In May 2009 the Women’s Institute arrived in Liverpool. Now, before you say ‘No jam and Jerusalem for me thanks!’ PLEASE read on a little bit further... you might be surprised.
In the middle of the First World War submarine blockades were preventing food from being brought into the country, so as much food as possible had to be grown inside the UK. It was then that Britain’s WI was set up – one of its main objectives to make jams and preserves that would stop food from going off and help to feed people when food was scarce. So during that time it really was jam and the WI that helped to support the nation and, most importantly, empowered women to play a vital role in the war effort. That has to be the most impressive story you’ll ever hear about jam!
The WI is a great British institution that is thriving in our local area thanks to a group of around 60 fabulous ladies. These days (with less pressing requirement for jam and the invention of fridge-freezers) the WI campaigns for things like the environment and an end to violence against women. It provides training opportunities and it affords us plenty of opportunity to get together and eat cake (which we like) as well as to have a good old gab (which, especially when accompanied by cake, we love).
How our group began With a return to the traditional well and truly ‘en vogue’ - knitting parties springing up left, right and centre and the good old credit crunch forcing us to get creative with our budgets - we decided to rally the girls and invite the wonderful women of the WI to tell us why Liverpool should start up it’s very own group. They came, they drank tea and they conquered our imaginations - and so Central Liverpool WI was born!
Regardless of your age (the WI might be 94 but its members don’t have to be) please come and join us – bring your friends, bring your sisters, bring your nan and be a part of our very own wonderfully quirky branch of this great British institution.