The WI plays 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. Learning and development has always been an integral part of the WI.

Federation Essex provides training and courses specifically for WI members at our FEWI premises at Whitelands Business Centre in Terling.

Essex Based Courses & Events

For Essex events, please see our Essex Events page.

Denman At Home Courses/ WI Learning Hub

In January 2024 NFWI launched the new WI Learning Hub.  This provides hundreds of online courses, events and sessions mostly free of charge to members and for a nominal cost to non-members (including men).  You can find the Learning Hub here.  If you already had a login for Denman At Home then you can log in immediately.  If you are new to NFWI online learning then you can register as you book your first event.  You must use the same email address as the one that your WI has listed for you in MCS (NFWI’s online database maintained by each WI’s MCS Rep) for the system to recognise you as a member.

Founded by the NFWI in 1948, Denman College offered day schools and residential courses in cookery, craft and lifestyle to members, as well a variety of events, conferences and weddings however, in July 2020 the NFWI trustees announced the permanent closure and sale of the college premises.

In May 2020, during lockdown, NFWI introduced Denman At Home online courses instead, and this has now been replaced with the WI Learning Hub.

Federation and National WI Roles

As well as learning new skills or crafts, there are also a range of roles are available for WI members to undertake either for the NFWI or within their local federation. These include:

WI Advisers

WIAs are responsible for forming, suspending and closing WIs as well as making sure members are aware of what opportunities are available to them within the WI.

Federation Representatives

Volunteers within their federation who act as a liaison between the NFWI and members in promoting and raising awareness of sport and leisure, science and combined arts.

To find out more about these roles please contact Sarah Lawton, your Federation Secretary, at fedsec@essexwi.org.uk.