Activities

Discover more about the activities of the Women’s Institutes of Northern Ireland.

We are proud of our heritage but it is not all knitting, baking and flower arranging

We have a diverse range of events with connection, support and celebration of our members at the heart of everything we do. From raising awareness of issues facing women and children, to encouraging new writers or campaigning for our green spaces there is an activity for everyone.

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Annual Events

Annual General Meeting (AGM) in March

ACWW ‘Women Walk the World’ in April

Balmoral Show in May

City of Belfast Autumn Fair in September with displays of our member’s work.

Autumn Council Meeting (ACM) and ‘International Day’ / World Rural Women’s Day in October

The Christmas Event in November/December

Other Activities

In addition to our annual events the six Sub-Committees organise wide-ranging programmes of activities, festivals and competitions throughout the year. Committees are members with a shared interest drawn from Area Groups.

Should you want to know more about any of the Sub-Committees please contact Federation House where the staff will be happy to forward your enquiry.

Activities Gallery

provides opportunities for members to showcase their creativity through annual Music, Drama and Spoken Word Festivals. Members artistic talents are encouraged through One Day Schools offering tuition in painting, calligraphy, 3D decoupage and parchment craft. Their work is exhibited regularly.

May brings one of the biggest events on the WI calendar - Balmoral Show - and the opportunity to showcase our organisation to the wider public. The Balmoral Sub-Committee organises the WI's presence at this popular fundraising and promotional event. The famous WI “Tea Room” is the place to sit down for a cup of tea with a scone and a traybake: visitors can buy homemade WI produce from the market stall, view and purchase members’ craft and art work, view the competition displays of floral arrangements, home baking and homecrafts.

organises classes, workshops, exhibitions at WI and public events, competitions, awards and a very popular annual residential Homecraft Weekend, providing the opportunity for members to share their own skills, learn about a variety of crafts and keep many traditional crafts alive.

encourages home skills and organises workshops, festivals and competitions to promote them. Their main events are the Biennial Festival of Food and Flowers, the Christmas Event and the City of Belfast Autumn Flower Show. In addition, this Committee assists the Young Farmers’ Clubs of Ulster with its Home Management Competition.  It is also oversees the WI Against Climate Change campaign.

is responsible for keeping members informed about international activities within the Federation including the continuing work of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW). Members raise money on an annual basis to go towards worthwhile projects chosen by the ACWW Projects Committee.  In particular, 'Women Walk the World' and theInternational Day/ World Rural Women’s Day are the two main events used for gaining funds. Donations raised go to the ACWW Rural Women in Action Fund.

Together with the Magazine Editor, this Committee is responsible for gathering, contributing, evaluating and agreeing on material to be included in each edition of the WI's official magazine - the Ulster Countrywoman. It also ensures compliance with advertising standards.

The Committee encourages and welcomes articles, reports, book reviews, poems, photographs, quizzes, jokes and puzzles, etc. from each and every WI Institute or individual member.

A wide range of workshops, competitions and tournaments are also within the remit of this Committee encompassing scrapbook making, photography, poetry writing, golf, bowls, quiz, story writing, magazine cover, and best original article.

Every WI member is encouraged to take part in any or all of these activities.

Institutes

Institute meetings take place once a month. Elected Institute Committees organise wide-ranging programmes of events which may include guest speakers, demonstrators, hands-on crafts, games nights or in-house entertainment with drama, dance or song. Every meeting provides a welcoming environment with the opportunity to make and meet with friends and have a cup of tea and a chat. Apart from participating in their Area and Federation events many Institutes will be involved in local community activities. Some Institutes have a particular interest – craft, drama, choirs etc. and many organise activities such as walking, bowling, exercise and even more recently for some adventurous members – wild swimming. Annually there is a dinner and an outing or coach trip.

 

Competitions

The WI is for every woman! Some members choose not to take part in competitions; indeed, many women do not partake in perceived stereotypical domestic activities. Many members however take great pleasure in baking, art and handicrafts, etc. and for some competition has always been part of the WI, be it at agricultural shows or at Federation events, submitting their work for judging, taking pride in their personal achievements and bringing that acclaim to their Institute and Area.

Annual competitions for golf, bowls and table quizzes are organised at Federation level as are the annual Music Festival and Festival of the Spoken Word. These events provide a great opportunity for members from throughout the country to meet up and socialise as well as compete against each other. It’s the taking part that counts!

Campaigns

 

Human Trafficking: the deception, movement and exploitation of people for profit. Frighteningly, this happens in Northern Ireland where people are trafficked into, out of and around our country.

 Drumbeg proposes that all the Women’s Institutes in Northern Ireland are made aware that this evil exists here and of how to act as the eyes and ears of our community, recognising the signs of trafficking and bringing them to the attention of the PSNI.

Awareness leads to action and action leads to change.

This resolution, proposed by Drumbeg WI and supported by Upper Finaghy WI, was passed at the AGM, in March 2019 and work started on training members to visit Institutes and Areas to create the awareness of this terrible practice. Unfortunately, it stalled due to the pandemic but will be running again soon.

Climate change is happening and rapidly and it affects us all, so we should be actively doing something to stop it or at least slow it down. It is time for the WI to take action. So, Home and Garden Sub-Committee, with the approval of the

Executive, is spear heading a project to fight climate change The WI Against Climate which will be carried out in two parts:

  • All the Institutes will be asked to encourage and advise its members on how to reduce their carbon emissions
  • Plant a Tree for our Future

Awareness leads to action and action leads to change.

Plant a Tree for our Future in 2022, with the co-operation of the Woodland Trust, over 8,200 trees were planted by members throughout Northern Ireland.

Reduce Carbon Emissions Members are urged to look at their life style to cut down their carbon emission. Every one can do something no matter how small, it all adds up. Institutes are being encouraged to appoint Green Champions.

 

 

 

 

 

The Northern Ireland Executive directed that a Strategy to End Violence Against Women and Girls be developed. At the 2023 AGM, the FWINI Executive Committee proposed that FWINI, as the largest women’s organisation in NI, actively support the NI Executive with the actions identified by this strategy.  The motion was passed by the membership.  In July 2023 the strategy went out to consultation.  FWINI is now engaging with the NI Executive to ensure that members participate in the consultation and to see how we can best support the strategy once complete. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the 2023 AGM, Moneyrea WI proposed the following motion, “To allow refugees and asylum seekers permission to work during the asylum process in NI.  The skills and talents of asylum seekers could be used to enable them to contribute to the labour market. “.  The motion was seconded by Newtownbreda WI.  The motion was passed and FWINI is joining other organisations and people in this important campaign.     

“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.”