Tickenham WI, started in 1926, is a friendly group of ladies of all ages. It has about 40 members who live in Tickenham and the surrounding area including Portishead, Nailsea and Clevedon. Tickenham WI meets in the Village Hall on the 2nd Tuesday in the month at 2.15pm.
The Village Hall has its own carpark and has a side entrance suitable for those with mobility issues. We welcome visitors so if you would like to ‘test’ the water, come along to one of our meetings and see if you would like to join us.
Tickenham WI has an active calendar of monthly meetings, outings and attending events. Our recent outings have included going to the Royal Mint, near Cardiff; having a boat trip from Exmouth and visiting Topsham. We’ve also been to Lacock village and Abbey – the home of our new Queen.
Tickenham WI is part of a large organisation which comprises Groups and Federations. Groups are a small number of local WIs which join together to hold events. Tickenham WI belongs to the Yeo Valley Group and we’ve had the opportunity to attend curling evenings, boat trips, visits to places like Cardiff or the American Museum in Bath or Kilver Court, near Shepton Mallet.
Many groups join together to form Federations. These are geographical areas, similar to counties. The Yeo Valley Group is part of Avon Federation, which covers an area of North Somerset, Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire. Avon Federation also arranges events such as John Lewis Christmas Shopping Event, a trip to Hinkley Point Power Station, and excursions such as going on the Gloucestershire and Warwickshire Steam Railway followed by a cream tea.
In turn, all the Federations are part of the National Federation of Women’s Institutes.
From the main WI site:
The WI is a unique organisation shaped by its members. In 1915, we set out to give women a voice and to be a force for good in the community. Since then, our members and our ambitions alike have grown tremendously. Today, we are the largest women’s organisation in the UK and we pride ourselves on being a trusted place for all women of all generations, to share experiences and learn from each other. A WI membership offers the opportunity to meet women in your local area in-person and virtually, to make friends and make a difference in your community. We campaign nationally on a wide range of issues and provide life-long learning and self-development opportunities for women in England and Wales.