About the Women's InstituteOur movement offers women of all ages and backgrounds a chance to come together to share experiences, to tackle social isolation and build community cohesion. We support women to learn and develop new skills, building confidence and improving physical and mental well being. We empower women to use their voice individually and collectively to achieve real changes on the issues that matter to them.
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Littleport WI's CharacterOur group here in Littleport strives to create an inclusive environment, welcoming and supporting all women and will endeavour to respond to individual member's needs. We pride ourselves on being friendly, cheerful and welcoming. There is always someone to talk to, laugh with and share life's ups and downs.
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Our Resolutions for 2024The current WI Resolution is:
Clean Rivers for People and Wildlife. The resolution for 2024 is currently being discussed by all WI's. |
A Message from our President - Maggie McGowen
I am currently the President of Littleport WI.
I would like to share a little bit about myself and my experience of the Women's Institute. My family moved to Littleport in 1981 from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, but I originate from Market Drayton in Shropshire. For six years I assisted with Littleport Cub Scout group but wanted to become more involved with the village so, along with a friend, joined Littleport WI in 1987. We were warmly greeted with open arms and I was soon seconded to the WI's concert party. This was an annual musical extravaganza, raising money for cancer research and also entertaining members of various care homes at Christmas time. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
The monthly meeting of the WI had a variety of speakers, some interesting, others not so, but they were good social events whereby I got to know the local ladies. Each year our group raised money for our own funds by making cakes and sandwiches for the yearly Littleport show on High Field, now a large housing development. We were up there all day from 8.00 am until it closed at 5.00 pm serving refreshments from the cricket pavilion. Some years the weather was kind to us, others perhaps not! There was one year when I arrived in wellington boots and shorts. Everyone laughed but at the end of the day I was the only one with clean dry feet!
Moving to the present time, many things have changed in Littleport, but, what hasn't changed is the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of Littleport WI.
Littleport WI is part of the Isle of Ely Federation, which is in turn part of the bigger National Federation of Women's Institutes. The Isle of Ely Federation arranges larger meetings twice a year so that all members are able to meet ladies from other local WI groups. These meetings include speakers and "Try it" days . The National Federation holds an annual meeting inviting all WIs to send a delegate to attend. These meetings are usually held at large conference centres, including The Royal Albert Hall and the NEC at Birmingham.
I would like to share a little bit about myself and my experience of the Women's Institute. My family moved to Littleport in 1981 from Aylesbury in Buckinghamshire, but I originate from Market Drayton in Shropshire. For six years I assisted with Littleport Cub Scout group but wanted to become more involved with the village so, along with a friend, joined Littleport WI in 1987. We were warmly greeted with open arms and I was soon seconded to the WI's concert party. This was an annual musical extravaganza, raising money for cancer research and also entertaining members of various care homes at Christmas time. We thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
The monthly meeting of the WI had a variety of speakers, some interesting, others not so, but they were good social events whereby I got to know the local ladies. Each year our group raised money for our own funds by making cakes and sandwiches for the yearly Littleport show on High Field, now a large housing development. We were up there all day from 8.00 am until it closed at 5.00 pm serving refreshments from the cricket pavilion. Some years the weather was kind to us, others perhaps not! There was one year when I arrived in wellington boots and shorts. Everyone laughed but at the end of the day I was the only one with clean dry feet!
Moving to the present time, many things have changed in Littleport, but, what hasn't changed is the friendly, welcoming atmosphere of Littleport WI.
Littleport WI is part of the Isle of Ely Federation, which is in turn part of the bigger National Federation of Women's Institutes. The Isle of Ely Federation arranges larger meetings twice a year so that all members are able to meet ladies from other local WI groups. These meetings include speakers and "Try it" days . The National Federation holds an annual meeting inviting all WIs to send a delegate to attend. These meetings are usually held at large conference centres, including The Royal Albert Hall and the NEC at Birmingham.