FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve gathered the most common questions about joining and participating in the WI to help you get started with ease.
Whether you’re curious about membership, events, or what to expect, our FAQ section has the answers you need to feel confident and welcome in our community.
What is the Women's Institute (WI)?
The Women’s Institute (WI) is a community-based organisation for women primarily in the United Kingdom but also established in other countries such as Canada, New Zealand, and South Africa.
Founded in 1915, the WI aims to offer women educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, take part in a wide variety of activities, and campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.
Members of the WI meet regularly, often monthly, to enjoy talks, demonstrations, and workshops in a wide range of subjects, such as arts and crafts, sciences, health, cooking, and more. The organisation also plays a strong role in advocating for social issues, contributing to community projects, and promoting personal growth among its members.
The WI is known for its motto “Inspiring women,” highlighting its commitment to enabling women to learn, develop, and pass on new skills, all within a supportive and fun environment.
What is the Anchor Group WI?
How do I join?
We would love for you to join us!
Simply turn up to one of the meetings and we will take care of everything! We will ask you to complete a membership form so we have your personal details. You will be asked to pay the full fee on the night (see below for costings), but please be aware that most WIs do not have a card machine so you will require to pay cash or BACS.
If you wish to pay in advance, most WIs will also email you a membership form for you to complete and send back with your BACS payment, meaning you will be a fully paid-up member on the night! Then the fun begins!
Can I have a trial?
Yes! You can attend any WI as a visitor!
Some WIs charge a small visitor fee, and for some, the first meeting is free! We encourage you to “try before you buy” and visit several WIs to see which one best suits you, as they are all so different!
In some WIs, you can attend the first one free, and then the next visit has a small visitor charge. However, after the second visit, it is hoped that you will join, as we are a membership organisation after all!
What is the cost and how long is the membership?
The annual membership fee is £48. Yes! we know that this is incredible value!
If you join during the year, the membership fees are calculated on a pro-rata basis as follows:
| April, May, June | £48 |
| July, August, Sept, | £36 |
| October, November, December | £24 |
| January, February & March | £12 |
Please note that membership fees are subject to a slight annual increase each April.
What is included in my membership?
There are so many fabulous things included!
On a basic level, all WIs have 11 monthly meetings a year (as some WIs do not meet in August), but the reality is that the majority do meet all year round. Please check each individual WI page for more details.
The “meeting nights” are more like a night out with friends so friendship is most definitely a big thing!
Each WI has a published programme, so you will know what to expect on the night. Many WIs have subgroups—additional meet-ups for areas of interest such as crafting, book clubs, theatre trips, coffee meet-ups, and much more!
We are part of the Warwickshire Federation, which always runs fantastic talks, trips, and events that you can choose to access (*charges apply).
In addition to all of this is full and free access to the Learning Hub!
Can I join more than one local WI?
You certainly can! We call this “dual membership”, but in reality, you can join as many as you wish and have time for! The bonus here is that you do not pay full membership on your subsequent dual memberships.
Let’s just say you join two WIs in April. You will pay £48 for your primary membership and £23.60 to join the second WI. The £23.60 fee is the same regardless of how many additional ones you join or when in the year you join, as this is not subject to pro-rata.
How long does a WI meeting last?
Most WI meetings start at 7:30 p.m. and last approximately 2.5 hours. Each WI runs things slightly differently, so check their page to see their timings.
Your annual membership covers the basic monthly meetings.
Do I have to attend all the local WI meetings and events?
No! Not at all! You are free to get involved in as much or as little as you wish or your circumstances allow.
We know that some women have busy lives and commitments and can only occasionally join for meetings – this is amazing, and you will be made very welcome.
However, if you have more capacity and want to access more, you will find so many opportunities to do so!
Is there a dress code?
No, as long as you are comfortable we don’t care!
Will I have to spend any other money?
Not if you don’t want too. All WIs have a raffle but you do not need to participate if you don’t want too.
Do you have subgroups such as craft, cooking or book club?
Yes! Each WI is uniquely different, including what it offers. Across the Anchor WI which currently has 9 local WIs, there are many different subgroups, such as craft groups, book clubs, theatre trips, quilting groups, coffee meet-ups, pudding clubs, choirs, and other pop-up groups! These are all optional and are for the members to decide which subgroups they would like to attend in addition to the main meeting.
Check out the pages of our 9 local WIs and see what they have to offer – then go along and see what you think!
What is the Learning Hub?
It is an online learning platform that can be accessed on a computer or mobile phone. It offers WI members free courses, demonstrations, talks, and learning opportunities in a range of subjects—click here to find out more!
Am I too young for the WI as I heard WI is only for old ladies or something you join when you retire?
Absolutely not!! The WI is for all women from 18 years old! It is sad that the media seems to portray us as an organisation that is all “Jam and Jerusalem” and is aimed at older ladies.
Now, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the WIs that have older membership demographics, as they have such a huge amount of support, wisdom, and experience to offer – as well as lots of fun.
However, most WIs have a wide range of ages—from 18 to 80! The beauty of the WI is that it is inclusive and supports all women.
We are actively encouraging younger ladies to join us to dispel these myths!
I’m a hesitant to join as I won’t know anyone, how will I feel welcome?
In each of our WIs we have a greeter who will welcome you straight away and help to navigate you through the meeting. They will show you where to get a drink from, or where the bathroom is so everything on the evening is clear.
The WI’s principle is Fun, Friendship, and Education, and the Friendship element is very important to us. Therefore, we try very hard to ensure there are no cliques in our meetings and that they are warm, supportive, and kind spaces to access.
If you are worried about attending, please feel free to email or message the local WI you wish to visit and you can communicate with a committee member who will allay your fears and can arrange to meet you outside the venue and walk in with you.
We will do what we can to give you the confidence to come along.
What if I have a problem?
You can speak to the greeter or anyone on the committee who will be happy to help you.
I am a transgender woman, will I be made welcome or turned away?
You will be welcomed! The WI has welcomed transgender women (those living their lives as a woman) since 1976! Which illustrates what an inclusive and progressive organisation the WI is!
Can I cancel my membership and get a refund?
No, there are no refunds if you are unable to make the meetings. The membership would not be cancelled, it would just run out at the end of the year.