The Women's Institute

What is The Women’s Institute

The National Federation of Women’s Institutes (NFWI) was formed in the UK in 1915 to help encourage women to provide agricultural support to rural communities that were struggling as a result of the First World War.

By the time members passed the first resolution in 1918, there were already 12,000 members in 700 Women’s Institutes (WI) scattered across the country.

Today, there are almost 220,000 members in approximately 6,300 WIs and the campaigns have broadened significantly, addressing a whole host of contemporary social issues that directly affect member’s communities.

Current key campaigns include Make Time for Mental Health, Time to Talk about Organ Donation, and More Midwives, which aims to combat the chronic shortage of midwives in the UK.

Royal Ties

Queen Mary invited Madge Watt, founder of the first Women’s Institute (WI) in Great Britain, to form a WI at Sandringham, and the Queen became its President. This tradition was followed by future members of the Royal family. HM Queen Elizabeth II became a WI member in 1943 when she was still Princess Elizabeth; her Mother was President of Sandringham WI. Her Majesty The Queen is still President of Sandringham WI. HRH The Countess of Wessex, HRH The Duchess of Cornwall, and Princess Anne are members as well.