Copies are available from Alma House - payment by cheque/card/cash or download order form here

we can post or deliver to an event you are attending

_____________________________________________________________________

Spring Council Wednesday 22nd April 2026

Tennants Leyburn DL8 5SG

Minutes of the 2025 meeting can be downloaded here in pdf form

_____________________________________________________________________

WI Bulb Catalogue 2026

The catalogues and order forms have been issued to each WI in the March Mailing  - orders forms to be sent to Alma House by 29th May 2026

Download the catalogue and booking form here.

_____________________________________________________________________

National Federation of Women’s Institutes updates membership rules in light of Supreme Court judgment

In April, the Supreme Court in the UK ruled that the legal definition of a woman under the Equality Act (2010) refers only to biological sex. Since the ruling, we have reviewed our long-held practice and membership policy to ensure we are compliant with the law. Today (Wednesday, 3 December), we have announced we can no longer legally offer formal membership to transgender women in light of this judgment. However, we will bring forward programmes to continue to extend fellowship, sisterhood, and support to transgender women. Read our full statement below from CEO Melissa Green:

It is with the utmost regret and sadness that we must announce that, from April 2026, we can no longer offer formal membership to transgender women. As an organisation that has proudly welcomed transgender women into our membership for more than 40 years, this is not something we would do unless we felt that we had no other choice.

To be able to continue operating as the Women’s Institute - a legally recognised women’s organisation and charity - we must act in accordance with the Supreme Court’s judgment and restrict formal membership to biological women only. However, this change is only in respect to our membership policy and does not change our firm belief that transgender women are women.

We know that many of our members will find this decision extremely painful. We have been actively seeking alternative ways - outside of formal membership - of continuing to extend fellowship, sisterhood, and support to transgender women, who have been such an important part of our WI family.

In April 2026, we will be launching a national network of local WI Sisterhood groups, which will offer monthly opportunities for all people, including transgender women, to come together to socialise, learn from each other, and share their experiences of living as women.

Our activity outside of formal membership has always and will continue to play a vital role in creating welcoming spaces where all women can come together to learn, share ideas, and work together to improve lives in our communities. We remain absolutely committed to delivering on that mission.

see answers to queries here

Please see link official press release here

Facebook announcement in person by Jeryl Stone

WI Lottery launched - Sept 2024

National Federation launched its lottery on 16 September—please see page 35 of the September edition of WI Life and the booking form for the Lottery Workshop on 19th November at Alma House or via Zoom, from 2-4 pm and 7-9pm. Booking form is in the mailing or download a Word copy here or  download a PDF copy here.

You can also purchase ticket here - remember to choose either your own WI, North Yorkshire West Federation or NFWI as "your good cause" to receive 60p of your ticket.

WI Learning Hub - Formerly Denman On-Line

The WI Learning Hub is accessible to all WI Members and a lot of course are FREE provided that your email address is registered on the MCS. Below is information provided by NFWI on up and coming courses and also how to use this resource which is part of your membership.

Learning Hub Information

WI Learning Hub - Upcoming Courses

Bank Questionaires

Barclays Bank  and others may follow are sending out questionaires for completion regarding WI Bank Accounts. This is part of their complaince to banking regulations designed to ensure bank accounts are not being used for Money Laundering or Criminal Activity.

You need to complete these - if you have any queries please contact Hazel Smyth Federation Treasurer