Join Us

We are always happy to meet new women who are interested in joining Balham Women's Institute.  If you would like to visit a meeting, we do ask for a small donation of £5 to help cover our costs. It helps if you let us know ahead of time that you're planning to visit (by email or the FB group is best). This is just so we can make sure we have enough space/equipment for everyone and no one misses out.  We occasionally reserve the right to limit numbers of guests where we are concerned a meeting may potentially be oversubscribed.

Here's a taste of what you might find at a Balham WI meeting:
- interior decorating - screenprinting with Screengrab LDN - speaker from The Secret Pillow Project  -  biscuit decorating with Biscuiteers - speaker from Hestia Wandsworth -  graffiti knitting with Deadly Knitshade - a talk about local FGM support programmes - speaker from Contact The Elderly - earring & necklace making with London Jewellery School - floral crowns with Helen Cranmer - a talk about local food - lavender sachets with The Sewcial Circle - papercutting with Poppy Chancellor - session on the Paralympics from the swimming team manager - talk from a former BBC foreign correspondent - speaker from Fine Cell Work - crochet - interactive talk on the Alexander Technique - cupcake decoration class - vintage hair & make-up session - fabric brooch making - talk from the Childrens' Air Ambulance - poker school - organic fine wine tasting - 
and the list goes on!

If you decide that The WI is something you'd like to be a part of, joining is easy! Just ask at a meeting or send an email and you'll be given a membership form.

For 2020, subscription fees are £43.  These fees are then shared between us locally, Surrey Federation of WIs (of which B.W.I. is a part), and the National Federation of Women's Institutes as we all work together to further the aims of the WI - the largest voluntary women's organisation in the UK. Included in your annual subscription are:
     * minimum offering of 11 regular meetings
     * WI Life magazine (published 8 times a year)
     * monthly local newsletter
     * open invitation to participate in WWI clubs (any additional costs incurred through clubs/social outings is outside of subscription cost).
     * the opportunity to take part in the WI's noted campaign work
     * being part of the 2nd century of the WI in England & Wales!

BWI meets the 2nd Tuesday of every month, from 7pm to socialise for a prompt 7.30pm start at The Bedford, 77 Bedford Hill, Balham, London SW12 9HD (We're usually upstairs in the cocktail bar).