First birthday celebrations for Colchester's Young Women’s Institute (From Gazette)

First birthday celebrations for Colchester's Young Women’s Institute

9:00am Saturday 21st November 2009

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COLCHESTER’S Young Women’s Institute has celebrated its first birthday.

The Women’s Institute Girls, known as the Wigs, were formed last year by six friends, who wanted to revamp the “jam and Jerusalem” image of the Women’s Institute.

Now, the membership has grown to 65 young women.

The Wigs invite local speakers to talk to members about a range of topics, from wine-tasting to the history of rock’n’roll.

The group also raises money for charity and, after a sponsored retro fashion show earlier this year, it was able to donate £728 to a local women’s refuge.

Sarah Capel, outgoing president, said: “The only way is up for the Wigs. We are blessed with the skills our members have.

“Next year, we are going to raise money for a local charity. We want to help any areas and businesses of Colchester that are interested.

“We also pick people from the local community to come and speak to us.”

Miss Capel feels that having a man-free environment allows women to be more relaxed and able to focus on their own self-development.

She said: “It’s important that women have their own hobbies.

“It gives women some confidence and we work on self-improvement. We’re finding it empowers the women who come here.”

Highlights of the year include selling 500 items of food at the Essex Food Show, and a talk from local magician Michael J Fitch.

Plans for a now traditional Calendar Girls-style photoshoot are not in the pipeline, but some WI activities have survived, albeit with a more modern twist.

Miss Capel said: “I learnt to make jam this year, but I was listening to the Clash while I was doing it!”

Lou Goody was elected as the new president at the annual meeting.

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