About Us

Discover more about the Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland our mission, and our history.

The Federation of Women's Institutes of Northern Ireland

The Women’s Institute is the largest non-political and non-sectarian organisation for women in Northern Ireland.

WI members are everyday women of all ages and backgrounds involved in extraordinary activities from local campaigns to national issues. The WI gives women like you an opportunity to change the world around you.

Our Mission

“To unite in promoting any work which makes for the betterment of our homes, and the development and improvement of rural and urban life through social and educational activities.”

Structure

We have a Chairwoman and an Executive Committee of talented, committed women who look after our strategies, accounts and development. Our Executive Members are elected from the membership and many contribute skills from their careers and life experience. Our leadership caretakes and supports all the Institutes in the Federation.

Honorary President

047 Lady Anthony Hamilton Headshot

Lady Anthony Hamilton

FWINI Executive Officers 2021-2024

Introducing Your Executive Officers
Brenda

Brenda Richardson

Chair

Rosemary McAllister

Vice Chair

Web Sheelagh McRandal Lagan Area Executive Member

Sheelagh McRandal

Treasurer

Charity Commission for Northern Ireland

The WINI is a registered charity and so all our constituent Institutes are also registered.

History

Women’s Institutes originated in Canada in 1897 with the aim of bringing women together, providing them with educational opportunities and the chance to make a difference in their communities.  The concept spread to the United Kingdom (England and Wales est.1915 and Scotland est.1917) and following the formation of the first Institute in Northern Ireland in Garvagh in 1932 a significant number of institutes came into being in the 1930’s.  There are also WIs in South Africa and New Zealand.

During the Second World War, the Ministry of Food put its scheme for the Preservation of Fruit into the hands of the Women’s Institute and by the end of the war the sense of community engendered in working together for the war effort ensured that the organisation was embraced by rural women and the number of institutes grew significantly. Plans for a Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland were put into effect and the Constitution was drawn up in 1942. The strong foundations laid down then, with great emphasis on the strictly non-political, non-sectarian aspect of the movement has provided a sound base upon which The Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland continues to operate.

History Timeline

Miss Dorothea Macausland established the first Northern Irish Women’s Institute in Garvagh, Co. Londonderry
First newsletter published (which later became Ulster Countrywoman magazine)
Full time organiser appointed
Federation formed
First AGM, presided by the Duchess of Abercorn
Countrywoman's Song composed
Executive Committee elected on County basis Song composed
Miss Macausland Honorary Life Membership of Executive Committee
Federation logo/badge designed
First Cookery Book Published
Fund set up to purchase headquarters
Chairmans's chain of office presented by Allied Irish Banks
Federation House purchased
First Handbook published
Working group set up to realign Areas
22 Area Groups in operation
Handbook revised
Extension to Headquarters opened
Hosted ACWW European Area Conference
75th Anniversary
80th Anniversary
Registration with Charity Commission
Handbook revised
Membership survey undertaken
Ulster History Circle Blue Plaque commemorating Dorothea Macausland erected at St Paul’s Church Garvagh
Covid-19 Pandemic & Lockdown
Publication of Membership Survey Report
90th Anniversary
1932
1935
1936
1942
1942
1949
1949
1950
1951
1963
1971
1976
1978
1978
1978
1984
1978
1978
1996
2007
2012
2016
2019
2019
2020
2020-2021
2021
2022

"When women come together they are both feisty and fun"

The Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW)

The WINI is an active constituent member of The Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW), which is an International Non-Governmental Organisation, registered with the United Nations, that pursues its charitable objectives, the relief of poverty, the relief of sickness and the protection and preservation of heath and the advancement of education, through its member societies, individual members and networks of other non-member Non-Governmental Organisations.

The Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) works with rural women globally.  It engages with, and advocates for, women at local, national and international levels. The Federation of Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland (FWINI) is affiliated to ACWW.

 ACWW is involved with the funding of grassroots development projects, created in partnership with local women, many of whom are members of their worldwide network. The projects respond to community needs, women-led, working with rural communities. ACWW makes use of its knowledge and experience, along with the valuable expertise of local women who know exactly what their communities require, to develop projects that lead to major changes within their communities.

Three priorities are addressed for funding:

  1. Climate Smart Agriculture
  2. Rural Women’s Health
  3. Education and Community Development.

Northern Ireland has always played an active role in the organisation of ACWW. In 1996, it hosted the European Area Conference, Hilda Stewart (Randalstown WI) was Deputy World President from 1996-8 and World President from 1998-2004. Margaret McMillan (Mosside WI) was European Area President from 2016 to her tragic death in 2018.

Currently Edwina Marr (Downpatrick WI) is Acting Chair of the ACWW Projects Committee, Margaret Broome (Seaforde WI) is Vice-Chair of the ACWW United Nations Committee and Pamela Brown (Ballywalter WI) serves on the ACWW Finance & Membership Committee.