News & Events
🎉FEDERATION EVENTS 2024
After the First World War, 400,000 women in Wales signed a petition which they presented to the USA Government calling for the end to all wars. Today, the Board of Trustees of Gwent Federation visited St Fagans Museum to view an exhibition on the history of Welsh Women's Peace Movement. We all enjoyed the visit as well as finding it educational. So Ladies, if you are at a loss of where to take your kids/grandkids/visitors or just looking for a day out, we commend the exhibition to you.
Friday, 12 July
Line Dancing
This will be a fun evening and is an opportunity to dress up in denims, Cowboy hats and boots, If you wish! Please book with Federation Office by Sunday, 30 June.
Saturday, 16 June
Gwent Federation of WI Tree planted last year is now in full leaf, growing and flourishing. Planted remembering all WI members past and present.
Wednesday, 5 June
Gwent Federation of WIs Delegates and Observers at the Royal Albert Hall for NFWI Annual Meeting.
The theme at NFWI’s Annual Meeting this year was Anti-violence against women. The speakers were excellent, all focused on domestic violence.
Ann Jones, NFWI Chair welcomed guests, members at the Royal Albert Hall and the members online to the meeting. We sang Jerusalem. There were 4,000+ members in the Hall itself - and hundreds more joining online - it was nothing short of electric
Jeryl Stone the Honorary Treasurer presented an overview of the organisations' accounts.
The Financial Annual Review was sent out to all WIs. Summary of Accounts sent to all Federations and WIs in March 2024.
Total Income £366m…….decrease 63.5%
Total Expenditure £4.17m
Deficit £0.51m
Losses in investments £200k
Net deficit £709m
Total Funds 30 September 2023
Tangible Assets £312k
Investments £4.18m
Net current assets £9.46m
Total Funds £13.29m
Resolution Results
For : 4578
Against: 214
Percentage 95% voted
VIP Speakers at the NFWI Annual Meeting
Spice Girl Mel Brown, MBE was interviewed by Victoria Derbyshire about her 10 year abusive marriage, actor Timothy Watson, AKA Titchener from The Archers, and Teresa Parker from Women's Aid. Also Nazir Afzal, OBE, former Chief Prosecutor, who has personally been behind the prosecution of many male abusers of women and girls. Nazir received a well-deserved, and very rare from the WI, standing ovation.
Nazir Afzal, OBE
Melanie Brown, MBE being 'interviewed' by Victoria Derbyshire
Saturday, 1 June
Usk River Festival
It was a warm sunny day for the Usk River festival held on Saturday, 1 June. GFWI Public Affairs and Campaigns team did a fantastic job promoting the ongoing work to raise awareness of the poor health of our rivers. Members joined the procession around Usk and there was significant interest from members of the public in our campaigns stand.
Let’s try to stop the cocktail of chemicals and microplastics ending up in our rivers by ditching the harsh chemical for some natural alternatives, safer for the environment and can be cheaper too.
Tuesday, 21 May The Grange, Usk
Skittles Evening
Here are some photos from last night’s Skittles evening at The Grange in Usk. The winning Team were 🎉🎉 Raglan WI, Joan Barrington, Val Heath, Janet Parry and Janet Griffin 🎉🎉 congratulations to you all 👏 A lovely atmosphere, everyone seemed to enjoy the evening including those of us assisting. A big thank you to everyone who joined us and those members who helped. Remember, it is not the winning which is important, but the taking part!
Friday, 17 May Usk Memorial Hall
Literary Lunch
Mary Clarke, Chair of Gwent Federation, Richard Cobourne and Mary Edmunds, Chair of Combined Arts Team
Gwent Federation of WIs Literary Lunch in the Memorial Hall in Usk. Richard Cobourne was the Speaker. Richard started his career working in the BBC in Cardiff. He told us many stories of the stars he met and worked with during his career. Some of whom he based his books around! Richard was signing his books and selling them buy one get one free….great value 👏👏
It was a lovely afternoon, delicious food, great company and a very interesting talk. The alcohol free Rose Sparking Wine was really tasty, an enjoyable, fizzy alternative.
Thank you to the Combined Arts Team for a wonderful afternoon. Especially, the ladies in the kitchen; Angela, Lynn and Penny you did a splendid job. A huge thank you to everyone who attended. These events take a lot of planning and hard work on the day, we really appreciate you supporting Gwent Federation events.
Saturday, 13 April
Gwent Federation Annual Council Meeting
Well ladies what can we say!!! We had a brilliant day on Saturday, 13 April at our Annual Council Meeting in Usk Memorial Hall. A big thank you to every one of you who came along and supported us. 😊 Particular thanks, too, to all of our fantastic guests and the 2 brilliant speakers for finding time to join us, at our very special meeting👏
Our first speaker at the ACM was Dr Lisa Snook, Gwent County Archivist.
Lisa is passionate about sharing her experience and knowledge of archives and archive research with others. Lisa’s special subject is women's history, particularly women in the south Wales coalfield. Lisa gave a very interesting and informative talk on her role and the work that goes on in Gwent Archives, Ebbw Vale. They hold archives relating to all aspects of life in Gwent, in their original format as well as copies on microfilm and online, and have excellent facilities to access them. Why don’t you organise a group visit to the Archives for your WI to find out more and combine it with a visit to Ebbw Vale Works Museum which is nearby, what a great day out that would make!
Our guest speaker in the afternoon was Milliner, Effie Williams. Effie started her business in September 2022 and is an award-winning couture milliner, creating beautiful yet fun and flirty hats and headpieces, all with a distinctive vintage inspired twist. Taking inspiration from the landscape of her native Herefordshire, along with her love of vintage fashions, Effie combines traditional craft skills with contemporary techniques to create pieces each as individual as the wearer.
Effie showed us some of the fabric she uses to make her headpieces and performed a demonstration on the making process and brought along some of her finest headpieces for us to see.
Thank you to all who came and gave up time to steward, Ally Heggie, Llanellen WI, and Elen Davis, Agincourt WI. Ladies in the kitchen in the Memorial Hall from Rogerstone Roses WI, Mary Park and Sonia Smith, Liz Hepburn, Llandenny & District WI and Jill Nicholson, Govilion WI. Ladies in the kitchen in the Centenary Hall (Scout Hut) members of GaP WI, Fiona Evans, Lisa Knowles and Ann Townsend. Margaret Parry, Llantilio Crossenny WI, our organist, Tellers from Glamorgan Federation, Claire Atherton and Carolyn Davies. A huge thank you to Harold Meese and Terry Davies. You all did a super job and we could not have coped without you, we are just extremely grateful to you all.
Mary Clarke, Chair of Gwent Federation
Dr Lisa Snook, Gwent County Archivist
Ellie Williams, award winning couture milliner
Thursday, 4 April 2024
NFWI Wales Conference 2024
Members of Gwent Federation of WIs went to the NFWI-Wales Conference on Thursday, 4 April in Theatr Brycheiniog, Brecon, Powys and thoroughly enjoyed the day. The NFWI speakers were Jill Rundle, NFWI-Wales Chair; Ann Jones, NFWI Chair; and Rhian Connick, Head of NFWI-Wales. Guest speakers Ffion Fielding, Project Manager of the Welsh Women’s Peace Petition Project and Bronwen Lewis singer-songwriter. Ffion spoke about the Wales Peace Petition signed by 320,000 women in Wales and taken to the USA in 1924. It is being transcribed so that you can see who in your family might have signed it. Fascinating - and there is a dedicated exhibition with all the associated peace activities at St Fagans - it is well worth a visit and of course it's free. Bronwen Lewis spoke openly about her ADHD diagnosis and the impact of ADHD on her daily life.
Great speakers and it kept fine!
GFWI Annual Quiz
Friday, 22 March
Congratulations to this year's winners of the Annual Quiz...Ponthir WI.
In joint second place were Beechwood and Wyesham WIs.
Some 21 teams took part and for the first time we introduced a multiple choice round. The winners will be invited to represent the Gwent Federation later in the year at the Wales Federations event.
Well done to everyone who took part.
GFWI RWS Competition Day and Welsh Afternoon Tea
Saturday, 9 March
Usk Memorial Hall
Congratulations to Govilon WI on winning the Coop competition and Kath Rees Llangwm & Llansoy WI for winning the floral art.
Friday, 8 March
International Women’s Day
International Women’s Day is a day to celebrate the social, economic and political achievements of women, reflect on progress and demand gender equality. For over a hundred years, International Women’s Day has put the spotlight onto issues affecting women all over the world. Today, International Women’s Day belongs to everyone who believes that women’s rights are human rights.
Friday, 2 February
Gwent Federation of WIs had a lovely afternoon in Usk? A most successful time was enjoyed by nine teams New Age Kurling. The semi finals were fought between Llantilio Pertholey, Usk B, Bryngwyn and Usk A. In the final, Usk A emerged the winners against Bryngwyn. Well done everyone!! Thanks to those who helped.
Angela Lloyd and Barbara Atton with the winners Usk B.
Friday, 12 and Saturday, 13 January
Calling all Presidents, Treasurers and Secretaries
Proposal to change Gwent Federation of WIs to a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO)
left to right, Nicola Awni, Mary Clarke (Chair), Judith Meese, Lynn Davies
Presidents, Treasurers and Secretaries attending the CIO Meeting
