Welcome

Welcome to Cottingham WI's webpage. The WI is all about inspiring women.  It's a rich source of experiences, knowledge and skills passed down through generations and updated everyday. It offers women the opportunity to join and be involved in a way that suits them.  With this in mind, I hope you find the following information helpful and interesting.

The Cottingham WI first began in 1985 with just a small number of keen and enthusiastic women. Over the years our membership has grown and now we have around 40 members with membership growing each month. 

We meet at 10 am on the second Tuesday of each month (except August) in the Cottingham Methodist Church Hall on Hallgate, Cottingham.  It is a lovely venue with lots of space with easy access.  It allows us to enjoy lots of different activities as well as entertain our many varied speakers and craft demonstrators. We have use of a fully fitted kitchen which is very handy - not only at our monthly meetings for making tea and coffee but at the special events or fund raising activities we arrange throughout the year.

The Meeting usually starts with our President welcoming everyone and updating us on what is happening in the WI at National and local level. This includes information on planned trips, activities, skills opportunities,WI Campaigns, plus lots of other interesting events in and around Cottingham and the East Riding. Free refreshments are then served and members enjoy some "social time" to chat with other members and sign up for any forthcoming trips and activities.  Each month we have a competition were we ask members to bring something in on a given theme e.g. pretty cosmetic bag, unusual candlestick. Members have great fun searching out the items - it really makes you think!  The final part of the meeting is usually spent listening to an interesting speaker or watching a craft or cookery demonstration which are always very popular with our members. 

Outside of the monthly meetings, we have a variety of other social groups that meet on a regular basis.  There is the Book Group that meets every 6 weeks to discuss books they have read.  Another group is our Knit and Natter Group - this meets on a regular basis allowing members to work on their current handicraft project whilst being able to share and learn skills over a cup of tea. A new addition to our group portfolio is the Butterfly Buns.  This group meets monthly to simply relax and enjoy coffee and cake or afternoon tea at a variety of cafes and teashops in the local area. It's a good opportunity to meet up and socialise outside of the normal monthly WI meeting. 

The Cottingham WI are lively and friendly and very much welcome all ages to our meetings.  It's not just about making jam and baking buns- although these skills are still popular - it's more about making friends and finding inspiration from what's on offer. You can be involved as much or as little as you wish! So come along and give us a try!  Visitors can come along to a couple of meetings with no charge at all before making their decision to join. We hope we will be able to inspire you to come and join us.