HISTORY OF THE WOMEN'S INSTITUTE
The Women's Institute (WI) was formed in 1915 to revitalise rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.
Since then the organisation's aims have broadened and the WI is now the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK.
The WI celebrated it's centenary in 2015 and currently has almost 220,000 members in approximately 6,300 WI's.
The WI plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities, the chance to build new skills to enable them to provide an effective role in the community and to expand their horizons. It gives women the opportunity to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them, their communities and the wider environment. It enables women to turn their interests into achievements and their concerns into campaigns.
The WI has an unrivalled reputation as a voice of reason, integrity and intelligence on issues that matter to women and their communities. The WI campaigns on a wide range of social and environmental justice issues concerning women, at home and abroad.
The ideals of the WI of truth, justice, tolerance and fellowship are as strong and important today as they were at the birth of the WI over a century ago.
Loders WI is a member of the Dorset Federation of Women's Institutes (DFWI).
Dorset County Office is located at County House,
18 Crown Street West,
Poundbury,
Dorchester DT1 3DW.
Telephone 01305 266366.
