EVENTS
SUB GROUPS
(MEMBERS-ONLY)
​DATES FOR YOUR DIARY:​​
1
CRAFT CLUB
2nd Thursday of the month
The Kingsland Church, London Road, Lexden
​
​The Women's Institute Girls meet on the first Wednesday of every month from 19:30 to 21:30, at The Tollgate Hall, Villa Road, Stanway, Colchester, CO3 0RH.
​
Meetings start at 19:30, although, the room is usually open 10/15 minutes earlier. This is the perfect opportunity to grab a seat and catch up with your WIGs friends or get to know some new people. Every meeting begins with a few words from our President and an introduction to the speaker.
Speakers vary every month but could be an interesting talk from a visitor, a practical demonstration on flower arranging, a singing workshop or a dance class. For more information on speakers for 2023 please see below.
After the speaker we share any notices and updates, then have refreshments, usually involving cake! We then have some social time. Sometimes this might be a quiz, making something such as bird feeders or just a chance to wander around the room and meet some new faces or catch up with friends.
The meeting ends at around 21:00 often with a draw for the raffle. Most nights you'll find groups of WIGs chatting away as they head through the car park!
​
Non-members are always welcome at our monthly meetings for a recommended donation of £5.00.
Craft Club takes place at The Kingsland Church in Lexden and is run by Julie Peck and Karen Bartlett. The club make a different craft every month and a small charge of £3 covers the cost of the venue and materials.
2
KNIT & STITCH
4th Tuesday of the month
Rose & Crown, East Hill
Knit & Stitch takes place at the Rose & Crown, East Hill and is run by Adrienne Fauser. Feel free to bring along your own knitting/
sewing/cross-stitch etc project to work on, or contact Adrienne to see what group projects are currently ongoing.
3
SUPPER CLUB
4th Friday of the month
Various venues
MONTHLY MEETINGS
Supper Club hosted by Angela Taylor visits a different restaurant in Colchester each month. This is a great chance to sample local restaurants and have a chat with other members of the WIGs. Restaurants will be chosen that cater for a variety of dietary requirements.
Meetings 2023
​
January - New Year, New Intentions
Presentation of cheque for £2157 to last year's charity - The Medical Detection Dogs. Brief talks by our new charities - Colchester Blanketeers and St Helena Hospice. Making positive affirmation coasters to take home.
​
February - An Introduction to Tai Chi
A demonstration and talk about Tai Chi by Lu Yu. This was followed by decorating collection jars for our new charities.
​
March - Reflexology
A talk about reflexology followed by a chance to make a card to give to an inspirational woman to celebrate International Women's day.
April - Handwriting Analysis
A talk about handwriting analysis followed by decorating eggs for Easter.
​
May - Wildlife and AGM
A talk about attracting wildlife to your garden followed by our AGM and a royal quiz.
​
June - Have you ever met a trans woman
A talk by Petra Wenham followed by a getting to know you quiz.
​
July - British Sign Language
An interactive introduction to BSL with speaker Lindsey Barrell followed by a signs and symbols quiz.
August - Colchester Roman Circus
A guided tour around the Roman Circus, a unique site in Colchester.
​
Wednesday 6th September - Road Safety Awareness - Colchester Rugby Club - 7:30pm
A talk about road safety and the recent updates to the Highway Code, followed by poster making for WI Day.​
​
Wednesday 4th October - An Introduction to Tarot Reading - Tollgate Hall
Please note that this meeting will be held at TOLLGATE HALL, VILLA ROAD, CO3 0RH
At our October meeting, Suzy Sapphire, will be giving us a talk about tarot reading. She will be explaining what tarot is all about and also give a demonstration.
https://www.facebook.com/TarotReadingsandHolisticTherapies?locale=en_GB
There will then be tea, coffee and cake as usual and we will also be holding a raffle to raise funds for our charities, the Colchester Blanketeers and St Helena Hospice.
In the second part of the meeting, as it is Halloween month, we will be making marshmallow spiders to take home!
Visitors are very welcome and pay £5 which includes refreshments, this will be taken off your membership fee if you decide to join us. Please contact us if you have any questions.
​
November - Chocolate truffle workshop
December - Christmas party
Meetings 2022
January - New Year New Start
Talk by our charity of the year, The Medical Detection Dogs and Grace Darke from Eco Colchester about ways to save water.
February - Colchester Zoo Conservation
Talk by Andy from Colchester Zoo.
March - Extreme Challenge for Breast Cancer
Talk by Tina Oldfield about her extreme challenge that took her to base camp at Everest to raise awareness of the Breast Cancer campaign.
April - Renewal month - get to know your WI activities
A chance to find out more about the WIGs and all the fantastic subgoups we run.​
​
May - Talk by Perrywoods garden centre and AGM
Talk about the history of Perrywoods, the popular garden centre, which actually started its life in a garden shed! Then a chance to make a mini-terrarium to take home.
June - The Civic Society: The Eyes and Ears of Colchester
A talk by the Colchester Civic Society followed by tea and cake to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee, a rosette craft activity and a Jubilee quiz.
​
July -Family History for Beginners
A talk about genealogy and how to research your family tree followed by a quiz designed to find out fascinating facts about other members of our WI.
​
August - All About Colchester
A walking tour of Colchester led by Sir Bob Russell followed by a drink at The Castle pub in the High Street.
​
September - Sustainable Fashion
A talk about how to be more sustainable with your fashion choices followed by a clothes swap.
​
October - Jessica Taylor-Bearman - Author. Artist. Inspiration.
A talk by an award winning author about her struggles with ME and realising her dreams followed by the chance to make a wax wrap to take home.
​
November - Christmas Sugarcraft
Colchester Sugarcraft Association lead a session where members could make a small plaque with a cute snowman and Christmas tree model to go on a Christmas cake.
​
December - Christmas Party
Members made a Christmas table decoration, played bingo, swapped secret Santa gifts and enjoyed a plate of party food.
​
4
WALKING GROUP
1st Saturday of the month
Various venues
The Walking Group is run by Lisa Lucas and takes place on the 1st Saturday of the month. Short walks, long walks, coast, town or countryside. Usually finishing in a cafe or pub for a reviving cuppa or drink!
5
SUNDAY SOCIAL
3rd/4th Sunday of the month
Various venues
​
The only sub group open to members and non members alike, the Sunday Social is the perfect opportunity to meet with friends over coffee and a cake. Taking place at various coffee shops across Colchester and surrounding areas, the group is run by Annie Engle.
6
LET'S LISTEN OR READ
3rd Thursday of the month
The Albert, Cowdray Avenue
​
Our 'book' group is hosted by Carrie Fisher and takes place at The Albert on Cowdray Avenue. Each month the group will be reading and discussing a book, poem or podcast.
7
CAKE CLUB
Various dates
Various venues
​
Hosted by our fabulous members at their houses. Bring a bake, usually there's a theme, or just come and eat and pay £2.
8
LADIES WHO LUNCH
Various dates
Various venues
​
Ladies Who Lunch is a chance for members to meet up for lunch on a weekday in one of the many cafes and restaurants in the Colchester area. Hosted by May Cook, this is our newest subgroup.​​