Hello from HA:WI!
We are a new generation, young at heart WI, comprising of over 30 members. Formed in late 2012, we are now into our twelfth year and going strong. We consider ourselves a group with a modern, fun-loving outlook and whether you’re a young working mum, a busy career woman or a mature retired ‘lady of leisure’, we’d love you to join us!
HA:WI was formed by three young mums with busy careers but finding it hard to join a local group with a chance to learn new skills whilst having fun. The name HA:WI is taken from the postcode of where we meet, and we have members coming from across Harrow.
We currently meet at the Pinner Parish Church (St John the Baptist) every third Thursday evening of the month (except August) at 8pm. We keep our members up to date with what’s going on through a monthly emailed Newsletter, and our Facebook pages. Our monthly meetings include a variety of different activities or talks, ranging from Christmas Craft, creating festive wreaths, to welcoming our local Morris Dancers and having a go. We aim to have a number of learning sessions within our programme covering a wide range of topics including First Aid, life drawing, a year in the life of a beekeeper, the Alexander Technique and pebble painting.
Along with our monthly meetings, we have a few sub-groups – the Chat and Craft Group meets every week where members can learn a new craft, bring their own craft activity, help to create items for sale to raise funds for a local charity, or just chat! The Theatre Group has supported a local society in the last few years – we recently saw ‘Made in Dagenham’ in Ruislip. We have also started a Lunch Club once a month at a local pub.
We support the WI ethos and are active in our local community. We run a WI stall at the annual Pinner Village Show in September, and the St George’s Day event in April. We tempt visitors with our homemade cakes and (at the Pinner Village Show) the crafts made by the Craft Group, whilst also promoting HA:WI. Our fundraising activities include proceeds from these sales, plus money raised from ad hoc one-off events. We have raised over £5,000 to date. Each year the members choose one local Harrow-based charity to support. In addition, we support the local Foodbank with non-perishable items and cash donations.
We’d love to hear from anyone interested in joining us – come down and see what we are about and meet our lovely members. See our Facebook page HA:WI Women’s Institute or you can email us at: hawomensinstitute@hotmail.com.
Key Information
Meets at
Pinner Parish Church (St John the Baptist)
Church Lane
Pinner
Middlesex
HA5 3AA
On
The third Thursday of the month at 8:00pm
No meeting in August
Annual Meeting November
President: Marita Brown
Contact: hawipres@mfwi.org.uk
Secretary: Pip Harris
Contact: hawisec@mfwi.org.uk
Contact:
Website:
hawomensinstitute.wordpress.com
