Thursday the 25th February at 7pm for a 7.30 start we had the pleasure in welcoming Katie Awdas talking about Living with Endometriosis. It is thought that around 176 million girls and women suffer from endometriosis worldwide.…

On Wednesday the 10th February at 7pm for a 7.30 start we had the pleasure in welcoming Dr Jackie Bell a Senior Teaching Fellow at Imperial College London and Honorary Fellow of the University of Liverpool Mathematics Department. Having always…

On Thursday the 28th January at 7pm for a 7.30pm start we had the pleasure in welcoming Jacqui Felix- Mitchell – Member of the Chartered Institute of Horticulture and RHS Garden Design Consultancy. Thank you to the 375 members who…

Arts & Crafts Sub-Committee Zoom Workshop – PDF Instructions posted here Bauble – not just for Christmas! MaryAnn Dryer showed 85 members how to make a felt bauble from the comfort of their own homes. Some were following along and…

We were delighted to be able to welcome Julia Fawcett, CEO of The Lowry Theatre to speak to us in December. The Lowry, is the ‘go to’ theatre for many members of the Cheshire Federation. It is one of the…

Helen is a member of Cale Green WI, Stockport, Cheshire Federation On Tuesday the 22nd December Cheshire Federation Trustees we had the pleasure of inviting members to a Christmas Celebration for a musical evening of much needed Christmas merriment with…

Arts & Crafts Sub- Committee Zoom Workshop – PDF Instructions Attached The Roger Bannister of Table Runner On the 1st December 2020  Bev Langham  showed members how to make possibly the fastest sewn table runner. Make as last-minute gifts for…

On Thursday 26th November at 7pm for a 7.30 start we had the pleasure in welcoming Sarah Drew Jones, journalist and editor of WI Life. One hundred and sixty three members attended the event We discovered the reason articles are…

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CHESHIRE FEDERATION. IT IS A OUR 100TH BIRTHDAY!! BEST WISHES TO ALL MEMBERS. HERE IS A VIDEO I MADE TO MARK THIS VERY SPECIAL DAY. JEAN, FEDERATION CHAIRMAN. Jean Harding – Chairman Today is Cheshire Federations Centenary Birthday.…

We had 104 participants at the peak of our federation resolution shortlist discussion meeting tonight. Run by members of our Public Affairs team and other enthusiastic members we had 5 different members present each of the proposed resolutions and then…

On 9th November we had the pleasure in welcoming our next inspirational women, Jen Gale. An author, public speaker with an online following of 50k and a campaigner with kindness for being Sustainable-ish. This is for absolutely anyone who wants…

On Monday 12th October 2020 we  welcomed our next inspirational women, Wendy Mitchell, author of the bestselling book and Richard & Judy selection ‘Somebody I Used to Know’. Highly recommended and definitely uplifting. Workaholic Wendy spent 20 years working for…

On Wednesday 28th October 2020 we had the pleasure in welcoming Dr Ann Featherstone who will be talking to us about ‘A Storm in a Teashop the waitresses’ strike of 1908’ Who knew this happened? At lunch time, 8th April 1908,…

On Tuesday 29th September 2020 we welcomed Susan Slater. Affiliate of the Institute of Tourist Guiding, qualified White Badge for Hampton Court Palace. Leading guided tours of Hampton Court Palace, Guide Lecturer, Hampton Court Palace. Amazing 300 members attended the…

16th September 2020 – Celebrate WI DAY – Lynne Stubbings – NFWI Chair – 16th September 2020          Melissa Green – General Secretary – 16th September 2020    WI DAY 2020 – VIdeo

Denman Closure You will be aware that earlier in the year in order to make Denman  profitable and ready for a wider clientele plans were made for a revamp of the bedrooms. Federations were asked to collect items from  sponsored…

On Wednesday the 16th September we had the pleasure in welcoming Elizabeth Gowing speaking to us direct from Kosovo. Elizabeth is a trained teacher and a travel writer. She has written 5 travel books, 4 about Kosovo and in 2016…

      On Friday 25th October 2019 – 52 members travelled to Denman for a weekend of learning, fun and relaxation. After settling into their room tea and cake was the introduction to the delicious food enjoyed throughout the…

Chester Cathedral Community Cross and WI plaque                                   These pictures show the Community Cross on display in Chester cathedral. Patricia Faraday, Hough WI who…

Jane Parry has highlighted that threat of the Asian Hornet on our local Bees. The aims is to engage the public to download the ‘Asian Hornet Watch’ app onto their phones so they have the information ready to hand to…

Zoom license Unfortunately despite Jason’s valiant efforts, we have not been able to make any progress with Zoom to get an enhanced NFWI-discount code for federation/WI use. Youthful as we are, they reserve their corporate discounts for organisations working directly…

Dear Members, Last month, you will have hopefully received via your Federation a letter from Jeryl Stone and Lynne Stubbings regarding the NFWI Board of Trustees difficult decision to propose the closure of Denman College (dated 21 July 2020). In…

DENMAN AT HOME I would never have had the time, energy or resources to attend 10 Denman courses in as many weeks but that is what Denman at Home has empowered me to do .No travel ,no stress and the…

Ever wondered how your Federation Trustees conduct their Board Meetings? Warm meeting room, coffee and cakes? Or a leaky barn all socially distanced with two Trustees on Zoom. Whilst fulfilling our legal obligations, in not too perfect conditions, it was…

Welcome My name is Melissa Green and I am the General Secretary of the NFWI. I am proud to lead a diverse staff team of around 90 who are based in offices in London, Oxfordshire and Cardiff. I am equally…

We hope that you are all safe and well. We are delighted that ‘Denman at Home’ has allowed many of you to keep in touch with us and benefit from the variety of courses on offer, just delivered a different…

On Tuesday 3rd March twelve teams gathered at Winnington Park Recreation Club to compete in the Federation Darts Competition . After a bit of a hiccup at the beginning as our organiser was stuck on the M56 due to a…

Jean Harding, Federation Chairman welcomed WI members to Winsford Academy and the members sang Jerusalem accompanied by Hilary Totten, Comberbach WI, who played the piano splendidly. Neighbouring Federation Guests from Clwyd-Denbigh, Shropshire and Staffordshire were welcomed alongside Chris Bailey, Margery…

What a day! Weeks of planning and negotiations with the venue certainly paid off. Our trustees and staff arrived early, setting up the sales tables, stage and raffle all before 9am. Everyone was in position to welcome the early arrivals…