Welcome to Ash-with-Westmarsh WI
Ash with Westmarsh WI
A warm welcome from Ash with Westmarsh WI.
We are a flourishing group with 40 members and still growing. Newcomers to our village and outlying areas have turned up to a meeting and joined in order to ‘get to know people’ – some stay; some move on – we always welcome new members. Members have the opportunity to make friends, learn new skills and generally have fun. We place a great emphasis on friendship and fun.
History of Ash with Westmarsh WI:
Ash with Westmarsh WI was formed 18 February 1946 in the aftermath of the World War II when both food and clothing plus other staples were still rationed and life generally rather grim. Horizons for rural based women were limited and there was NO TELEVISION for entertainment! So they made their own with country dancing, short plays and singing as well as learning new skills and widening their horizons with interesting speakers at the monthly meetings. Over the 78 years, Ash with Westmarsh WI has become fully embedded in village life, as well as looking at the bigger national picture by getting involved when possible with campaigns run by National Federation pf WIs – every little helps!
The Monthly meeting:
Ash with Westmarsh WI meets on the second Thursday of every month at Ash village hall, Queens Road, Ash Canterbury CT3 2BG. Meetings start at 2.30. Each month we have a different speaker/activity on a wide range of subjects reflecting the interests of our members, which hopefully leaves us all better educated on current/up to date happenings and then there is a short business meeting. This is followed by our social time with refreshments and a great deal of chat. And we finish off the afternoon with the famous WI raffle!
Outside of the monthly meetings other activities take place for members to take part in until we meet again.
Programme for 2023:
Additional Activities:
Knit and Natter group meets monthly working on various projects for charities or their own projects.
Weekly Wednesday walking Group – Alternative short or long walks each week mostly using the local footpaths in Ash and further afield with a pit stop for coffee.
Monthly scrabble Group who enjoy endless games of spelling esoteric words!
Monthly lunch club frequents local eateries.
We also have social get together throughout the year - summer BBQ, autumn soup and social lunch, a Christmas meal and various outings.
We take an active part in the WI Wingham Group where local WIs meet up twice a year and hold an annual Carol Concert.
Members can also belong to the local WI Guilds.
We take an active part in the local community supporting the community monthly coffee mornings and running an annual Quiz.
Regular collections are made for the local Foodbank.
We support Associated Country Women of the World by raising money to help women in the third world countries to start up small businesses to support and feed children.
Campaigns both local & National
In the past Ash with Westmarsh WI has been involved locally with the campaign to get the Ash Bypass and more recently to prevent Kent CC closing our small but well used branch Library sited at Ash village hall.
Every year, members discuss and vote on resolutions to go forward to the Annual National meeting where every WI in England and Wales gets a vote, and if passed, the National Federation takes the campaign forward on our behalf. In 2022 we discussed and voted on Thinking Differently: Autistic and ADHD Women and Girls.
Contacting the WI
Email: ashwithwestmarshwi@gmail.com
Or the Federation office
Or come along to a monthly meeting and make yourself known to the Hostess for the afternoon. You will be made most welcome and we charge a small fee of £4.00.
Or search on Facebook for ‘WI Ash’
If you decide to join us the annual subscription for April 2023/March 2024 is £46.00 – this gives you access to numerous events organised by the East Kent Federation of WIs throughout the year, in addition to Ash with Westmarsh WI’s local doings. You will also receive a monthly copy of the WI Life, published by the National Federation of WIs, packed full of interesting information on the progress of current campaigns, what other WIs are involved in, crafts, cookery, gardening and special WI offers on travel/Cruises.
Denman at Home offers online courses for everyone (you don’t need to be a WI member)
Once you are a paid up member you can take advantage of the WI Training area within MyWI.
Here you can find short courses, accredited course material and portfolios as well as areas for federation and NFWI roles.
Mission statement – The WI inspiring women
The ideals of the WI of truth, justice, tolerance and fellowship are as strong and important now in the 21st century as they were at the birth of the WI in 1915. The WI is the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK. It exists to educate women to enable them to provide an effective role in the community, to expand their horizons and to develop and pass on important skills.
The WI campaigns on a wide range of social and environmental justice issues concerning women both at home and abroad. Ending violence against, environmental sustainability and food and farming are some of the issues on the WIs campaigned agenda.