National Federation of WIs
GFWI is one of the county federations which comprise the National Federation of Women's Institutes. NFWI is the largest national organisation for women in the UK with 215,000 members in England, Wales and the Islands. The first Women's Institute was founded at Stoney Creek, Canada in 1897 and the first WI in the UK met in 1915 at Llanfairpwll, North Wales.

The WI is an educational, social, non-party political and non-sectarian organisation, offering women the opportunity of learning, campaigning, friendship and sharing - not just in traditional interests such as arts and crafts but also in the latest developments in IT, health and fitness and science. The ideals of the WI of truth, justice, tolerance and fellowship are as strong and important now in the 21st century as they were at the birth of the WI in 1915. It exists to educate women to enable them to provide an effective role in the community, to expand their horizons and to develop and pass on important skills.

Denman College
The WI is unique in having its own adult education college, Denman College at Marcham in Oxfordshire. Denman College located in an elegant Georgian country house set in 17 acres of landscaped gardens. The college offers members a wide range of courses, which cover cookery to computing, silk painting to silversmithing and also a variety of training courses, which are designed to meet the equip members with the skills to run a WI, such as leadership and public speaking courses. Some courses are accredited. Courses can be from two nights up to a week in length. The college has a wider range of tutors from all over the country who are specialists in their field, many of whom will also travel to individual WIs and groups to run classes locally.

GFWI's Denman Representative is Rosemary Bishton who writes: In the first 6 months of this year 93 of our members have been to Denman College to enjoy a course of their choice. Here's just a small selection of the interesting things they did: The Village School in History and Literature ,Bread Machines, French Conversation, Gentle Yoga, Ballroom Dancing, Watercolours, Exploring in the Vale of the White Horse, Taking Better Photographs, Practical Gardening, Health and Fitness, Ikebana, Alexander Technique...

Here is a recent quote from a talented singer who found just the tuition she wanted at Denman. "What a superb weekend break I've had. A beautiful country house in glorious surroundings, a luxury en-suite room all to myself, excellent food, entertaining company, and expert tuition on my favourite subject. All this, and it didn't cost me a penny. Yes, I was the lucky winner of my institute's Denman bursary."

WI bursaries and Group Bursaries are available singly but several WIs have been successful in obtaining grants for all of their members through "Awards for All". It's such good value, others are just happy to finance themselves!

The Federation Weekend 21-23 April 2006 is now booking. Email Rosemary or ring her on 01242 677290 for more details.

Membership Communication System
MCS is NFWI's online database which holds details of WI members throughout the country. All WIs in Gloucestershire have appointed a representative to maintain their members' details on MCS and already more than half of GFWI's 6,000 members have been added.

Logon to MCS [NOTE: Only WI representatives authorised to use MCS can access the system]

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