The Women's Institute and Brackley WI
Brackley WI is part of the largest and most influential voluntary organisation in the United Kingdom.
In 1897 Mrs Adelaide Hoodless from Stoney Creek, Canada, started meetings for women in her local rural community. She believed that through her own ignorance of domestic hygiene, her young child had died. Some years later a Canadian member Mrs Madge Watt came to assist in setting up WI groups in the U.K. and the first meeting was held in 1915, in North Wales. The foundation of the organisation in learning and sharing to improve the quality of life is as important today as it ever was.
The Brackley Women's Institute was first formed in 1918. Beatrice Cartwright CBE was the founder member, she was also the first female mayor of Brackley. We meet the 2nd Monday of the month in the WI and Girl Guide Hall in Manor Road. Our present ages range from 30-90 years, anyone over 18 years can join. We have a variety of speakers at our meetings as well as some social time. The meetings have created a variety of satellite groups for members including poetry, craft, knitting, book clubs, film club and a lunch club. Our charity efforts include knitting twiddle muffs for patients with dementia, we have made dresses which were sent to 3rd world countries, providing cakes for patients and visitors at Cynthia House hospice and we support the Associated Country Women of the World with donations towards Water Aid. Locally we support and are involved in the Soapbox Derby, Brackley Carnival, the Beer Festival, the Santa Sleigh and the Remembrance Day parade.
The WI is a non-sectarian and non-party political organisation. It is a social and educational organisation offering women the opportunity for fun, friendship, and working together to improve the quality of life and enable the development of individual skills and talents while having the support of others. We are one of the few organisations that are predominantly for women, with no affiliation to any men's organisations.