What’s on in March?

 The last month of our 25/26 year, going out in style! 

Resolution results from Devon Federation

 THANK YOU ALL.

I am so pleased to say that the return of votes for this year's Resolutions are the best we have received in a long time. 86% return.

The resolution votes to come from

Devon Federation is

Accessible Toilets.

March Institute meeting

 Our speaker next month at WI is from

Beltane Border Morris. Morris dancing but not as you may have seen before….

Bystanders can be lifesavers - remember this?

 

Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers: Healthy Heart webinar 11 March at 1.00pm

As part of our Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers campaign, we are hosting a webinar titled: ‘Put your heart first: Everyday habits for lifelong heart health’, taking place on Wednesday 11 March, 13:00-14:00pm. This webinar will focus on ways to nurture your most important muscle, your heart. Learn simple, evidence-based lifestyle habits that can strengthen your cardiovascular health and promote you long-term wellbeing. If you can't attend the webinar, a recording will be up on My WI shortly afterwards.  Sign up for it by logging on to Via and search for Wellness-put-your-heart-first-everyday-habits-for-lifelong-heart-health

Friday night out, anyone?

 Brixham Library

Coming to Brixham Library on Friday 6th March, 7:30-9pm!

Double Bill Storytelling Performance: '23 Words' and 'Jane Eyre'

Experience a compelling evening of live storytelling with two critically acclaimed performances brought together for the first time. Suited Storytellers - Rosamund Clare and Katy Lee - present '23 Words', a bold reimagining of Chaucer's The Wyfe of Bath's Tale. Tanya Landman, award-winning author and seasoned performer, offers a fresh perspective on Jane Eyre.

Suitable for ages 14+, £5/£3 non-members/members. Please pop into the library or call us on 01803 853870 Libraries Unlimited Arts Council England @exetercouncil Torbay Council @devoncountycouncil

February Craft

 What a great afternoon doing a Tsunokabako sweet dish and a Kashizara tea plate for higashi(sweets). We did have a laugh! Thank you, Barbara!

Access MyWI and Via, the new WI learning hub!

 Several people have mentioned being unable to sign on to MyWI and the new learning hub, Via.

As everyone at Sew Mondays yesterday was able to do It using their phone, I thought it might be useful to Explain how it was achieved. Step 1 open thewi.org.uk and either click on MyWI in the top right corner, as shown in the photo, OR click on the three horizontal lines in the top right corner. A menu pops up, find MyWI and click on it.

Step 2 Click on Log in with SSO - circled in red in the photo

Step 3 fill in your email address - arrow pointing to the box in the photo

Step 4 click on forgot your password - circled in red in the photo.

Step 5 go to your email, open the one from NFWI and follow the instructions.

The email might not arrive instantly! You may have to wait a little! Please persevere! It is worth it!

What larks we had!

 

February Sew Mondays

 We had a great afternoon at Jill H’s house this afternoon, and we did actually do lots of stitching - well, most of us, anyway! We also chatted about many things from blood sugar levels to craft shops and from the temperature of the swimming pool to current affairs. Also! Everyone there was able to find and sign on the MyWI and Via!

The photo was taken at Killerton House when visiting the Red Dress. These old birds formed part of the panels created by local people in homage to the red dress. I thought it might be appropriate for our afternoon!

What’s on?

 

More information on the transgender issues.

 Take a look at this website: 

https://action.goodlawproject.org/help-support-wi-girlguides-trans-inclusive?utm_source=Good+Law+Project&utm_campaign=9fc49e40cf-EMAIL_WIGirlguiding_2026_02_20_06_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_db5adb9599-308a8160b9-467476613&mc_cid=9fc49e40cf&mc_eid=6d957b6598&fbclid=IwY2xjawQHlchleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEelM2hS1afqHgoQNyq9s3b3uXykhgYNsiDYP0O3nCNXeGnG3Qjq3mPDduFLgc_aem_xvcCJChAfyvvfqs_VLzSIA

This week’s timetable of courses from Via

 Click here to access the website: https://via.thewi.org.uk/

Sign on using the email you gave  to Tina when you joined us.

For your enjoyment…

 And, as they say, “many a true word is spoken in jest!”

. 

A timely message from Lancashire Federation of WIs

 

February Institute meeting - email to everyone.

 Hello Brixham WI Member!  Important information! Please read carefully!

At today’s meeting we enjoyed a most interesting talk from the National Coast watch team from Daddyhole, Torquay.

Barbara explained that she will be showing how to make boxes at the craft session on Tuesday 24th February (see the calendar on the blog!). Rugby Club, 2 until 4pm. Please pay £4, by bacs.

The votes on the transgender issues were as follows:

Do you agree with the setting up of sisterhood groups for trans women and, therefore, also men, under the umbrella of the WI?  Yes or No? 

7 yes votes  40 no  18 did not vote

Do you agree with the use of funds controlled by the WI to campaign for andset up the proposed Sisterhood Groups including seeking legal advice on this? Yes or No

4 yes votes x 47 no  18 did not vote

With regard to our Annual Meeting and payment of next year’ssubscription; some clarification is necessary!

Ann P announced that our subscription for next year will be reduced from £54 to £47 - £7 payable from our funds for each member joining from  April 26 - March 27. Multi members for whom we are not the primary WI will pay £20.10.

Our members will be able to pay their subscription from 1st March, if they wish, as usual.

Some of our members are undecided whether to rejoin and are waiting for the NFWI information regarding sisterhoods to be announced in April. They will be able to defer their payment of subs until 30th April.

 In previous years we have asked all members to pay by the day of our April meeting so that we are all able to attend and participate in our  Annual Meeting, usually in April. We have decided to move the Annual Meeting forward one month, to May,  in order to accommodate the as yet undecided members.

If, at the end of April, some members choose to leave, we will be able to accept subscriptions from new members from 1st May. 

Once again, Lynn asked all members present to consider very seriously stepping up to join the committee. Each one of us enjoys our WI and will benefit enormously from fresh ideas and an energetic, enthusiastic approach - we are looking for you folks who are new to the notion of being on our WI committee! Plenty of our long term, more experienced members have made their contribution - over to some new faces now! Now is the time! Pretty please! 

With best regards from

Your Committee

Insects Tea Party!

 Another invitation from the Life on the Edge team: 

(for more details click on this link https://southdevon-nl.org.uk/?s=Insects+tea+party

Pancake Day today!

 Here’s another brilliant poem from Brian Bilston! 

What’s On?

 

Half term week!

 Probably many of our members will be spending time with family during the coming week! 

Ask them what they think about gender fluidity! Get some opinions from the next generations on this topic - look at our burning issue through different eyes.

Coach trip, anyone?

Friends of Churston Library have posted on our Facebook page! As lots of our members love a coach trip, and Hestercombe Gardens are fabulous, I thought I would copy and paste it all here, too.

If walking on paths up and down through wild and tamed gardens is not your favourite, you may like to investigate the Hestercombe website https://www.hestercombe.com/ to get a bit more information.

New from the WI learning hub!

VIA launches Monday 9th February - and with it, a completely new chapter for learning. If you've been with us on the WI Learning Hub, you'll recognise the heart of what we do. But VIA? It's been reimagined from the ground up. Clearer navigation. Smarter course formats. A platform that works the way you do - whether you're squeezing learning into a lunch break or settling in for a Sunday afternoon deep dive.

Keep an eye on our social media channels and the WI Learning Hub website, where the link to VIA will be posted on Monday afternoon.

 

What’s On?

 

From NFWI

 Watching the news or looking at your social media feed, it’s easy to believe that the UK is more divided than ever. The voices of those who seek to spread hate, harm our communities and separate us are loud.

But the reality is millions of people across the UK show up for each other, their neighbours and their communities every single day. From monitoring our river health and helping keep our environments clean, to donating to food banks, raising money for charity, and extending the hand of friendship to refugees - acts of hope and kindness happen all the time.

These stories are too often left untold. So, in May 2026, The NFWI, alongside community and faith groups, and other charities big and small, will come together to celebrate and inspire A Million Acts of Hope across Britain. There is far more that connects us than divides us. We hope you’ll join us.

Devon News from DFWI

What’s On?