A new Women’s Institute group has been formed in Kirkby Overblow.
The group held its inaugural meeting in August and has already amassed over 30 members.
The group, known as the KO-Girls, will hold monthly meetings on the last Thursday of every month and endeavours to include speakers at some events, as well as establish a partnership with the All Saints’ Church and The Shoulder of Mutton pub.
Chairman Victoria Black decided to set up the group with two of her neighbours shortly after moving to the area as she “hardly knew anyone” in the village.
Ms Black, who moved from Baildon, had never been part of a WI before, but hopes it will “help people to get to know each other better”.
She added:
“I suggested it to two of my neighbours and they agreed it was a good idea.
“We welcome anyone aged 18 and upwards.
“We’re all about inclusion – women and anyone that identifies as a woman is welcome.”
The village has not had a Women’s Institute since the 1950s – which one current member in her 80s was a part of.
The KO-Girls will hold its next meeting on Thursday, September 28 at 7pm.
It will take place at All Saints’ Church and will include a salsa dancing demonstration for guests to try their hands at.
The meeting is free to attend, but annual membership is £47 per year.
Attendance can be registered through the KO Girls Facebook page.
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New Women’s Institute could be set up in West Tanfield
A new branch of the Women’s Institute could be set up in West Tanfield if a meeting in the village pub proves popular.
The WI previously had a branch in the village which closed down – but a meeting is being held later this month to discuss setting up a new one.
Margaret Merrall, a WI advisor who helps communities to set up and run WIs, said the suggestion came from local women.
“Two ladies approached us about setting up a WI in West Tanfield. They had been in another WI locally but one of them lives in West Tanfield and thought there might be interest in a WI in the village.
“When we met a fortnight ago, they already had about 10 people interested before we had even announced the meeting.
“Now we’ve set a date, we’re hopeful of getting a good number of people there and having some volunteers for the committee to get things started.”
The initial meeting takes place at the Bruce Arms on Wednesday, August 24 at 7pm.
If there is enough support, a new WI will be formed and its members will choose when and where they meet each month, as well as what they do at the meetings.
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While the stereotypical image of WI meetings is of talks in dusty village halls, in reality many groups prefer a more active approach. Belly dancing, gin tasting and bushcraft skills have all been on the agenda for WIs in the Harrogate district in recent years.
When a new Wi is established, it becomes part of the national organisation, as well as a region – in this case, North Yorkshire West Federation of WIs. The federation will support it by paying for the costs of its first three meetings, before members’ fees – just £44 per person for a full year – are used to pay for hall hire, speakers and other expenses.
Margaret added:
“I tend to stay quite close to a new WI for about a year. I’ll pop to a couple of committee meetings and make sure everything is going well.
“It has been a hard couple of years with covid in every walk of life. We’re pleased to be opening a new WI – our first since the pandemic – and we hope it’s something the community will really enjoy.”