Latest News

What a fantastic event.  Hope you enjoy looking at the amazing entries and a very small proportion of the people who made it happen. Thank you so much to the Cheshire Show Committee, all the sub committees, the volunteers across…

Here are some reflective notes about the event from one of our members in the Federation.  It was a fantastic experience sharing the day with so many women with one thing in common – The WI Our WI is part…

Message from NFWI We are pleased to share with you the updated WI Handbook 2022. You will find a summary of the updates at section 15. These are: Section 1: The number of WIs has been reduced from 6,000 to…

  5th April 2022 Hello everyone We are so pleased to announce the appointment of our new Federation Secretary. Her name is Karen Monks and she has started work in the Chester Office today – Tuesday, 5th April 2022. Some…

Me, Myself and WI 9th – 15th May 2022 Supporting your own mental and physical health is incredibly important. As life goes back to ‘normal’ it’s easy to feel over whelmed.  Everyone reacts differently and changes in the way that…

    CHESHIRE FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTES   MINUTES OF THE ANNUAL COUNCIL MEETING   The Woodford Centre, Chester Road, Woodford SK7 1PS Saturday 19th March 2022   Before the meeting started, Members were advised of the usual safety notices…

CHESHIRE FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTES BOARD OF TRUSTEES 2022/24 Dear Presidents/Secretaries I am delighted to announce your next Federation Chairman is Selina Prescott and I know she will take Cheshire Federation forward successfully as she is hardworking and keen to…

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…

On Wednesday 26thJanuary 7pm for 7:30pm start we had the pleasure in welcoming Joanne Goodwin, Editor of Cheshire Life. Joanne learned to read, aged five, by picking out the words in her grandmother’s Woman magazine. Joanne started her career as…

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…

  If you attended the excellent demonstration on the 16th November. You may be interested to have a go yourself. Norma did an excellent job.   Instructions for Dorset Buttons

To make a mug hug Here are some simple instructions to make some of your Christmas gifts. I have written 2 patterns just as you would find them in a pattern book and listed what the abbreviations mean below. So…

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…

Final Resolutions Shortlist 2021/22 Following the NFWI Resolution Shortlist Selection meeting on 5th October 2021, here is the final shortlist chosen by member and federation delegates. Each member has one vote which needs to be returned to the Federation Resolutions…

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…

On Monday 4th October we welcomed 63 members to our first virtual literary lunch. We enjoyed having a lovely chat whilst eating a variety of lunches including radish leaves, salads and soup and one member even joined us doing her…

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…

Thank you for all those who completed the Membership Survey in 2020. We found that 73.5% of the respondents found the majority of their information from both the Cheshire News and 86.63% from their own WIs.  However, we are aware…

Did you join the Arts and Craft Sub-Committee for the first in a series of workshops to help get you started to knit? Don’t worry if you didn’t make it there is still time to join in.  Try and follow…

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…

Tricia Jones helped 36 women to make a thread catcher last night using things found around the home.  Well you might need to eat a few Pringles to start with! What great fun was had by all! Some of the…

Thank you for all those who completed the Membership Survey in 2020. We found that 73.5% of the respondents found the majority of their information from both the Cheshire News and 86.63% from their own WIs.  However, we are aware…

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 Wednesday the 28th April at 7.30pm start we were delighted to welcome Claire Birkenshaw. Claire taught in secondary schools during her 26-year teaching career culminating in the role of principal at an Alternative Provision Academy where she has gained…

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…

On Wednesday the 21st April at  1.15pm  we were delighted to welcome Sue Kendall for our first lunch time session. Seventy six members  ate their lunch and chattered prior to the start whilst waiting to be entertained. Sue responded to…

On Wednesday the 14th April we had the pleasure in welcoming 348 members to listen to Kirsty Murphy the world’s first, and only, female Red Arrows pilot. Photos courtesy of Kirsty Murphy She is as much at home in the…

Susan Leicester presented a number of ways to upcycle a wool sweater  in an entertaining and at times hilarious way to 68 members. Everyone seemed to have a great time with lots of ideas  to get crafting and upcycling as…

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…

On Wednesday the 13th January we have the pleasure in welcoming Clare Pooley. Over 200 members joined us to be inspired by Clare’s story from alcoholism and breast cancer. She was honest and upbeat.  The Q & A was wonderful…

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…