Welcome to the Women's Institute

photograph of Women's Institute members and plant stall
We are a friendly and lively group and meet monthly at Granby Village Hall, where visitors and new members can always be assured of a warm welcome and a slice of cake! We currently have around 30 members, mostly drawn from Granby and Sutton, and other villages in the Vale of Belvoir. The Women's Institute, a registered charity, is the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK with over 220,000 members.

The aims and ideals of the WI haven't changed over the years. 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". This is illustrated now in events, outings, meetings and courses organised at local, county and National level, and there is something for everyone. 

In Granby & Sutton we are a group of like-minded women who can offer good company, support and inspiration to get involved in the local community. You can make new friends, learn new and fascinating things with our diverse speaker programme, help us raise money for our chosen charity of the year or to take part in a new activity.
photograph of Women's Institute members and jam stall
If you want to see what it’s all about, your first visit is free, just come along or contact Brenda Straw or Brenda Preece. Subscription fee to the W.I. is £42 for 2019, membership includes: monthly meetings, W.I. Life magazine delivered to your home, a monthly Hornblower newsletter, invitations to a diverse range of events and activities and opportunities to become involved in the WI at a local or national level plus access to Member’s only resources on the national WI webpage.

To learn more about the W.I., click the links to the National Federation of Women's Institutes, or the Nottinghamshire Federation.

Beginnings

Granby and Sutton W.I. held its first meeting on 14 January 1942, and meetings have taken place ever since on the 2nd Wednesday of each month. Its history is fascinating. Much of the member's time and energy in the early years was devoted to the War Effort. The minutes record the Granby and Sutton ladies being requested to gather stinging nettles, used for making, among other things, nettle soup, grew potatoes and made meat pies, and of course, jam!. Linda Singleton President from 2003 to 2007 wrote a short account of the early days of Granby & Sutton W.I.

Granby Church Kneeler Project Volunteers

photograph of Women's Institute members who made the Granby church kneelers

Granby and Sutton W.I. had their Christmas Stall packed with seasonal produce and festive crafts at the parish monthly coffee morning in the Village Hall on Saturday 7 December 2019.  All proceeds will be going to 'The Rainbow Horses Trust' in Harby.

Next Meeting



Lesley Talks Rubbish
Village Hall
7.30pm

WI Programme 2021/2022
Sadly due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the WI speaker programme is cancelled until further notice. We’ll back in action as soon as Government guidelines allow and when the Village Hall is open for business. Meanwhile, the following provisional programme is planned. Until then, stay safe!

Date

Venue

Topic

Speaker

Competition
11 August
Village Hall
​
Lesley Talks Rubbish
Lesley Taylor
(Veolia Recycling)
Making Use of Rubbish
8 September
Village Hall
​
Wireworks Workshop
William Ashley-Norman
Something made with an Apple
13 October
Village Hall
​
British Sign Language
Mandy Brennan
Posy in a Teacup
10 November
Village Hall
​
The Sky Above
Keith Townsend
A Picture of the Night Sky
20 November
Village Hall
​
Coffee Morning
8 December
tbc
​
Christmas Party
12 January
Village Hall
​
Do You Remember
Peter Savage
A Piece of Memorabilia Special to You (Explain Why)
9 February
Village Hall
​
Julia Pirie
Hyacinth Challenge
9 March
Village Hall
​
AGM
13 April
Village Hall
​
Spies and Scandals
Keith Appleyard
A Picture of a Spy or Scoundrel