About Us

Bramley WI Lite is not your traditional Women's Institute! We do however embrace the ethos of the WI.

Bramley WI Lite was formed in September 2007 with a handful of friends in a front room. Four years on, we have over 50 members, who belong to a very special group, and who meet at least once a month for lots of laughs and the odd glass of wine.

Bramley WI Lite is all about making friends, trying something new and celebrating the glory of life. Bramley WI Lite is part of the Hampshire Federation of WIs, which in turn is part of the National Federation of WIs.

The success of Bramley WI Lite has led to a number of other similar groups to set up around the country. These groups are helping change the traditional view of the Women’s Institute.

Why Lite?

Bramley WI Lite aims to take the best bits of the traditional WI and give them a makeover to attract the modern woman.

The Women's Institute plays a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills; offering the chance to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.

The Women’s Institute was formed in 1915 with two clear aims: to revitalise rural communities and to encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.

Since then our aims have broadened and we are now the largest women’s organisation in the UK. We celebrated our 90th anniversary in 2005. Currently the WI has 205,000 members in 6,800 WIs.

We play a unique role in providing women with educational opportunities and the chance to build new skills, to take part in a wide variety of activities and to campaign on issues that matter to them and their communities.

‘WI Lite’ is not an official term. The Women’s Institute has been a key part of British history and without this reinvention it was feared that many younger women would not consider joining the organisation, as they felt it was all 'jam and Jerusalem'.

Our Members

Is there a typical Bramley WI Lite member? No, not really. We are women from our twenties to our sixties. Some are stay at home mothers and some are career girls - the one thing that brings us all together is our shared passion for fun and friendship

There is no set criteria for joining our group. Just come along to the Village Hall in Bramley on the fourth Thursday of each month and find out what we are all about. The first two visits are on us, then it’s up to you whether you like to join up for the year.