Youlgrave WI has been ‘inspiring women’ in Youlgrave and surrounding villages since 1919.  The group was started by Miss Mary Melland, our first President, who was also a local benefactor.

We are part of the Derbyshire Federation (DFWI) and National Federation (NFWI) of Women’s Institutes and together we make up the largest voluntary women’s organisation in the UK. We do make jam (well some of us do!) and we do sing Jerusalem, BUT we also support national campaigns on vital issues, learn about anything and everything from belly dancing to fair trade tea, take trips to places of interest locally and further afield, and we have a lot of fun doing it!

Monthly Meetings:

We meet on the second Tuesday of the month at 7.30pm, usually at Youlgrave Village Hall, which has disabled access/toilets. Each meeting focuses on a speaker or an event of some sort. There is always some social time allocated at the end of our meetings, with tea and cake! We are delighted to see new faces – so just come along and you can be sure of a warm welcome. Be prepared to learn things that you never expected to know.

Here is our current programme for 2024/25:

Supper Club:

We have a monthly Supper Club, usually on the last Thursday of the month and it involves a two-course supper…and byo drinks! This gives members the chance to get together and socialise in between the monthly meetings, and is also open to women who are not WI members.

Trip and Activities:

We have regular trips and outings, locally and further afield. You can find out about these at each meeting, in the Youlgrave village magazine The Bugle or through our regular email updates.

Clubs and Groups: 

  • Book Club – meets monthly at someone’s house.
  • Craft Days – usually themed and which run on various dates throughout the winter.
  • Youlgrave WI Choir  – meets on a Wednesday evening.  The Choir, which consists of over 20 members, sing and perform regularly.  Non WI members are also welcome.
  • Recorder Consort Group – a small group which meets on a Friday afternoon.

New members are always very welcome to join any or all of these groups.

National Campaigns: 

The WI organisation has a reputation as a strong and very effective campaigning body.  Resolutions are selected and voted on yearly.

Want to Learn More?

You can follow us on:

Facebook @Youlgrave WI: 1919 -2019 & beyond.

Instagram @youlgrave_wi

Or see our regular articles in The Bugle for a taste of past and future events… with photos!

Want to Join Us? Just come along to one of our monthly meetings and we’ll introduce you to some new friends and make you very welcome.