About the WI

The Women’s Institute (WI) is the largest women’s organisation in the UK and has 205,000 members in 6500 branches. The WI was formed in Britain in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War. Since then the aims have broadened and the WI celebrated its 90th anniversary in 2005. The WIs were traditionally established in rural communities, however in 2003 a new style of WI opened in North Fulham. There are now over 30 branches of the WI in London and new urban branches of the organisation are opening every week across England and Wales. The WI now provides educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.