Bedfordshire County Federation of WIs (About Us)

Bedfordshire County Federation of Bedfordshire is the umbrella organisation for all the Women’s Institutes in Bedfordshire with their headquarters based in Bedford.

The WI movement came to the county in 1917 and by 1918 eight institutes had been formed. The Bedfordshire County Federation of Women’s Institutes was formed on 27 September 1919 to support all the WIs in the county. The first County Chairman was Mrs M Whitbread of Southill, a member of the famous brewing family. By the end of 1920, 21 institutes had been formed in Bedfordshire and by 1930 there were 49 WIs with a total membership of 2,655.

We celebrated our centenary year in 2019. We had our very own rose launched at Hampton Court Palace called the ‘Bedfordshire Beauty’, a wonderful afternoon tea at The Sculpture Gallery in Woburn and a Thanksgiving service at the Priory Church in Dunstable to name but a few of the special events within the year.

There are 70 WIs within the County with a membership of around 2,300. Every WI is unique, some are very small others much larger with over 100 members. As well as their regular monthly WI meeting when members listen to a speaker, learn a new skill, share ideas and enjoy a cup of tea or glass of wine they enjoy a wide variety of activities including trips, coffee mornings, craft and book clubs, walking/rambling groups and getting involved with National Campaigns.

The Federation is run by the Board of Trustees who meet monthly to support the Bedfordshire members. Their responsibilities include passing information between the NFWI and the Women’s Institutes and providing advice to members and individual WIs on the running of a WI. The Board is supported by four teams who help with organising events and activities for the members and their families and friends to enjoy.