Cakes, Campaigns & Connection
Time to consider the bigger picture
There’s something special about a room full of women, hot tea in hand, sharing cake, conversation and purpose. That’s precisely the atmosphere at Singleton WI’s Watch Party, where members of Singleton WI and Great Chart & Godinton WI came together to take part in the NFWI Annual General Meeting 2025, streamed live on Wednesday 4th June to thousands of WI members across the UK.
Held at Buxford Pavilion (Great Chart Playing Fields, Ashford, Kent), our watch party was a joyful mix of community spirit and national connection. Whether it was through laughter, the clicking of knitting needles, or a quiet nod at something heartfelt on screen, there was a sense of being part of something much bigger than us.
The day ran seamlessly, thanks to the excellent hosting of Jeryl Stone, NFWI Chair, who steered us through the agenda with warmth and efficiency. One of the key moments was the adoption of the 2025 campaign, proudly proposed by our very own Margate WI (East Kent Federation) – “Bystanders Can Be Lifesavers.”
The campaign encourages WI members to help raise CPR awareness and increase access to defibrillators in their communities. We were shocked to hear that fewer than 1 in 10 women survive an out-of-hospital cardiac arrest in the UK. Powerful stories from members brought home why this campaign matters and why it’s one we can all get behind.
We had the pleasure of hearing from two brilliant guest speakers. Emma Bridgewater gave us a fascinating behind-the-scenes tour of her factory, showing how her beautiful commemorative 110th WI Anniversary mug is made. She spoke to Melissa Green (CEO, NFWI) about the importance of women supporting women – something that’s at the heart of both her work and the WI.
“It felt like being part of something special”, said Emma, “We laughed, we learned, and we felt connected to women across the UK even though we couldn’t see them.”
Then came the effervescent Angel Strawbridge, lighting up the screen with her infectious energy and stories of entrepreneurial adventure. From her Vintage Patisserie to the beloved TV series Escape to the Chateau, Angel reminded us to embrace creativity, trust in our path and smile as we go.
In true WI style, our day included plenty of cake, chatter and crafting. Members joined in with mandala colouring, designed their own Emma Bridgewater mugs, and puzzled through a WI wordsearch. They also had fun creating family mottos, signature scents, and afternoon tea wish lists during our “Moment with Angel.”
And yes – Happily, the technology behaved! We were able to enjoy every moment without a hitch, and left feeling uplifted, inspired and even more proud to be part of the WI.
It was a brilliant day, and we’re already making plans for next year.
Singleton WI meets on the 1st Thursday of the Month at Singleton Environment Centre. If you wish to join, please come along or email: singletonwiekf@gmail.com.
The WI can be contacted through their website - thewi.org, where you can also purchase the anniversary mug.
True colours ISSN 2977-6120