Something new for 2026?

 

An alteration to our New Year Party!

 Our entertainer for the New Year party on 21st January has changed from the published programme. Sadly ‘Black Gold‘ are unable to attend. We are very fortunate to have secured Patrick Jervis to replace them!

Looking forward to it!

At a loose end now that WI activities have calmed down a bit?

 Take a trip over to National Trust Killerton House! The Red Dress is on display, and it is exquisite! Also, banners made up of red squares decorated by local people in honour of the Red Dress visit to Devon. The exhibition closes on January 4th. 

December Institute Meeting

 We enjoyed a really fun afternoon! We voted on the resolutions choices - if you weren’t there and wish to vote, look at the last copy of WI Life where you will see that all explained. This is your chance to have your own personal say about these resolutions. Look out for an email asking for your vote if you didn’t attend the meeting today.

Afterwards there was a fun quiz, a fabulous pass the parcel, and we had to guess the weight of a cake, the number of jelly beans in a jar and the birthday of the dog! Also, mulled wine and mince pies! A marvellous way to end 2025. Thank you all for making the effort to come along on this gloomy, rainy day - and thank you for your kind and much appreciated comments on our WhatsApp!

PS Did you have a look at Wendy C’s magnificent white camellia? Wasn’t it stunning?

 

An excerpt from the latest edition of Devon News

 

Guess who?

 

Ready for more names?

 

What’s On? (And some more names!)

 This calendar takes us into 2026! Plenty to do in December, beforehand!

Do you know who these Brixham WI members are?

 Lots of times I overhear people saying they don’t know other members! Here is some help! 

Get to know these, and I will post more tomorrow! 

Our Christmas meal

 We enjoyed a fabulous start to the festive season at Dainton Park Golf Club this afternoon. Excellent company, good food, treasured items in a pretty little gift bag and a fun quiz! Thank you one and all!

What’s on?

 It’s a bit late today! The Book Share group decided unanimously to hold December’s Book Share on the third Thursday this month, instead of the usual fourth one! Look at the calendar and you will see why!

 

LotE at Kevics in Totnes - until February

 

Life on the Edge Art Exhibition

There was some fantastic work on display at the opening if the Life on the Edge exhibition at Kevics school today. Brixham WI had a whole wall, and other groups’ work showed great variety and talent.

Plenty to see here!

 

What’s On?

 

Also on our calendar for this month: Monday 24th November: we have been invited to the opening private view of the Life on the Edge exhibition of artworks at King Edward VI Community College in Totnes, 3.30 until 4.30pm.

Lights Lanterns and ‘Luminations : this year’s programme

 

Life on the Edge Exhibition in Totnes

 We are invited! 

Also, those who entered our own Exhibition are invited to take their pieces to put in this one as well! 

Resolution short list for 2026

 At the NFWI Resolution Shortlist Selection meeting on 2 October 2025 member and federation delegates shortlisted five resolutions which will now be taken forward for further debate and selection by members.

The shortlisted resolutions are:

1. Accessible public toilet facilities to promote dignity, health, and social inclusion

   This resolution is a call for accessible, clean, free public toilets which are fundamental to inclusion and wellbeing, especially for women, older people, disabled individuals, parents and carers. It invites WI branches to take meaningful action—through advocacy, partnership, and community engagement—to support local authorities and civil society in reversing the closure trend and ensuring dignity for all.

2. Action on women’s homelessness

   The NFWI echoes the calls of homelessness charities and urges all levels of government to take action to reduce women’s homelessness, reduce the number of women at risk of homelessness, and improve the quality of temporary accommodation. We call on WI members to support homelessness organisations in their communities and campaign to ensure that all women have a place they can safely call home.

3. Every child needs a friend

   We call on all WI members, the care system, and government to raise awareness of the independent visitor system for children in care in order to increase the number of volunteer Independent Visitors and the children in the care system who are befriended by them. We want every child in care to be offered the opportunity to have an adult figure in their life who chooses to spend a few hours a month with them.

4. Nearer to Nature

   There is a growing body of evidence that getting closer to nature is of great benefit to physical and mental health as well as to the environment. This is called ‘green health’. We call on WI members to work locally to improve access to local green spaces and support others to access it too. We call on health promotion services to increase public awareness of the use and benefits of ‘green health’, and health and care commissioners to support ‘green social prescribing’ in every GP practice.

5. Love Your Vulva – Self checking is your best defence against vulval cancer 

Self-checking your vulva is important in ensuring the earlier detection of vulval cancer and to enhance survival chances. We call upon WI members to work together to raise awareness of the importance of self-checking and seeking medical advice as early as possible, and, to help highlight this rare cancer to GPs to promote prompt referrals to medical specialists when needed.

Next steps

Every member now has the opportunity to cast their individual selection on the resolution they support the most. WIs are encouraged to hold meetings to provide members with the opportunity to discuss and learn more about each resolution. However, if this is not possible members can research the issues themselves and make their selection.

What’s on?

 

All of our entries!

Thank you so much to everyone who took the time to make a beautiful item for our exhibition. Each one very much admired and appreciated.