Wheatley Women's Institute

03/06/2026

We are delighted to share a new resource for the Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers campaign, the Defibrillator (AED) Guidance Resource.

The guide is full of practical information to help you raise awareness on the importance of defibrillators (AEDs) and includes clear, accessible guidance and resources on AEDs and offers a number of ways for WI members to get involved to make a lifesaving difference.

Increasing confidence and understanding around defibrillator use directly supports the aims of the Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers campaign, empowering bystanders to act quickly and effectively during a cardiac arrest. This guide will act as a vital tool for you to raise awareness on the importance of having AEDs in your communities.

To download the guide, head to My WI: https://mywi.thewi.org.uk/public-affairs-and-campaigns/news-and-actions/new-bystanders-can-be-lifesavers-defibrillator-aed-resource-guide

29/05/2026

June message to members from Oxfordshire Federation Chair, Tracy Strain

Dear All
June truly is a delightful month, offering warmth and the
anticipation of the holiday months ahead. It brings with it a
sense of renewal and optimism, inviting us to look forward
to brighter days and well-deserved respite. Over the past
few months, we have encountered significant challenges
as we transition to a new membership criterion. This period
of change has prompted diverse opinions amongst us, yet
it is important to recognise the strength and value of our
organisation. We should all take pride in the community we
have built together and support each other through this
challenging period to ensure continued success. Since 1915,
our mission has been to empower women and give them a
voice for good within the community. As we navigate these
changes, let us remain committed to this vision, cherishing it
for ourselves as members today and safeguarding it for those
who will join us in the future.
So, the coach trips, holidays and myriads of workshops that
take place at this time of year are well under way. Smiling faces
- members and non-members - enjoying what the WI does
best, lifelong learning, makes me feel proud.
At this time of year our thoughts turn to next year’s Annual
Meeting – speakers, venue – all the things that make our AM
so special. We have had some very useful feedback from you
which will help us shape next year’s meeting but there is still
time to share any thoughts you have.
I really do appreciate all the invites I get to visit WIs but
I am aware that all the information that comes from the Federation into your WI inboxes is not being accessed, read or shared. So,
my plea – is there someone in your WI
that would take on this important task of
checking your Inbox on a regular basis to forward and share
information?
And now for trustee of the month: Catherine Blaxhall –
currently Vice Chair and my personal constitutional expert!
"I have been a member of the Oxfordshire WI Board of Trustees
for several years and a WI Adviser since 2003. I really enjoy being
part of the organisation and contributing to making decisions
about the charity’s direction, strategy, and governance.
Most of all though, I enjoy the friendship, fun, and camaraderie
that we share. I have always been enthusiastic and passionate
about the WI which brings women together, providing
educational opportunities and the chance to make a difference
in their communities. It’s such a unique organisation and I am
really proud to be a member".

With love and best wishes.
Tracy
Tracy Strain,
OFWI Chair
[email protected]

14/05/2026

🌱🌹🌻

GARDENS CALL-OUT

Calling all green-fingered readers! We’re looking for WI gardens to feature in upcoming issues of the magazine.

Every garden is special, and we’d love to hear about yours, whatever form it might take – from community projects and wellbeing spaces, to wildlife havens and flower meadows, to small gardens, balconies and allotments.

Email us at [email protected] with GARDENS in the subject line, and let us know what makes your green space so precious to you.
Include your name, WI and some photos of your garden – we can’t wait to hear from you!

01/05/2026

Have you watched the CPR video which we launched last month at our Wales Annual Conference?
Created by Save a Life Cymru, the video supports our Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers campaign in encouraging people to learn how to perform CPR.

Watch and share the video widely: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8hAzKFmtydM&t=4s

30/04/2026

OXFORDSHIRE CHAIR’S LETTER
MAY 2026

Dear All
Another very happy occasion at Worton Hall for the OFWI
Annual Meeting – not so much sun as in previous years but
we were sunny. Two excellent speakers – certificates and
competition winners, raffle winners, prize draw winners and
the 400 club winners. A winning day with a winning audience.
The overall message of the day was women supporting
women and that is what the WI is all about. I hope you enjoy
the pictures on the front cover of Oxfordshire Inspires which say it all.
The new WI year is underway – new officers and continuing
officers supported by your wonderful committees. A huge
thank you.
We are delighted to welcome Catherine Ellison from Foxy
Ladies to the Board – I know she will bring a wealth of talent
as well as a lovely sense of humour.
During my very enjoyable round of WI visiting, I discovered
that we have an Oxfordshire member taking part in The
Yorkshire 3 Peaks challenge. Is there anyone else out there
taking part in this fundraiser or Snowdonia at Night? Do let us
know if you are.
I am sure you have plans in place for the online NFWI Annual
meeting but remember that means that next year we will be
in person at a venue!
And now this month, I would like to introduce you to Debbie
Black who isn’t our newest member
nor out longest standing member!!
Over to you Debbie to share with us
your experience of being a trustee.

“I have been on the Board for over two years and really enjoy
attending events and meeting lots of WI members. It has been
a learning curve, with many interesting online courses to teach
me how to be a professional trustee. The Board Meetings are
thorough, whilst discussions are held in a lovely atmosphere. It is
a privilege to be a trustee”

And to finish - in the words of American cleric, Edward Everett
Hale and quoted by Lyndsay Hacket-Pain when OFWI
celebrated 80 years:
“Look up and not down
Look forward and not back
Look out and not in and
Lend a hand”
With love and best wishes.
Tracy
Tracy Strain,
OFWI Chair

[email protected]

14/04/2026

Amazing 🤩 flowers 🌺

🇬🇧 🇫🇷A HUGE THANK YOU 🇬🇧🇫🇷

We asked… and you delivered beyond anything we could have imagined. 🇬🇧

To the The WI (National Federation of Women's Institutes) and every single individual who picked up their needles, hooks and wool for us…. THANK YOU 🧶 ⭐️

The response has been nothing short of incredible…💫✨

🥁 110,849 poppies. 🥁
One hundred and ten thousand, eight hundred and forty-nine.

📦 Every day, parcels were unpacked and added to a growing pile, constantly mixed and moved as more and more kept arriving. 📦 ✉️

They have travelled with our Giants to Normandy, where they are currently on display, and will also be part of the installation later this year at Waddesdon Manor.

We did reach out to TV and wider media to share this incredible achievement, but with bigger global stories dominating, it wasn’t picked up before our departure to Normandy…
but honestly, this speaks louder than any headline ever could. 🗞️📰

Due to the sheer number of parcels received, we’re unable to reply individually, but please do share our thanks with your WI groups and colleagues. Every single poppy has been gratefully received and truly appreciated.

We also now have enough poppies to restore our crates for the next few years, and even support another project already in development. 🙌

We’re currently in Normandy 🇫🇷 and the poppies are looking incredible. We’ll be sharing lots of photos so you can see your amazing work in place.

From all of us at Standing with Giants…this is your contribution, and we are so proud to carry it with us. 🌺

🫡🇬🇧❤️

📸 Photo: SWG volunteer Gemma with the final count of poppies

31/03/2026

💐

OXFORDSHIRE CHAIR’S LETTER April 2026
Tracy Strain

THANK YOU – for once again
not leaving me on the stage
at Worton Hall looking at
empty chairs. It really is a day
not to be missed so a huge
thank you for making it so
worthwhile and enjoyable.
Can I please say a huge thank
you to our sponsors – OSJCT
– Order of St John Care Trust.
Their support benefits us all
and I want to formally acknowledge our
collaboration.
Next month sees us start the planning
for the 2027 Annual Meeting - ideas
most welcome. Please also be aware that
the NFWI Annual Meeting will be taking
place in June, once again online. So, get
planning – what about a Watch Party in
your local hall or in a member’s lounge?
All Delegates will have full support from
both OFWI and NFWI in carrying out this
important role.
A new WI year begins, and
those programmes will soon be crisp
and clean in our bags. I hope as you
read this, most of you will have had
your Annual Meetings and are settling
into your new year. March has been
a busy time for you, your WI Advisers
and Trustees as we support you during
your Annual Meetings. Thank you to
the WIs who have let me through their
doors to conduct their AMs!!! So brave!
I know that there are some WIs who
have had to close their doors, but I hope
those members affected have found
a new WI. It is hard for everyone when
a WI suspends but if we can retain all
members, that brings a positive.
There are also revised membership forms
for us to complete as we enter a new
era. Change comes
in many guises, but
the objects of our
organisation remain
as always, the education of
women and girls and we do
it formidably. Long may that
continue.
Whilst our WI calendar has
been busy, I do hope you
have found time to look at
VIA, the new on-line learning
platform. WI members receive
free access to most courses
on VIA. To ensure VIA recognises your
WI membership, please use the WI
Member login option. If you create an
account using the general sign-up/
login route, your membership won’t
be automatically linked. It has a lovely,
friendly layout and the usual array of
wonderful courses and opportunities
but is easier to navigate.
I would like to introduce as trustee of the
month - Hilary Dix - it might only be 14
years, but Hilary has given so much time
and energy to OFWI:
‘As a fairly new member of the WI, fourteen
years, I have enjoyed coming up through
the ranks to be an OFWI Trustee. A WI
committee member and subsequently
taking on officer roles, joining the
Combined Arts sub-committee, doing
the WI Adviser training and then joining
the Board. I thoroughly recommend the
journey, the wonderful people I’ve met
and the opportunities I’ve had along the
way’.
With love and best wishes.
Tracy
Tracy Strain,
OFWI Chair

[email protected]

28/03/2026

Congratulations ladies 🥰

26/03/2026

🥰

21/03/2026

The Easter Postbox topper is out📮 🐣 Well done Craft Club 🧶