Alia el Asmar – CFWI Trustee and Seconder of the NF Resolution
REPORT FOR NFWI AGM MAY 2023 HELD AT ST DAVID’S HALL IN CARDIFF
The meeting opened with St David’s Hall ringing with the sound of 100’s of WI members singing Jerusalem.
After the appointment of officers and tellers, and the adoption of Standing Orders, Ann Jones, NFWI Chair,
gave her address. Membership stands at 180,000 with 21,000 new members joining WIs during last year.
She focussed on the sale of Denman College, with £2.5 million being used to fund education. There will be
free online education and grants available to Federations.
The Treasurer’s report followed showing total income as £10.03 million: –
Total Expenditure – £4.383 million.
Surplus – £5.647 million
Losses in Investments – £68,000
Nett Surplus – £5.570 million
The guest speaker for the morning was Ebony Rainford-Brent MBE. A lively young woman who gave us an
excellent talk on how she became the first black woman to play cricket for England, mentioning how women
including her mum had inspired her throughout her career. She is now a TV/Radio Broadcaster and Director
of Women’s Cricket at Surrey County Cricket Club.
Wendy Morris (R) (Vice Chairman) Enjoying the Carousel
The debate on the Resolution followed with Mr James Wallace, the CEO of River Action UK speaking in
support of the resolution. Mr Alastair Chisholm, an Environmental Policy Professional, opposed the
resolution. Questions from the members during the debate were varied and interesting giving lots of food for
thought. The Resolution result was 84% in favour, 16% against. A well-deserved break for lunch followed.
The afternoon speaker was again a sports person, Professor Laura McAllister CBE, a Welsh academic and
Sports Administrator and also a former international footballer, who gave an in-depth talk about combining a
sports career together with an academic one. Again, inspiring women featured in her talk, and she spoke
about the importance of having the confidence to do what you want.
The afternoon closed with the Chair’s remarks with Ann Jones asking, “what will we need to offer to the
next generation of women?” During 2025 to 2030 the WI has been invited by King Charles to join in a “a
Coronation initiative.” More details later.
The meeting closed with a Friendship Singsong by the members and the usual renditions of the National
Anthem and Land of My Fathers.
The 2024 AGM will be held on June 5th at the Royal Albert Hall.
Ann Booth, Woodford WI
Laura McAllister “If you had told that little girl from Bridgend that she would captain her country in football, I wouldn’t have believed it — but the work we have put in means young girls now believe it, and they can be paid to play football at the top level.”
Women’s Institute pollution campaign a ‘clarion call’ – BBC News